The New Zealand medical journal
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The aims of this audit were to collect the Minimum Data Set outlined by the Australia New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry (ANZHFR), assess patient characteristics, analyse process of care, and evaluate how this compares to NICE guidelines for hip fracture care, as well as to Auckland Hospital data from 2007. ⋯ Compared to 2007, Auckland City Hospital has demonstrated a significant improvement in the rate of provision of timely surgery for hip fracture patients. Most patients are receiving the guideline recommended fracture-specific surgical interventions. The assessment and treatment of osteoporosis needs further attention.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field with a wide range of applications. Driven by economic constraints and the potential to reduce human error, we believe that over the coming years AI will perform a significant amount of the diagnostic and treatment decision-making traditionally performed by the doctor. Humans would continue to be an important part of healthcare delivery, but in many situations, less expensive fit-for-purpose healthcare workers could be trained to 'fill the gaps' where AI are less capable. As a result, the role of the doctor as an expensive problem-solver would become redundant.
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To explore the characteristics of medicinal and non-medicinal cannabis users, and the conditions that were treated with cannabis. ⋯ About five percent (4.6%, 95% CI 4.1-5.1) of those aged 15+ report using cannabis medicinally. This use was associated with being male, younger, less well-educated and relatively poor. While Māori have the highest prevalence of medicinal use, European NZ/Others make up 67.9% (95% CI 62.7-72.6) of medicinal users. Reported medicinal use was associated with reported conditions that were typically hard to manage: pain, anxiety/nerves and depression. Medicinal users were more likely to report chronic pain and pain interfering, moderately or more, with housework and other work.
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This audit aimed to assess how frequently overnight transfusions were taking place and compare it to the previous 2004 audit. ⋯ This audit has shown an improvement from 22% to 9% in the rate of OT compared to the 2004 audit. Nevertheless, 42% of transfusions were not considered appropriate based on current guidelines, and there is therefore room for improvement. A mean delay of 9 hours from haemoglobin sampling to transfusion suggests that reasons for this delay could be explored to help optimise transfusion start time. Some aspects of OT were worse than previously, with 12% of the OT exceeding 4 hours duration, double the rate of the previous audit. Results showing poor documentation and a high rate of unreported transfusion reactions (69% of reactions) suggest if an adverse transfusion reaction occurs overnight, there is a significant risk that it is less likely to be recognised, treated and/or reported.