The Medical journal of Australia
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To examine the frequency of deaths in low-mortality diagnosis-related groups (LM-DRGs) and the patient and hospital characteristics associated with them. ⋯ The use of the LM-DRG indicator requires further investigation to test its validity. LM-DRG deaths are infrequent, making it difficult to identify temporal changes and outlier hospitals. Patient characteristics unrelated to quality of care increase the likelihood of death among LM-DRG patients. The SMR analysis showed that failure to adjust for these characteristics may result in unfair and inaccurate identification of outlier hospitals. The increased risk of death associated with interhospital transfer patients and low-volume hospitals requires further investigation.
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To determine issues that affect newly resettled refugees in accessing an emergency department (ED). ⋯ Reasons for differences in preferences of health care access, and determining how best to educate the community on the use of ED services, warrant further investigation. From a policy perspective, the increasing health care needs of refugees need re-examination when planning health care provision to refugees.
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To determine the Australian native ant species associated with ant sting anaphylaxis, geographical distribution of allergic reactions, and feasibility of diagnostic venom-specific IgE (sIgE) testing. ⋯ Four main groups of Australian ants cause anaphylaxis. Serum sIgE testing enhances the accuracy of diagnosis and is a prerequisite for administering species-specific venom immunotherapy.