Articles: hospital-emergency-service.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · May 1994
ReviewEmergency department response to hazardous materials incidents.
Emergency physicians must stay alert to situations that involve toxic chemical exposures. An appropriate response to victims of chemical contamination is important for the victim's outcome and the safety of hospital personnel. ⋯ Chemical contamination may affect one or hundreds of victims. Community planning is essential for an effective response to toxic chemical accidents (Haz-Mat).
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Hospital disaster planning should encompass events that affect the safety of the hospital environment and address those measures that ensure the availability of necessary services. Although most of the emphasis has been placed on general disaster planning, there is little written about disasters occurring within a hospital. In recent years, several incidents at our medical center involving fire, flood, and power failure resulted in a reevaluation of our preparedness to handle such situations. These experiences prompted this discussion and literature review of internal disaster plan because it is likely that at some time an internal emergency may occur.
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Pediatric emergency care · Apr 1994
ReviewEffective management of complaints in the emergency department.
Many of the causes of complaints can be reduced but not completely eliminated. Appropriate attention through education and quality management keeps the department's attention focused on increasing patient satisfaction.
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In a retrospective case review of inpatient and emergency department (ED) records during a 55-month period, 155 hospitalizations for Kawasaki syndrome (KS) were identified, of which 44 were seen in the ED. In 16 cases, KS was already suspected by their private physicians and confirmed in the ED by a KS specialist. In the remaining 28, patients presented initially to the ED. ⋯ In four instances, patients were hospitalized for other reasons. In all cases in which the diagnosis of KS was not made in the ED, viral infections or sepsis were suspected. One child presented to the ED in respiratory arrest and severe bradycardia.
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Sedation and analgesia are essential components of the ED management of pediatric patients. Used appropriately, there are a number of medications and techniques that can be used safely in the emergency care of infants and children. Emergency physicians should be competent in the use of multiple sedatives and analgesics. Adequate equipment and monitoring, staff training, discharge instructions and continuous quality management should be an integral part of the ED use of these agents.