Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Alcoholism represents a huge socioeconomic burden in most developed societies. ⋯ The generally underestimated problem of alcohol abuse in Germany demands an excessive amount of manpower and resources in EDs, where a high yet expensive standard of care is provided. Against this background, how far this burden can be reduced, both in EDs and in society in general, is discussed.
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Multicenter Study
The evolution of the emergency care practitioner role in England: experiences and impact.
The emergency care practitioner (ECP) is a generic practitioner who combines extended nursing and paramedic skills. The "new" role emerged out of changing workforce initiatives intended to improve staff career opportunities in the National Health Service and ensure that patients' health needs are assessed appropriately. ⋯ Indications are that the ECP schemes are moving forward in line with original objectives and could be having a significant impact on the emergency services workload.
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There is limited data about how appropriate medical care is in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Preventable deaths in emergency admitted patients with early mortality are not uncommon. Analysis and identification of preventability early mortality by using a chart based method may be used as a quality assurance index in emergency medical care.