Articles: emergency-services.
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The demand for home attention in the special emergency service of L'Hospitalet and Cornella de Llobregat (Barcelona) was evaluated. The data from a sample of 2046 requests for home attention were assessed, corresponding to the period between July 1st, 1985, and June 30th, 1986. This sample was randomly selected from overall 28385 home visits carried out during this period. ⋯ The most common group of diseases were the respiratory conditions. 83% of patients received some type of therapy. In 12% of cases, admission to a hospital was indicated; the most common cause of admission to a hospital was indicated; the most common cause of admission was cardiovascular disease. Emphasis is made on the importance of the coordination between primary care groups and special emergency services, as well as on the need for continuing education of professionals with specialties related to the care of emergencies and pediatrics.
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Review Case Reports
The assessment and treatment of pain in the emergency room.
A broad spectrum of painful conditions presents to the modern emergency center (EC). The three most common categories are acute, self-limited disorders; chronic medical or surgical syndromes with acute exacerbation; and psychic pain syndromes in which the etiology cannot be easily ascertained. Many factors may differentiate pain from suffering, and physicians should educate patients not only about the nature of their condition and its prognosis, but also about anticipated discomfort. ⋯ Two special groups of patients, those with psychic pain syndromes and those with drug-seeking behavior, can create problems for the physician. Patients with chronic pain syndromes need special follow-up but do not benefit from additional analgesic drug therapy. Patients who seek and abuse drugs can be difficult to identify, may have true underlying medical pathology, and should not be given narcotic prescriptions.