Articles: emergency-services.
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The diagnostic accuracy of focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) performed in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain is currently unknown. ⋯ In ED patients with chest pain and no ST elevation, the detection of regional wall motion abnormalities was a predictor of NSTE-ACS. Despite a high specificity, which indicated a possible role of FoCUS in the rule-in of NSTE-ACS, sensitivity was too low to allow a safe rule-out using FoCUS results alone.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
The use and impact of pathology tests in emergency department patients with mental health-related complaints: A cross sectional study.
To evaluate the use and impact of pathology tests in patients who present to the ED with mental health-related complaints. The primary objective is to measure the proportion of patients undergoing pathology tests and assess whether these tests trigger a change in management. ⋯ Pathology tests should be reserved for patients with high-risk features and based on clinical assessment. Strategic use of pathology tests could avoid unnecessary delays and costs, enhancing patient care in mental health-related ED presentations.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
Introduction of the Broset Violence Checklist in the emergency department: A retrospective cohort study.
The Broset Violence Checklist (BVC) can stratify the risk of violence and aggression in EDs. The aim of the present study was to report the initial uptake of introducing this checklist and associations with unplanned alerts to potential or actual violence in two EDs. ⋯ The BVC was highly specific for violence and aggression but had low sensitivity. Completion of the BVC was associated with more frequent unplanned alerts to potential or actual violence events, suggesting that high-risk patients might be identified intuitively, without formal scoring. Further exploration of the utility of the BVC in the ED is indicated with a focus on strategies to prevent violence and aggression.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2025
Suicide Prevention and Telehealth in Children's Hospital Emergency Departments.
Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents. Emergency department (ED) visits for mental health concerns are rising, and telehealth is increasingly used to provide emergency mental health care. We conducted a national survey to describe suicide prevention practices and tele-mental health care in children's hospital EDs. ⋯ Approximately half of children's hospital EDs use tele-mental health care, and hospitals with versus without tele-mental health care report similar rates of suicide prevention practice use. Opportunities exist to increase use of discharge safety practices.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
Impact of the XVII Pacific Games on the National Referral Hospital Emergency Department, Solomon Islands.
The XVII Pacific Games was held in Honiara, Solomon Islands in 2023 and was attended by competitors from 24 Pacific nations. The National Referral Hospital (NRH) is the sole tertiary hospital and largest emergency department (ED) in the Solomon Islands, located in the capital city, Honiara, and was the designated referral hospital for the Pacific Games. ⋯ Planned mass gathering events can provide opportunities for EDs to increase workforce capacity and strengthen systems, but proper preparedness is required to minimise additional strain on already busy departments.