Emergency
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Measles Case in Waiting Room? Liability Exposure if Diagnosis Missed
Measles outbreaks have alarmed public health officials in many states. Many infected people end up in ED waiting rooms. If providers miss the measles diagnosis, there are potential liability risks for both ED providers and hospitals.
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ED Violence Often Unreported, Ignored by Prosecutors, Dismissed by Judges
Assaulting ED providers is a felony in many states. However, it is rare for anyone to press charges against assailants.
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Hypothermia and Frostbite
All emergency providers should be familiar with hypothermia regardless of the climate in which they practice. Hypothermia can occur in a variety of climates, indoors or outdoors, and in patients of all ages regardless of health status. Frostbite, chilblains, trench foot, and cold urticaria are cold-related injuries that may present to any emergency department during any time of year.
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Blunt Pelvic Trauma
The management of pelvic trauma has evolved significantly in the last 20 years, with advances in devices and procedures. The key to success is having a team of physicians, including specialists in emergency medicine, interventional radiology, and surgery, who can work together to provide each patient the best outcome possible.
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Data Show Progress Has Stalled on Staph Bloodstream Infections
New findings from the CDC show that while hospital infection prevention efforts have successfully reduced the rates of staph bloodstream infections in recent years, this progress has apparently stalled. There is a concern that healthcare providers may be backsliding in their activities and focus regarding infection control.
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Consider Potential for Drug-Drug Interactions When Prescribing New Medication
The results of a new study show that 38% of patients discharged from the ED at a large, academic emergency center experienced at least one drug-drug interaction resulting from a new medication prescribed at discharge. Even though this was a small study, investigators noted that the findings suggest emergency clinicians should familiarize themselves with the most common interactions highlighted and carefully consider the potential for adverse reactions when writing new prescriptions for patients upon discharge from the ED.
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‘Purposeful Rounding’ Mixes Security, Clinical Teams to Help De-Escalate Tense Situations
Concerned about upticks in workplace violence in healthcare settings across the country, SSM Health has implemented “purposeful rounding,” a concept designed to strengthen communications and feedback between security personnel and clinicians on hospital units. Administrators describe the approach as a culture change but one that is well-received by clinicians in some of the most vulnerable units such as the ED, neonatal ICU, and behavioral health.
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Measles Outbreaks Put EDs, Other Frontline Providers on Heightened Alert
Measles was declared all but finished as recently as 2000. However, the disease has re-emerged in the wake of declines in the number of people receiving vaccinations against it. With hundreds of reported cases in more than a dozen states, the disease is a significant concern for EDs because of the highly contagious nature of measles.
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Managing Complications of New-Age Cancer Therapy
Cancer patients undergoing treatment are immunocompromised and at high risk for developing early complications leading to critical illness. Compared to complications encountered with conventional chemotherapy, new-generation immunotherapies pose unique diagnostic challenges because their presentation can be vague and nonspecific or can mimic autoimmune diseases.
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Corticosteroid Administration in Sepsis May Be Associated With Lower 28-Day Mortality
In this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials comparing administration of corticosteroids with placebo or standard supportive care in sepsis, corticosteroids were associated with reduced 28-day mortality.