Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2020
Sex Differences in the Association between Local Government Spending and Mortality: Evidence from Tennessee.
A growing body of research has demonstrated the effect of local government spending on health outcomes; however, the effect of spending on different demographic groups is unclear. We combined national and local data to examine the impact of public spending on mortality rates in Tennessee. ⋯ This study provides further evidence that local government spending plays a role in addressing and improving population health and suggests that public spending can have differential effects within a population.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2020
Increasing Comfort with Sensory Processing Difficulties in the Prehospital Setting: Pre-Post Study of Education and Sensory Tools in EMS Providers.
Interfacing with patients with sensory processing difficulties is challenging to healthcare providers and even more problematic for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in the acute care setting. Sensory training may be an effective nonpharmacologic method to deal with these patient populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an educational session and placement sensory tools would improve the comfort of EMS providers in the prehospital setting. ⋯ Sensory training can be an effective method for EMS providers to increase comfort levels in taking care of patients with sensory difficulties. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm/refute these findings.
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To examine the prevalence of self-reported aerobic leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and muscle-strengthening activity (MSA) participation using a representative sample of US adults (18 years old and older) with a seizure disorder or epilepsy. ⋯ Adults reporting a seizure disorder or epilepsy also indicate their ability to participate in both LTPA and MSA; however, this population was found to have a significantly lower odds of meeting current federal aerobic LTPA and MSA recommendations.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2020
Changes in Proportions of Emergency Department Patients with Mental Illness Noted in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 2012-2015.
The primary objective of this study was to determine whether there was a change in the rate and types of patients with psychiatric illnesses being seen in the emergency department (ED) from 2012 to 2015 using the National Ambulatory Care Survey. A secondary objective was to determine what if any changes occurred in the resources available to care for these patients. ⋯ The rate and types of mental health patients coming to the ED are still on the rise. This is coupled with a lack of mental health infrastructure to address the needs and diagnoses that continue to be seen in the ED. States may need increased, targeted funding for mental health outside the increase in coverage via the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to slow the rate of mental health patients seen in the ED.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2020
Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been suggested as a cause for pulmonary embolism (PE). We aimed to explore the prevalence and clinical impact of AF in patients with PE. ⋯ AF is associated with a higher rate of massive PE, higher in-hospital mortality, a longer length of hospital stay, and a higher incidence of in-hospital complications and nonhome discharge.