Articles: emergency-services.
-
Multicenter Study
Survey of attitudes of senior emergency physicians towards the introduction of emergency department ultrasound.
Emergency department ultrasound (EDU) is widely practised in the USA, Australia, parts of Europe, and Asia. EDU has been used in the UK since the late 1990s but as yet, few areas have established a practice. ⋯ Despite the vast majority of ED consultants being in favour of EDU, very few actually perform it on a regular basis or have had any formal training. Highlighted difficulties in EDU implementation included financial constraints, lack of support from radiology departments, and lack of formal training.
-
Multicenter Study
The emergency department approach to violently injured patient care: a regional survey.
Since the early 1990s public health workers have challenged healthcare practitioners to take an active role in violence prevention with patients aged 10-24 years. Emergency department (ED) clinicians are uniquely positioned to identify, assess, and refer youth involved in violent events. The objective of this study was to describe ED directors' estimate of the number of violently injured youth seen, the presence of established protocols or guidelines for handling youth violence, and the type of training programs offered to ED physicians regarding this issue. ⋯ To address the prevention of youth violence, EDs need specific training programs for ED staff, as well as systematic risk assessment and referral resources for structured intervention and follow up.
-
To describe the emergency department (ED) management of isolated mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the USA and to examine variation in care across age and insurance types. ⋯ Substantial ED resources are devoted to the care of isolated mild TBI. The present study identified deficiencies in and variation around several important aspects of ED care. The development of guidelines specific for mild TBI could reduce variation and improve emergency care for this injury.
-
To determine the availability of end-tidal CO2 measurement in confirmation of endotracheal tube placement in the non-arrest patient, and to assess its use in academic and non-academic emergency departments. ⋯ Despite recommendations from national organisations that endorse continuous monitoring of end-tidal CO2 for confirming endotracheal tube placement, it is neither widely available nor consistently applied.
-
Multicenter Study
Variations in the provision of resuscitation equipment: survey of acute hospitals.
There are wide variations in survival after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The aim of this survey was to describe how equipment provision of resuscitation trolleys was deployed in a range of clinical ward areas. ⋯ There are variations in the provision of resuscitation equipment in many clinical areas. Hospitals need to review the procedures for ensuring adequate provision of resuscitation equipment in all clinical areas.