WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin
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Comparative Study
The effectiveness of a follow-up program at improving HIV testing in a pediatric emergency department.
HIV infection is on the rise in the adolescent population, with the most common risk for infection being sexual exposure for youth aged 15-24 years. Therefore screening for HIV infection should be performed on adolescent patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with signs or symptoms of sexually transmitted disease (STD). Lack of opportunity for follow-up of HIV test results may prevent ED physicians from obtaining this test. ⋯ Coincident with the institution of an appropriate follow-up system, HIV testing in the ED increased and follow-up of these patients improved. However, further steps should be taken to improve the HIV testing in the pediatric ED.
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Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) is a percutaneous intervention used to treat pain from internal disc disruption. We reviewed the patients who underwent this procedure in our practice. ⋯ After completion of post-IDET rehabilitation, 66% of the patients returned to work. There were no complications.