Articles: emergency-department.
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ED data are an important source of surveillance data for monitoring many conditions of public health concern and are especially useful in describing trends related to new, or unusual public health events. The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant changes in emergency care seeking behavior. We described the trends in all-cause emergency department (ED) visit volumes by race, ethnicity, and age using ED data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP) during December 30, 2018-April 2, 2022. ⋯ ED utilization fluctuated considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall ED visits returned to within 5% of 2019 baseline during Q2 2021, however, ED visits among children did not return to the 2019 baseline until Q3 2021, then again dropped below the 2019 baseline in Q4 2021. Trends in ED visit volumes were similar among race and ethnicity groups but differed by age group. Monitoring ED data stratified by race, ethnicity and age can help understand healthcare utilization trends and overall burden on the healthcare system as well as facilitate rapid identification and response to public health threats that may disproportionately affect certain populations.
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The complexity of older patients along with trends in poorer outcomes in the emergency department (ED) has prompted research into how EDs can adapt to meet the needs of an aging population. A separate Older People's Emergency Department (OPED) has been proposed to improve care at the front door. ⋯ Assessment in the OPED was not associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of hospitalization. However, patients had a shorter wait for clinical assessment, with concomitant reduction in department length of stay.
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The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to educate emergency nurses and social workers about human trafficking and implement a human trafficking screening, management, and referral protocol adapted from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. ⋯ The care of human trafficking victims can be improved when emergency nurses and social workers can recognize red flags using a standard screening tool and protocol, thereby identifying and managing potential victims.
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Paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opiates/opioids, administered parenterally via intravenous or intramuscular route, are widely used to provide analgesia for patients with moderate to severe pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the level of analgesia provided by intravenous paracetamol (IVP) alone compared with NSAIDs (intravenous or intramuscular), or opioids (intravenous) alone in adults attending the ED with acute pain. ⋯ CRD42021240099.