The New Zealand medical journal
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Rapid expert management of transient ischemic attacks (TIA) has been shown to reduce the incidence of stroke, but is not always achievable. This study aims to demonstrate that TIA management by stroke experts is indeed more guideline adherent than that of generalists and that a TIA/stroke electronic decision support (EDS) tool closely mimics expert advice and improves guideline adherence. ⋯ This study (a) confirms that stroke expert care achieves higher guideline adherence and (b) provides validation that the TIA/stroke EDS tool is able to mimic expert advice and can reliably apply best practice guidelines.
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A prospective analysis was undertaken of the workload of prehospital triage and treatment facilities established in Wellington for the 2011 and 2012 International Rugby Sevens, and the Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC). The introduction of an alcohol intoxication pathway, the impact of the initiative on ambulance and Emergency Department (ED) workload, and its cost effectiveness were assessed. ⋯ With minimal supervision, event medics and paramedics can safely care for the majority of patients attending large rugby events in New Zealand, easing the pressure on ambulances and the ED, and generating significant cost savings for those services.
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To compare attendances of Maori with non-Maori palliative care patients at Emergency Departments (ED) and the outcome of their visits. ⋯ This study has helped quantify the characteristics of palliative care patients utilising ED in a relatively rural population with a high proportion of Maori. It has shown that a significant proportion of palliative care patients will attend ED, that men with palliative care needs are more likely to attend ED but Maori are not more likely to utilise the services. We believe that New Zealand hospitals should consider the role of their ED in the management of palliative care patients.
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Disasters are a growing global phenomenon. New Zealand has suffered several major disasters in recent times. The state of healthcare disaster preparedness in New Zealand prior to the Canterbury earthquakes is not well documented. ⋯ Prior to the Canterbury earthquakes, healthcare disaster preparedness faced multiple challenges. Despite these challenges, New Zealand's healthcare response was adequate. Future preparedness has to consider the lessons learnt from the 2011 earthquakes to improve healthcare disaster planning in New Zealand.