Articles: emergency-services.
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To determine the regular source of care and the relationship between usual provider and use of medical services among ambulatory emergency department patients. ⋯ Our patients rely heavily on emergency departments for ambulatory physician visits, regardless of their reported regular source of care. However, patients who identify an emergency department as their regular source of ambulatory care used physician services less frequently than patients with access to providers in other settings. These issues require further evaluation with population-based surveys.
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To identify existing surveillance initiatives and to seek and reach consensus on a national minimum data set for injury surveillance in public hospital emergency departments in New Zealand. ⋯ Injury data collection will, in time become mandatory. However, the promotion of the minimum data set for injury surveillance by health professionals, national organisations and community groups will be essential to ensure its implementation and utilisation for the prevention and control of injuries.
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Poor initial assessment contributes to morbidity and mortality in acute severe asthma. We have audited this aspect of management in an A & E department over a single 6-month senior house officer employment cycle. The use of a cheap and simple stamp highlighting important clinical features of asthma was associated with a significant improvement in early assessment.
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To determine whether omitting neuroimaging in the primary assessment of patients with minor head injuries in the emergency department is safe. ⋯ We found it safe to exclude neuroimaging in the primary assessment of patients with minor head injuries in the ED, and to rely instead on clinical criteria.