Can J Emerg Med
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The role of air medical and land-based critical care transport services is not always clear amongst traditional emergency medical service providers or hospital-based health care practitioners. Some of this is historical, when air medical services were in their infancy and their role within the broader health care system was limited. Despite their evolution within the regionalized health care system, some myths remain regarding air medical services in Canada. The goal is to clarify several commonly held but erroneous beliefs regarding the role, impact, and practices in air medical transport.
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We aimed to determine the rate of adverse events during interfacility transport of cardiac patients identified as low risk by a consensus-derived screening tool and transported by primary care flight paramedics (PCP(f)). ⋯ A screening tool can identify cardiac patients at low risk for clinical deterioration during air-medical transport. We believe patients screened with this tool can be transported safely by a PCP(f) crew, leading to potentially significant resource savings.
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Population density can limit the level of care that can be provided in local facilities in Ontario, and as such, patients with severe illnesses often require interfacility transfers to access specialized care. This study aimed to identify causes of delay in interfacility transport by air ambulance in Ontario. ⋯ Some common causes of interfacility delay are potentially modifiable: better trip planning around refueling and improved coordination with local EMS, could reduce delays experienced during interfacility trips. To better understand causes of delay, we would benefit from improved documentation and record availability which limited the results in this study.
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Review Case Reports
Just the Facts: What drugs are safe and effective for COVID-19?
A 53-year-old male presents with cough, fever, and myalgias for 7 days. Vitals include temperature, 38.0°C; heart rate, 110; blood pressure, 118/70 mm Hg; respiration rate, 28; and oxygen saturation 83% on room air. His only past medical history is hypertension. ⋯ The patient is hypoxic but responds to oxygen supplementation with nasal cannula and a face mask. His chest x-ray demonstrates multifocal infiltrates. Are there any therapeutic agents currently available for COVID-19?