Emergency Medicine Topics
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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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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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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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Button Battery Ingestions Leading to More Pediatric ED Visits
Children are eating these tiny disks; researchers call for better laws and regulations.
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Appropriate Oxygenation Targets in the Treatment of Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure
The care of critically ill patients in the ICU remains challenging. Recent studies support current protocols for the delivery of oxygen to patients who require supplemental oxygen due to respiratory failure of varying etiologies. Broad oxygenation targets of SpO2 between 88% to 97% continue to be supported by recent trials.
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Feds Sign Off on Oregon’s Mobile Mental Crisis Intervention Service
This is the first state to receive funds for a program designed to deploy trained professionals into the community to better manage citizens with mental health and/or substance use issues.
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Health Systems Start Transition to New Approach for Treating Ischemic Stroke
Alteplase has been a mainstay to treat ischemic stroke. When given within hours of an episode, evidence has shown the clot-busting medication can improve outcomes. But what if there was a drug that could deliver similar, and possibly even better, outcomes for a subset of stroke patients without some of the logistical hurdles associated with alteplase?
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Healthcare Leaders Identify Steps to Maximize Response to Mass Shooting Events
As mass shooting events continue, healthcare leaders are focused on how the medical response is effective and expeditious. Frontline providers who have experienced such events have first-hand knowledge about where the weak links are and can offer unique insight on how organizations can work within their regions to be better prepared.
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Medical, Law Enforcement Teams Share Expertise, Support During Dangerous Situations
One way to accelerate care to victims of mass casualty events is to direct physicians who are accustomed to working with law enforcement to respond to the scene so they can provide high-level care to victims immediately. That is part of the emerging specialty called tactical medicine.
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Device Could Detect When Patient’s Condition Is Deteriorating
Researchers developed the Analytic for Hemodynamic Instability, an artificial intelligence-driven device that can provide continuous monitoring. This way, clinicians can pick up signs of patient deterioration promptly and deploy appropriate resources early.