Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Multicenter Study
The Urban Emergency Department: A Potential Increased Occupational Hazard for Sharps-related Injuries.
Health care workers are at risk for sharps-related injuries while working in the clinical arena. The authors sought to quantify and compare the frequency of these injuries for all health care personnel between the urban and community emergency department (ED). ⋯ Physicians accounted for the largest proportion of health care workers reporting sharps-related injuries. These injuries occurred more frequently in the urban ED than in the community EDs.
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Observational Study
Comparison of Two Sepsis Recognition Methods in a Pediatric Emergency Department.
The objective was to compare the effectiveness of physician judgment and an electronic algorithmic alert to identify pediatric patients with severe sepsis/septic shock in a pediatric emergency department (ED). ⋯ The electronic algorithmic alert was more sensitive but less specific than physician judgment for recognition of pediatric severe sepsis and septic shock. These findings can help to guide institutions in selecting pediatric sepsis recognition methods based on institutional needs and priorities.
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Using recordings of endotracheal intubation attempts obtained with a video-enabled laryngoscope with Miller and Macintosh blades, the authors sought to evaluate the association between laryngoscopic approach (right-sided vs. midline) and intubation success, as well as adverse event rates in the pediatric emergency department (ED). ⋯ First-pass success rate did not differ based upon laryngoscopic approach type; however, a right-sided approach was associated with a longer time to intubation, as well as higher rates of mucosal injury and aspiration among patients undergoing video-enabled intubation in a pediatric ED.
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The increasing prevalence of mental health and/or substance use disorders in older adults is a significant public health issue affecting their health, health care use, and health care outcomes. These disorders are especially prevalent in emergency department (ED) visits. This study examined the effect of mental health and substance use disorders on older adults' ED presenting problems and outcomes. ⋯ Late-life mental health and substance use disorders are significant risk factors for both intentional self-harm and unintentional injuries that bring older adults to the ED and contribute to ED dispositions and outcomes that involve more intensive and longer-term health care services. The findings underscore the importance of detection and treatment of these disorders among older adults before they end up in the ED.
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The objective was to critically appraise and highlight rigorous education research study articles published in 2014 whose outcomes advance the science of emergency medicine (EM) education. ⋯ This annual critical appraisal series highlights seven excellent EM education research studies, meeting a priori criteria and published in 2014. Methodologic strengths in the 2014 papers are noted, and current trends in medical education research in EM are discussed.