International journal of trauma nursing
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A PMG is a tool developed by a consensus process, with the input of all trauma care practitioners who are involved in the care of a patient with a specific clinical issue. The group that develops the PMG uses current, evidence-based data, carefully introduces and monitors the PMG in the clinical setting, and evaluates the success of the PMG in accomplishing the goals identified at the beginning of the process. The ultimate goal of a PMG is to eliminate unnecessary practice variations, with the end point of achieving quality care. Participating in the development of a guideline with a review of the literature serves as an excellent educational process for all practitioners.
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A case report involving an anesthesia adverse event that was received in the FDA database was used to demonstrate postmarket reporting of medical devices by the manufacturers and the FDA. Even common, everyday adverse events are evaluated and used to improve the safety and efficacy of medical products. Instructions for accessing the FDA MedWatch forms and coding manual are provided, and readers are referred to additional resources on the FDA website.
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Dog bites are a major public health problem in the pediatric population, requiring emergency treatment for wound repair and possible hospitalization in a trauma center. Data from the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study were analyzed, and the records of 183 pediatric dog bite patients from 1990 to 1995 were evaluated. Dog bites were found to constitute a very small proportion of the total pediatric admissions to Pennsylvania trauma centers; however, the findings were similar to other reported studies.
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Nerve agents are toxic chemicals developed for use by the military, but used by terrorists against civilian populations. As threats of terrorism increase, it is possible that health care providers will be confronted with multiple victims of nerve agent exposure. Nerve agents are highly toxic forms of organophosphate poisons that potentially could cause harm to anyone who comes in contact. Emergency personnel need to be familiar with the agents, know how to prepare for encountering and treating victims, and know how to protect all people involved from further poisoning.