J Emerg Med
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Emergency physicians are frequently called on to medically clear patients presenting with a psychiatric complaint. There is limited guidance on how to conduct this clearance. ⋯ The screening tool proved useful in determining if a psychiatric patient needed further medical evaluation beyond a history and physical examination before transfer for a psychiatric evaluation.
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In 2006, nearly a quarter of a million patients either arrived dead or died in the Emergency Department (ED). The role of palliative care (PC) in the ED is not well defined, and education of medical students and residents in the area is sparse. ⋯ Research on PC in the ED is sparse but it is a growing need, and the EP will need to become proficient in the delivery of PC in the ED.
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As part of the emergency department (ED) evaluation of patients with psychiatric complaints, emergency physicians are often asked to perform screening laboratory tests prior to admitting psychiatric patients, the value of which is questionable. ⋯ Patients presenting to the ED with a psychiatric chief complaint can be medically cleared for admission to a psychiatric facility by qualified emergency physicians using an appropriate history and physical examination. There is no need for routine medical screening laboratory tests.
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Cleft palate has usually been described as a congenital anomaly. Acquired clefting of the palate is rare and is usually due to penetrating trauma. ⋯ The case highlights the fact that ingested foreign bodies can get lodged in the nasopharynx and that nasopharynx X-ray study should always be done in cases of a disappearing foreign body in the aerodigestive tract.
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Depression is a common disease, yet it is not commonly studied in the Emergency Medicine literature. ⋯ About 1 in 5 ED patients may be suffering with depression.