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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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Frailty and associated prognosis among older emergency department patients with suspected infection: A prospective, observational cohort study.
Prognosis and disposition among older emergency department (ED) patients with suspected infection remains challenging. Frailty is increasingly recognized as a predictor of poor prognosis among critically ill patients; however, its association with clinical outcomes among older ED patients with suspected infection is unknown. ⋯ Frailty is a highly prevalent prognostic factor that can be used to risk-stratify older ED patients with suspected infection. ED clinicians should consider screening for frailty to optimize disposition in this population.