Articles: emergency-services.
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Observational Study
Safety and efficacy of electric cardioversion in the emergency department: analysis of associated factors according to gender.
To explore the safety and effectiveness of electric cardioversion to treat atrial fibrillation in a hospital emergency department (ED). ⋯ Cardioversion is a useful, effective, and safe treatment for atrial fibrillation in the ED, although there are frequent recurrences. Factors associated with recurrence differ according to sex.
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In Alberta, Health Link (HL) provides a 24-h, nurse-staffed, phone resource to the public for health-care advice. HL directs callers to either seek care in the emergency department (ED), with a primary care provider or provide self-care at home. This work aims to describe HL ED referrals prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ HL referrals to the ED represent only a small percentage of all ED visits. Based on our definition, most referrals by HL are likely appropriate. The COVID-19 pandemic does not appear to have altered the rates of calls to HL, the number of HL calls referred to the ED, nor the likely appropriateness of those referrals.