Articles Tagged With: Diagnostics
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COVID-19 Long-Haulers May Show Signs of Chronic Fatigue, Myalgic Encephalitis
Many patients with COVID-19 will go on to develop persisting symptoms that resemble those of myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, regardless of symptoms experienced at viral onset.
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Shortness of Breath in Older Adults Is Challenging Diagnosis in ED
Older adults might present with atypical symptoms, such as “just not feeling right.” Some experience a decreased sensation of dyspnea itself, so they do not even report feeling short of breath. Older patients also may present with various comorbid conditions that are causing shortness of breath, such as congestive heart failure or COPD. This can lead to misdiagnosis.
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Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Related to COVID-19?
The ECG in the figure was obtained from a man in his 30s. How would one interpret this tracing if told the patient’s only symptom was recent shortness of breath on exertion that he had not experienced?
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Outcome of Coccidioidomycosis in the Pre-Antifungal Era; PET Imaging for Fever of Unknown Origin; High Rates of Thromboembolism in COVID-19
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Misdiagnosis Top Allegation in Aortic Dissection Malpractice Claims
Failure to timely diagnose, failure to order diagnostic tests, and failure to interpret diagnostic tests were the most frequent allegations in malpractice claims involving aortic dissection, according to an analysis of claims filed between 1994 and 2019.
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Knowing More About Super-Users Prevents Unnecessary ED Visits
Frequent ED visitors account for 10% to 26% of all ED visits, and are responsible for a growing proportion of healthcare expenditures. The risk of ED super-use is more likely for older patients and those in poorer health. The most common diagnoses were low back pain, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, headache and migraine, urinary tract infection, and abdominal pain.
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ED Nurses Also Face Liability for Misdiagnosis
The idea that it is not within the nurses’ scope of practice to contribute to diagnosis is both dangerous and wrong.
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Virtual Visits and Antibiotic Prescribing
Compared to in-person visits, virtual visits were associated with improved antibiotic prescribing practices for women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
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Left Ventricular Size, Function Predictors of Outcomes in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation
In a large cohort of asymptomatic patients with hemodynamically significant chronic aortic regurgitation, volumetric left ventricular size and function measurements were equally discriminant in identifying patients at higher risk for mortality vs. traditional linear measurements.
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EDs See Decrease in Low-Severity Illnesses, More Advanced Imaging
Perceived litigation risk has been often cited as one of the top reasons for ordering low-value imaging in many settings, including the ED. Higher costs and more radiation exposure (and hospitalizations) probably could have been avoided in many cases. Yet EPs know it is possible they will be sued for failing to order a diagnostic test.