Articles: emergency-department.
-
Extreme Heat Events and Emergency Department Visits among Older Adults in California from 2012-2019.
Background and Objectives: Extreme heat events are increasing with climate change impacting human health. This study investigates the impact of extreme heat events on Emergency Department (ED) utilization by older adult patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted a study of all 324 non-federal hospital EDs in California during an 8-year period from data extracted from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). ⋯ Older patients with three or more comorbidities had the highest odds of ED visits (OR = 1.085, 95%CI: 1.068, 1.112) at the 99th percentile. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that ED visits increase for older patients during extreme heat events, particularly with event intensity and duration. Older patients with at least one comorbidity were at greater risk.
-
Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted image interpretation is a fast-developing area of clinical innovation. Most research to date has focused on the performance of AI-assisted algorithms in comparison with that of radiologists rather than evaluating the algorithms' impact on the clinicians who often undertake initial image interpretation in routine clinical practice. This study assessed the impact of AI-assisted image interpretation on the diagnostic performance of frontline acute care clinicians for the detection of pneumothoraces (PTX). ⋯ The study indicates that AI-assisted image interpretation significantly enhances the diagnostic accuracy of clinicians in detecting PTX, particularly benefiting less experienced practitioners. While overall interpretation time remained unchanged, the use of AI improved diagnostic confidence and sensitivity, especially among junior clinicians. These findings underscore the potential of AI to support less skilled clinicians in acute care settings.
-
Ultrasound-guided (USG) erector-spinae plane block (ESPB) may be better than intravenous opioids in treating acute hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) pain in the ED. ⋯ ESPB is a promising alternative to morphine in those with HPB pain.
-
There is compelling evidence that AXRs have limited clinical value in the acute setting. Despite this, they are frequently used in many EDs. This quality improvement project (QIP) aimed to reduce unnecessary AXR use in a single-centre ED. ⋯ In this single-centre QIP, coordinated multidisciplinary interventions were effective in reducing unnecessary AXR usage without resulting in excess CTs. The methods and interventions described are easily reproducible at minimal expense and may be of interest to other departments undertaking quality improvement work in this area.