Irish journal of medical science
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Good clinical record-keeping is central in ensuring patient safety and effective communication between healthcare professionals. Poor communication is the root cause of many adverse events in medicine. ⋯ The use of the educational tool and a formal training session significantly improved the quality of notes written for surgical inpatients. Junior doctors do not feel adequately trained in this area. The authors recommend that formal training in record-keeping be included in all hospital induction programmes.
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The traditional outpatient paradigm of seeing patients prior to diagnostic tests and treatment is unsustainable without additional funding. New models of service delivery such as "one-stop clinics", direct access to diagnostics and advanced nurse practitioner (ANP)-led clinics have the potential to improve the efficiency of existing services. ⋯ New models of outpatient service delivery have the potential to reduce existing waiting lists and could be implemented in other Irish hospital groups.
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Quality of life of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors is believed to be as important as a factor in resuscitation outcome as the survival rate. The aim of this investigation is to assess the quality of life outcomes of survivors of out-of- hospital cardiac arrest in the Munster region. OHCAR was used to identify survivors who were contacted in writing to invite their participation. ⋯ The mean age of participants was 63.5 years with 85% male and 15% female. Eighty percent (n = 16) had no issues with mobility, 90% (n = 18) had no issues with personal care, 90% could undertake all usual activities, and 90% (n = 18) experienced no anxiety or depression. In conclusion, survivors of OHCA in the Munster area, who participated in this study, survive at a very high functional level.
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Acute urinary retention (AUR) is a common urologic emergency. However, its management is not standardized due to lack of clinical guidelines. ⋯ Admission of patients with acute urinary retention leads to a definitive management decision and reduced prolonged catheterization.
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Asthma in elderly patients causes excessive suffering and inconvenience. Regimens with better efficacy and less adverse events are still in need of researches. ⋯ Montelukast sodium plus budesonide has a promising clinical effect on asthma in elderly patients, effectively improves lung function and immunocompetence, and controls inflammatory response, without increasing the adverse reaction.