Articles: emergency-services.
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Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2024
Triage Discordance in an Academic Pediatric Emergency Department and Disparities by Race, Ethnicity, and Language for Care.
Minoritized patients are disproportionately represented in low-acuity emergency department (ED) visits in the United States in part caused by lack of timely access to primary and urgent care. However, there is also the possibility that implicit bias during triage could contribute to disproportionate representation of minority groups in low-acuity ED visits. Triage discordance, defined as when ED resources used are different from initial triage score predictions, can be used as a proxy for triage accuracy. Recent data suggest that discordant triage may be common, although little is known about the interaction with race, ethnicity, and language for care. ⋯ We found high rates of triage discordance in our pediatric ED, with significant associations with race, ethnicity, and language for care. Future research should evaluate the source of triage discordance and develop quality improvement efforts to improve equitable care.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
A descriptive study of domestic and family violence presentations to an emergency department in the Northern Territory.
Examine the nature of domestic and family violence (DFV) presentations to an ED in the Northern Territory and identify potential gaps in service delivery. ⋯ The data highlights the need for a 24 h trauma-informed, culturally safe and integrated service to support people experiencing DFV. This could be achieved by a specialist unit designed and staffed by First Nations health practitioners.
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Observational Study
Measurement of Cost of Boarding in the Emergency Department Using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing.
Boarding admitted patients in emergency departments (EDs) is a national crisis that is worsening despite potential financial disadvantages. The objective of this study was to assess costs associated with boarding. ⋯ Using advanced cost-accounting methods, our investigation provides novel evidence that boarding of admitted patients is financially costly, adding greater urgency for elimination of this practice.
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Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2024
Using the Electronic Health Record to Implement Expedited Partner Therapy in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
Expedited partner therapy (EPT) is a partner treatment strategy for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including gonorrhea and chlamydia as well as trichomoniasis in some states. The process allows healthcare providers to write prescriptions for STI treatment among partners of infected patients without a previous medical evaluation. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended EPT as a useful option to facilitate partner treatment, particularly male partners of women with chlamydia or gonorrhea infections. Our institution implemented EPT in 2016 after Ohio legislation was passed to authorize its use. We aim to describe the implementation process and descriptive outcomes of EPT adoption in a pediatric emergency department. ⋯ The use of the electronic health record provides a platform for implementation of EPT. Our study highlights a potential strategy for increasing treatments of STIs through EPT prescribing in the emergency department setting.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
Growing burden of gamma-hydroxybutyrate intoxication on emergency department resource utilisation.
Recreational gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) use is rising in Australia. We aimed to describe ED presentation patterns related to GHB over time and the impact this has on ED resource use. ⋯ GHB presentations to ED are rising and the impact on acute bed space and clinical resources is significant.