Articles: emergency-medicine.
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Comparative Study
Time analysis of consult service emergency department admission process compared with emergency medicine service admission process.
This prospective case-controlled study was performed to compare the time intervals of a consult emergency department (ED) admission process with an emergency medicine (EM) service admission process. During March 1994, the consultant services admitted 307 patients for hospitalization at an urban tertiary academic ED with an EM residency; in April 1994, the EM service admitted 264 patients. The times measured were: 1) triage to examination room; 2) room to first physician contact; and 3) emergency physician contact to admit request. ⋯ Concordance of the ED admitting impression and the hospital discharge diagnosis was 99% (259/264). We conclude that in selected tertiary academic EDs, admission of all patients by the EM service is more efficient than a consultant-admission process. Outcomes show the EM admission process may be employed safely and with accurate patient diagnosis.
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Comment Letter Case Reports Comparative Study
International introspection.
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Bedside ultrasound is not widely practised by emergency physicians in Australasia despite its use in Europe, Asia and North America, and an extensive medical literature on the subject. A workshop was organised at Auckland Hospital, aiming to introduce emergency physicians to the basics of emergency ultrasound. This article summarises the content of the programme, the responses from the participants and the principles that emerged at this workshop. ⋯ The first Australasian workshop on bedside ultrasound in the Emergency Department held in Auckland (February 1998) was successful in achieving its objectives. Focused emergency ultrasound can be taught to detect free intraperitoneal or pericardial fluid in trauma patients. There is a need for appropriate quality assurance and credentialling guidelines as more Australasian emergency departments consider the application of focused ultrasound.