Scand J Trauma Resus
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Jan 2012
Multicenter StudyHospital Incident Command System (HICS) performance in Iran; decision making during disasters.
Hospitals are cornerstones for health care in a community and must continue to function in the face of a disaster. The Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) is a method by which the hospital operates when an emergency is declared. Hospitals are often ill equipped to evaluate the strengths and vulnerabilities of their own management systems before the occurrence of an actual disaster. The main objective of this study was to measure the decision making performance according to HICS job actions sheets using tabletop exercises. ⋯ The decision making performance in the Iranian hospitals, as measured during table top exercises and using the indicators proposed by HICS was intermediate to poor. In addition, this study demonstrates that the HICS job action sheets can be used as a template for measuring the hospital response. Simulations can be used to assess preparedness, but the correlation with outcome remains to be studied.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Jan 2012
ReviewMethods for evaluating cervical range of motion in trauma settings.
Immobilisation of the cervical spine is a common procedure following traumatic injury. This is often precautionary as the actual incidence of spinal injury is low. Nonetheless, stabilisation of the head and neck is an important part of pre-hospital care due to the catastrophic damage that may follow if further unrestricted movement occurs in the presence of an unstable spinal injury. ⋯ Latterly, new approaches using virtual reality and simulation have been developed. Coupled with modern electromagnetic tracking technology this has considerable potential for effective application in future research. However, use of these technologies in real life settings can be problematic and more research is needed.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Jan 2012
Comparative StudyPhysician-led team triage based on lean principles may be superior for efficiency and quality? A comparison of three emergency departments with different triage models.
The management of emergency departments (EDs) principally involves maintaining effective patient flow and care. Different triage models are used today to achieve these two goals. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of different triage models used in three Swedish EDs. Using efficiency and quality indicators, we compared the following triage models: physician-led team triage, nurse first/emergency physician second, and nurse first/junior physician second. ⋯ Physician-led team triage seemed advantageous, both expressed as efficiency and quality indicators, compared with the two other models.
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On 6 April 2009, at 03:32 local time, an Mw 6.3 earthquake hit the Abruzzi region of central Italy causing widespread damage in the City of L Aquila and its nearby villages. The earthquake caused 308 casualties and over 1,500 injuries, displaced more than 25,000 people and induced significant damage to more than 10,000 buildings in the L'Aquila region. ⋯ This study indicates that pain is prevalent during natural disasters, may exhibit a discernible pattern over the weeks following the event, and current drug treatments in this region may be adequate for emergency situations.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialEvaluation of a newly developed media-supported 4-step approach for basic life support training.
The quality of external chest compressions (ECC) is of primary importance within basic life support (BLS). Recent guidelines delineate the so-called 4"-step approach" for teaching practical skills within resuscitation training guided by a certified instructor. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether a "media-supported 4-step approach" for BLS training leads to equal practical performance compared to the standard 4-step approach. ⋯ The "media-supported 4-step approach" leads to comparable practical ECC-performance compared to standard teaching, even with respect to retention of skills. Therefore, this approach could be useful in special educational settings where, for example, instructors' resources are sparse or large-group sessions have to be prepared.