Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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The objective was to evaluate patient acceptance and understanding of nontargeted opt-out and opt-in rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening using computerized kiosks in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Computerized kiosks can be successfully used to perform nontargeted rapid HIV screening in EDs. However, when using this approach, patient understanding of opt-in consent is significantly better than opt-out consent.
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Sepsis is characterized by an initial systemic proinflammatory response leading to endothelial damage and increased capillary permeability. The authors conducted a pilot study to determine if microalbuminuria, measured by the urine albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR), was associated with outcome in emergency department (ED) sepsis patients. ⋯ In this pilot study, microalbuminuria measured by POC ACR was associated with disposition in ED patients with sepsis or severe sepsis. Larger studies using more robust outcomes comparing ACR with validated sepsis biomarkers are needed to elaborate on these results.
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The specific objectives were: 1) to compare the characteristics and 6-month outcomes of community-dwelling seniors in Quebec, Canada, who visited three different emergency department (ED) types and 2) to explore whether the differences in outcomes by ED type were seen among subgroups of seniors. ⋯ More vulnerable community-dwelling seniors tend to be treated in more specialized EDs, which have worse linkages to community services. Improved linkages between more specialized EDs and the community (physicians, home care, and other services) and increased access to community services may improve outcomes in this population. Seniors treated at more specialized EDs were more likely to experience serious outcomes, but were less likely to make a return outpatient ED visit.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The delivery of a health promotion intervention by a public health promotion specialist improves patient satisfaction in the emergency department.
The objective was to introduce a public health promotion specialist (PHPS) into the hospital emergency department (ED) to provide a brief health promotion intervention to patients and to determine the effect of the initiative on patient satisfaction. ⋯ Health promotion and disease prevention interventions carried out by PHPS in the ED can improve patient satisfaction.