Emergency Medicine - Adult and Pediatric
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Pediatric Toxic Ingestions: Dangers at Home
It is critical for healthcare providers to be aware of household substances that pose a serious risk of illness or death upon exposure to a small child. Even seemingly innocuous substances may pose a serious risk of toxicity.
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Evaluation of Trauma in Older Adults
The healthcare system is treating more older adults with unique physiologic and anatomic considerations that must be taken into account in trauma resuscitation to maximize each patient’s outcome.
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Differentiating and Managing Pediatric Shock
Early recognition and management of pediatric shock is critical for acute care providers. The authors review the subtle presentations, different approaches, and management strategies to effectively manage the different types of pediatric shock.
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Emergency Providers Scramble to Prepare for Treating More Pregnancy-Related Complications
Now that the Supreme Court has shifted abortion lawmaking decisions to the states, matters for frontline providers have become more complicated in multiple ways. In addition to tracking patchwork laws, providers must be prepared to manage pregnancy- or abortion-related complications that might have been better managed at clinics that provide appropriate services.
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EMTALA Implications if ED Patient Needs Medically Necessary Abortion
It is a mistake for ED providers to be solely focused on what their state abortion law says, without also considering the bigger picture in terms of other legal risks and ethical obligations.
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Should EDs Offer Contraceptives, Related Family Planning Education?
With many states implementing or planning to implement stringent new restrictions on access to abortion, some clinicians are urging their colleagues to take strong steps to ensure the contraceptive needs of women are met.
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The Joint Commission Puts Providers on Notice Regarding Diagnostic Overshadowing
When patients present with existing diagnoses or disabilities, clinicians might attribute any symptoms to the existing condition. This is called diagnostic overshadowing, a type of cognitive bias that can cause unnecessary suffering, unsafe care, and adverse events related to missed or delayed diagnoses. Unfortunately, the problem occurs more often among groups already experiencing healthcare disparities.
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Legal Risks if Psychiatric History Clouds Medical Decision-Making
Patients with these life-threatening medical conditions may report mood swings, personality changes, irritability or aggression, depressed mood, anxiety, or trouble concentrating. If appropriate history, physical exam, and diagnostic testing are not completed, medical emergencies can be missed. This is particularly common if physical exam findings are subtle.
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New Details Emerge About Acute Flaccid Myelitis, Cases Could Surge This Year
Researchers uncovered evidence indicating enterovirus D68 directly infects neurons in the spinal cord, prompting an immune response that leads to the limb weakness that is characteristic of acute flaccid myelitis. Investigators shed important light on the disease process that takes place in children who develop this polio-like illness. This is progress that can help lead to better treatments.
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Work on Improving the Care of Children with Medical Complexity
Emergency physicians identified significant challenges in providing high-quality emergency care to these patients. These include time constraints, the need to adequately review the expansive medical record for key information, and the need to contact known physicians when making treatment and disposition decisions. Respondents indicated communication with known providers and use of emergency information forms summarizing the child’s medical history were helpful.