Articles: emergency-department.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Aug 2013
Comparative StudyAssociations between routine coronary computed tomographic angiography and reduced unnecessary hospital admissions, length of stay, recidivism rates, and invasive coronary angiography in the emergency department triage of chest pain.
This study was designed to assess the effects on resource utilization of routine coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in triaging chest pain patients in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ The routine use of CCTA in ED evaluation of chest pain reduces healthcare resource utilization.
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The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of nonfatal choking on food among US children. ⋯ This is the first nationally representative study to focus solely on nonfatal pediatric food-related choking treated in US EDs over a multiyear period. Improved surveillance, food labeling and redesign, and public education are strategies that can help reduce pediatric choking on food.
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To explore emergency department (ED) nurses' perceptions of current practices and essential components of effective change of shift nursing handover. ⋯ Provision of a handover framework incorporating key features and essential information has the potential to improve the efficiency of handover. Use of this framework may enhance the transfer of accurate and essential information to enable safe and high standards of nursing care in the ED.
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Cranial computed tomography (CT) scans are frequently obtained in the evaluation of blunt head trauma in children. These scans may detect unexpected incidental findings. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and significance of incidental findings on cranial CT scans in children evaluated for blunt head trauma. ⋯ A small but important number of children evaluated with CT scans after blunt head trauma had incidental findings. Physicians who order cranial CTs must be prepared to interpret incidental findings, communicate with families, and ensure appropriate follow-up. There are ethical implications and potential health impacts of informing patients about incidental findings.
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The objectives were (1) to determine trends in radiograph use in emergency department (ED) care of children with asthma, bronchiolitis, and croup; and (2) to examine the association of patient and hospital factors with variation in radiograph use. ⋯ The ED use of radiographs for children with asthma increased significantly from 1995 to 2009. Reversing this trend could result in substantial cost savings and reduced radiation. Pediatric-focused EDs used significantly fewer radiographs for asthma, bronchiolitis, and croup. The translation of practices from pediatric-focused EDs to all EDs could improve performance.