Articles: emergency-services.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2024
ReviewBoarding in the emergency department: challenges and mitigation strategies.
Herein, we conducted a review of the literature to better understand the issue of prolonged emergency department (ED) boarding by providing an overview of the current evidence on the available causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies. ⋯ Considering the characteristics of healthcare systems, such as funding mechanisms, organizational structures, delivery models, access and quality of care, the challenge of ED boarding of critically ill patients requires a nuanced and adaptable approach. Solutions are complex but must involve the entirety of the hospital system, emergency department, staff adjustment, and education.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2024
ReviewEmergency Department Risk Factors for Post-Concussion Syndrome After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.
Approximately 16% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) develop a post-concussion syndrome (PCS) with persistent physical, neurological, and behavioral complaints. PCS has a great impact on a patient's quality of life, often decreases the ability to return to work, and henceforth has a great economic impact. Recent studies suggest that early treatment can greatly improve prognosis and prevent long-term effects in these patients. ⋯ Risk factors found in this systematic review are pre-existing psychiatric history, headache at the ED, neurological symptoms at the ED, female sex, CT abnormalities, pre-existent sleeping problems, and neck pain at the ED. This systematic review identified seven risk factors for development of PCS in patients with mTBI. Future research should assess if implementation of these risk factors into a risk stratification tool will assist the emergency physician in the identification of patients at high risk of PCS.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2024
ReviewReview article: Patients who leave before care is completed: What does the legal duty to warn mean for emergency department clinicians?
Patients leave ED for a variety of reasons and at all stages of care. In Australian law, clinicians and health services owe a duty of care to people presenting to the ED for care, even if they have not yet entered a treatment space. ⋯ The form of that warning may vary based on what is known about the patient's condition and the associated risks at the time. Specific documentation of warnings given is essential.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2024
ReviewAddressing the Healthcare Needs of Transgender Youth in the Emergency Department.
Transgender is a term that refers to individuals who identify with a gender that is different from the sex assigned to them at birth. In addition to gender dysphoria, many transgender youth experience a number of challenges including homelessness, violence, and mental health problems such as suicidality. ⋯ In this CME review article, we define relevant terminology then discuss best practices for clinical encounters involving transgender youth in the emergency department. Finally, we review gender-affirming care including behavioral modifications, hormones, and surgeries for transfeminine and transmasculine individuals.