Articles: emergency-services.
-
Comparative Study
Contaminated casualties: are we prepared to receive them?
The NHS's reception of casualties contaminated by radiation is reviewed. The findings suggest that training, facilities and personal protection for hospital staff are inadequate.
-
An academic emergency group was surveyed to determine if scheduling night shifts in blocks ("floats") improved attitudes and functioning. Seven physicians worked most of their nights as floats. Another four chose only isolated nights. ⋯ Physicians have different adaptability to night work. For some, concentrating night shifts is a useful strategy for improving shift work. This would require shorter shifts and larger groups than are now commonplace.
-
To review adolescents' utilization of a hospital emergency department (ED) in a rural area, to identify their characteristics, and to explore their motivation to seek health care in this setting. ⋯ Many adolescents in this rural area were found not to have an identified primary care source and to seek health care in EDs. Illnesses that could have been prevented or treated in a more cost-effective setting thus become "emergencies." Primary care sources are needed that are accessible and acceptable to adolescents.
-
Feelings engendered during 585 triage nursing assessments made by a total of 10 nurses were studied. Marked differences in nurses' feelings were demonstrated towards patients attending the accident and emergency (A&E) department with 'primary care' needs compared with those assessed as having 'A&E' needs. In particular, nurses demonstrated more negative feelings, in the form of less sympathy, more irritation and less motivation to help, towards patients with 'primary care' needs. ⋯ This work is part of a larger study into developing the primary care role of accident and emergency nurses. The culture of the A&E department is discussed, and the need to challenge and change this culture to ensure it becomes more responsive to individual patients' needs is advocated. This paper calls for development of triage training and education and further investigation into the effects of nurses' attitudes on patient assessment.
-
In May 1993, the appearance of critically ill patients with unexplained respiratory distress was noted in the Four Corners area formed by New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. This epidemic was ultimately linked to a hantavirus, an emerging pathogen. ⋯ Emerging infections that are important to emergency physicians are discussed. Recommendations that focus on disaster management and prevention of the spread of an unknown pathogen are developed.