Emergency Medicine - Adult and Pediatric
RSSArticles
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Identifying and Treating Non-COVID Viral Respiratory Infections
These days, it is easy to think every patient with a cough or a runny nose has COVID-19. But it is important to remember that all of the viral respiratory diseases are still circulating and causing significant disease and discomfort. Respiratory viruses can cause a variety of clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic infections to life-threatening illnesses with multi-organ failure.
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Repeat Visits Are Second Chances to Avoid Misdiagnosis
Conditions that start with subtle signs and evolve over time are traps for the practitioner who is too rushed to let the situation unfold.
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Tracking Undertriage Can Help Prevent Medical Errors
Investigators found several issues were important to track using quality improvement methods, including discrepancy in exam or history between the triage and assessment nurses, along with discrepancy between the chief complaint and the physical exam. Also, they found failure to synthesize historic or objective information.
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Legal Implications if Adolescents Seek Confidential Care
Generally, emergency clinicians are required to obtain parental consent for care provided to minors. However, there can be exceptions if the minor is seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections, mental health, substance use disorders, sexual assault, or pregnancy. Several federal and state laws apply. Healthcare professionals are advised to be aware of the laws where they practice.
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Many Emergency Medicine Residents Struggle with Communication
Researchers studied how to objectively assess patient/physician interactions in the ED. They used an observational tool to assess emergency medicine residents’ non-technical skills in patient interactions. This tool allows educators to consistently measure several important interpersonal domains to pinpoint the reasons why interactions are poor.
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How Did Paralytic Polio Re-Emerge in the U.S.?
Most outbreaks globally are attributed to vaccine-derived polio, or type 2. Cases of the type 2 form of polio stem from the large-scale, global use of the oral polio vaccine, a solution that contains a live (but weakened) virus.
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Frontline Providers Must Consider Dual Threats of AFM Resurgence, Polio Return
The CDC is advising frontline providers of a potential surge in cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare, polio-like complication of certain enteroviruses. Concurrently, there are concerns about the re-emergence of poliomyelitis.
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Dozens of Facilities Predicted to Show Interest in Rural Emergency Hospital Model
Key targets are hospitals that operated three years with negative total margins, facilities that recorded an average acute and swing daily census of less than three, and centers running with net patient revenue of less than $20 million.
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What Role Should Providers Play in New Rural Emergency Model?
In 2023, remote, financially stressed hospitals could convert to a new model and remain a critical part of small communities. This is an exciting opportunity for emergency medicine providers, although much depends on the final regulations that will govern these facilities.
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Updates on Syncope
Syncope is a common ED chief complaint that often results in over-ordering of tests and unnecessary admission to the hospital, with significant economic impact. The main focus of the emergency medicine physician is to risk stratify the patient based on the history and physical exam.