The American journal of emergency medicine
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The goal of this study was to determine if computed tomography (CT) added any clinical information that was incorporated into the decision regarding treatment for patients who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with sore throat. ⋯ Palatal bulge is a reliable finding in identifying patients with a drainable peritonsillar abscess, and CT scans could largely be avoided in patients without physical exam findings suggestive of more extensive deep neck space abscesses. If a CT scan is obtained, HU should be measured and incorporated into the shared decision-making process with the patient.
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Emergency departments (EDs) are highly valued settings for HIV screening. Most large-volume ED HIV screening programs have attenuated operational barriers by screening only ED patients who already have a blood sample available for other clinical reasons. Our objective was to estimate the proportion of HIV positive patients who are missed when an ED excludes patients for whom HIV screening would be the only indication to obtain a blood sample. ⋯ Screening only those patients with a blood sample already available or easily obtainable due to usual ED care, misses many opportunities for earlier HIV diagnosis. Innovation in research, policy, and practice is needed to overcome still unaddressed barriers to ED HIV screening when HIV screening is the only indication for collection of a biological sample.
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A pediatric field triage strategy that meets the national policy benchmark of ≥95% sensitivity would likely improve health outcomes but increase heath care costs. Our objective was to compare the cost-effectiveness of current pediatric field triage practices to an alternative field triage strategy that meets the national policy benchmark of ≥95% sensitivity. ⋯ Current field triage practices do not meet national policy benchmarks for sensitivity. However, an alternative field triage strategy that meets the national policy benchmark of ≥95% sensitivity is not a cost-effective strategy.
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The primary aim was to determine women's representation as authors in emergency medicine journals in various authorship positions over the last 20 years. The secondary aim was to compare the two decades to analyze the development over time. ⋯ Results of this study are promising in showing that the representation of women in emergency medicine publications is rising during the recent decade. Although the academic gender gap has not been closed, steps taken for gender equality in academic emergency medicine are clearly notable.
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To derive and characterize the performance of various metrics of emergency transport time in assessing for sociodemographic disparities in the setting of residential segregation. Secondarily to characterize racial disparities in emergency transport time of suspected stroke patients in Austin, Texas. ⋯ Using a novel transport urgency index, we demonstrate that these findings represent race-based variation in spatial distributions rather than racial bias in emergency medical transport. These results highlight the importance of closely examining spatial distributions when utilizing temporospatial data to investigate geographically-dependent research questions.