Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Delayed diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) among patients can result in substantial harm. If diagnostic process failures can be identified at emergency department (ED) visits that precede CVD hospitalization, interventions to improve diagnostic accuracy can be developed. ⋯ We found that 0.6% of patients with an ED headache visit had subsequent CVD hospitalization, often at another medical center. ED visits for headache complaints among patients with prior stroke or neurosurgical procedures may be important opportunities for CVD prevention. Documented neurologic examinations were poorer among cases, which may represent an opportunity for ED process improvement.
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In 2014, Maryland (MD) implemented a "global budget revenue" (GBR) program that prospectively sets hospital budgets. This program introduced incentives for hospitals to tightly control volume and meet budget targets. We examine GBR's effects on emergency department (ED) visits, admissions, and returns. ⋯ GBR adoption was associated with lower ED utilization and admissions. ED returns and admissions among returns also decreased, while mortality and ICU stays among returns remained stable, suggesting that GBR has not led to adverse patient outcomes from fewer admissions. However, changes in ED return disparities varied by subgroup, indicating that improvements in care transitions may be uneven across patient populations.
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Various forms of bias exist in medicine, including race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and weight bias. Weight bias has not received as much attention in the literature as other forms of bias. More often when discussing weight bias, the discussion is with regard to physician to patient bias, or patient to physician. In this article, we summarize the study performed by McLean et al. as well as the podcast and discussion, and social media commentary, in which the investigators evaluate the presence of physician to physician weight bias.
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Review Meta Analysis
Acceptability and uptake of HIV self-testing in emergency care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Emergency departments (ED) interface with large numbers of patients that are often missed by conventional HIV testing approaches. ED-based HIV self-testing (HIVST) is an innovative engagement approach which has potential for testing gains among populations that have failed to be reached. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated acceptability and uptake of HIVST, as compared to standard provider-delivered testing approaches, among patients seeking care in ED settings. ⋯ Available data indicate that HIVST may be acceptable and may increase testing among patients seeking emergency care, suggesting that expanding ED-based HIVST programs could enhance HIV diagnosis. However, given the limitations of the reports, additional research is needed to better inform the evidence base.