Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Observational Study
Investigation into the predictive capability for mortality and the trigger points of the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) in emergency department patients.
National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) is widely used to monitor and trigger assessment throughout a patient's hospital journey. Since the development and role out of NEWS2, its ability to predict mortality has been assessed in several settings, although to date not within an undifferentiated ED population. ⋯ NEWS2 is an effective predictor of mortality for patients presenting to the ED. Findings suggest that maximum NEWS2 of 4 and over may be the best trigger point for escalation of treatment. Findings also suggest a NEWS2 of 0-1 can identify a very low-risk group within the ED.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) for shoulder dislocations and reductions in the emergency department: a diagnostic randomised control trial (RCT).
Following blunt trauma, diagnosis of shoulder dislocation based on physical examination alone is difficult due to possible concurrent proximal humeral fractures. X-rays are therefore used to confirm diagnosis. Results from recent observational studies comparing diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) with X-rays for shoulder dislocation have been encouraging. The aim of this study was to determine whether PoCUS improves diagnostic accuracy when used with physical examination for the diagnosis of shoulder dislocation, proximal humeral fracture and ascertaining successful reduction in the ED. ⋯ The addition of PoCUS to a physical examination significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for dislocations, proximal humeral fractures and reduction confirmation.
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Access to individual percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centres has traditionally been determined by historical referral patterns along arbitrarily defined geographic boundaries. We set out to produce predictive models of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) demand and time-efficient access to PCI centres. ⋯ This paper provides a framework to integrate prehospital environmental variables, existing or altered healthcare resources and health statistics to objectively model STEMI demand and consequent access to PCI. Our methodology can be modified to incorporate other inputs to compute optimum healthcare efficiencies.