Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
EVALUATION OF CALLING CRITERIA FOR THE RAPID RESPONSE SYSTEM UTILISING SINGLE VERSUS MULTIPLE PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETER DISTURBANCES.
The Adult Deterioration Detection System for Medical Emergency Team (MET) activation is widely used and includes single parameter (SP-MET) and multiple parameter (MP-MET) disturbances. Whether the patient characteristics, interventions and outcomes differ for SP-MET compared with MP-MET is uncertain. ⋯ SP-MET identify a cohort of patients at lower risk of requiring escalation of care and ICU admission. Given the resource intensity of MET activation, further research is warranted to determine whether alternative response strategies are appropriate for selected SP disturbances.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Patient satisfaction and acceptability with telehealth at specialist medical outpatient clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
Outpatient clinics were shifted rapidly to telehealth in Australia during the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, drastically altering patient care and experience. ⋯ This study offers unique insights into patients' experiences with telehealth, which until the current global pandemic, has been an uncommon mode of consultation delivery in urban areas. This study suggests when defining the place of telehealth in future healthcare delivery, patient perspective and careful patient selection will be key. Disease progression, language and cognitive ability, health literacy, technology access and patient and clinician preference are important considerations when deciding how effectively to embed and integrate telehealth into consultations.
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Dysphagia is a common problem affecting all ages. It is increasing in frequency particularly among the younger population due to the rising incidence of eosinophilic oesophagitis, a condition which often leads to acute presentation to hospital for the first time with food bolus obstruction requiring endoscopic removal. ⋯ The three main investigations for dysphagia remain endoscopy, barium study and manometry, with endoscopy also offering therapeutic potential. Management is largely determined by the eventual diagnosis, often in a multi-disciplinary setting.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among hospital employees in Italy - a single center study.
The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak early in 2020 overwhelmed the Italian national health system, and hospitals were considered places at high risk of spreading the infection. We explored specific antibody seroprevalence of all employees at a single hospital in the epicentre of the outbreak, to identify areas of risk in nosocomial setting and to evaluate the usefulness of antibody testing. ⋯ Seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 in this population of hospital workers was overall about 10%, with an excess prevalence in roles and departments associated with contacts with COVID-19 patients.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Treatment And Outcomes For Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Lung Cancer Patients In The Top End Of The Northern Territory.
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and the death rate of lung cancer in Indigenous Australians is increasing. ⋯ Indigenous patients from the Top End diagnosed with lung cancer were more likely to have poorer survival outcomes when compared to non-indigenous people. Potential reasons for the discrepancy in survival need to be addressed urgently.