Articles: hospitals.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2010
Multicenter StudyOff-road vehicle trauma in children: a New South Wales perspective.
There is paucity of data on off-road vehicle injuries in children in Australia. We performed a retrospective study from 1998 to 2003 to analyze the frequency and nature of injuries in children involved in off-road vehicle crashes in the state of New South Wales. ⋯ Off-road motor vehicle injuries are a significant problem in children. There are no legal safety regulations for use of these vehicles. With the increasing sales of these vehicles, the incidence of injury may rise. There seems a need for education and legislation in relation to the safety issues concerned with these vehicles.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2010
Multicenter StudyPhysician practice variation in the pediatric emergency department and its impact on resource use and quality of care.
To evaluate variation in case-mix adjusted resource use among pediatric emergency department (ED) physicians and its correlation with ED length of stay (LOS) and return rates. ⋯ Significant variation exists in physician use of common ED resources. Higher resource use was associated with increased LOS but did not reduce return to ED. Practice variation such as this may represent an opportunity to improve health care quality and decrease costs.
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Multicenter Study
Appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy: a multicentre prevalence survey in the Netherlands, 2008-2009.
A survey was carried out to determine the prevalence and appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy (AMT) in the Netherlands and to identify determinants for inappropriate AMT. Prevalence surveys of patients hospitalised in the Netherlands were performed three times in 2008 and 2009. Patients' demographic, infection-related and AMT-related data were collected from hospital wards. ⋯ The use of fluoroquinolones was significantly associated with more frequent inappropriate use. There was considerable and significant variation between the participating hospitals in the amount of antimicrobials prescribed and the appropriateness of their use. To improve the completeness and reliability of such surveys, there is a need for intensive training of observers and medical staff in recording information.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Fall prevention in acute care hospitals: a randomized trial.
Falls cause injury and death for persons of all ages, but risk of falls increases markedly with age. Hospitalization further increases risk, yet no evidence exists to support short-stay hospital-based fall prevention strategies to reduce patient falls. ⋯ The use of a fall prevention tool kit in hospital units compared with usual care significantly reduced rate of falls.
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Internal medicine journal · Nov 2010
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyExploratory study of the 'weekend effect' for acute medical admissions to public hospitals in Queensland, Australia.
To determine whether in-hospital deaths of patients admitted through emergency departments with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute myocardial infarction, intracerebral haemorrhage and acute hip fracture are increased by weekend versus weekday admission (the 'weekend effect'). ⋯ This is the first Australian study on the 'weekend effect' (in a cohort other than neonates), and the first study worldwide to assess specifically the weekend effect among COPD patients. Observed patterns were consistent with overseas research. There was a significant weekend effect for myocardial infarction. Further research is needed to determine whether location (e.g. rural), clinical (e.g. disease severity) and service provision factors (e.g. access to invasive procedures) influence the weekend effect for acute medical conditions in Australia.