Articles: emergency-services.
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The number of asylum seekers awaiting decisions on their claims in the UK has more than tripled since 2014. How we meet international obligations to provide appropriate healthcare to asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs) is therefore an increasingly important issue. The views of frontline healthcare workers are vital to ensure the development of sustainable and effective health policy when it comes to caring for this group. ⋯ This study provides an insight into the views of EDCPs in providing care to ASRs in the ED. Study findings can potentially contribute to the development of ED-specific guidelines as well as inform wider health policy and provide a focus and direction for further research.
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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.
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Elder mistreatment (EM), encompassing abuse and neglect, is a significant public health issue, affecting up to 10% of community-dwelling older adults annually. Elder mistreatment is a growing concern with a higher prevalence in institutional settings and substantial associated healthcare costs. Prehospital clinicians (PHCs) such as emergency medical technicians and paramedics are uniquely positioned to detect and report EM during their interactions with older adults in their homes. The objective of the study is to describe the rate and characteristics of EM documented by PHCs using the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) database. ⋯ Despite the high prevalence of EM, PHCs infrequently document EM in their encounters with older adults. Additional training and comprehensive protocols are needed to improve the identification and reporting of EM, mainly elder neglect. Empowering PHCs through education and protocol development can significantly impact the detection and intervention of EM.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Sep 2024
Observational StudyInvestigating urinary characteristics and optimal urine white blood cell threshold in paediatric urinary tract infection: A prospective observational study.
While the definitive diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) requires a positive urine culture, the likelihood of UTI can be determined by urinalysis that includes white blood cell (WBC) count. We aimed to determine the optimal urine WBC threshold in urinalysis to predict UTIs in children presenting at the emergency department (ED). ⋯ A urine microscopy WBC threshold of ≥100/μL results in a clinically significant number of missed UTIs. Implementation of various thresholds should consider both the potential missed UTI rate and the required resource utilisation.