Emergency
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Emergency Providers Sound Alarm on Persistent Critical Drug Shortages
There may be fewer drug shortages than in other recent years, but some shortages are more severe, according to experts. Emergency providers report these shortages are affecting patient care. In particular, emergency providers are struggling to deal with a shortage of IV opioid analgesic drugs that has been in effect since the end of 2017. They are working with hospital pharmacists to conserve such drugs for patients most in need and to find alternative therapies.
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CDC: Suicide Rates Up By 30% in Some Areas
In 2016 alone, 45,000 people committed suicide. Data show suicide is one of only three leading causes of death that are increasing.
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Emergency Providers Play a Pivotal Role in Suicide Prevention
Experts point to insufficient mental healthcare resources in the United States as one of the key drivers of the rising suicide rate. However, these experts emphasize that emergency providers have a front-row seat to the problem, and can play an important role in prevention. To address the issue, a growing number of EDs are implementing universal screening to identify patients at risk for suicide. Such steps must be paired with effective protocols to connect at-risk patients with appropriate interventions.
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Emergency Medicine
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) is a treatment modality that can be used in the emergent management of a number of life-threatening conditions. This article will review the mechanisms, indications, and future directions of HBO2 specific to the field of emergency medicine.
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Sepsis-related Neurologic Dysfunction Strongly Associated With Long-term Mortality
In this multicenter, retrospective study, acute neurologic dysfunction was the organ dysfunction most strongly associated with short- and long-term mortality in patients surviving a sepsis hospitalization.
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Selection of Isotonic Crystalloid for Fluid Resuscitation: How Much Does It Matter?
Using balanced crystalloids rather than normal saline for intravenous fluid administration in critically ill adults leads to statistically significant lower rates of major adverse kidney events, including death from any cause, new renal replacement therapy, and persistent renal dysfunction, compared to normal saline in critically ill adults. Clinical judgment should be applied when selecting fluid.
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Re-evaluating Steroid Therapy in Septic Shock
Septic shock carries a significant risk of mortality despite increasing knowledge of its pathophysiology and clinical management. Studies dating back to the 1960s suggested steroid treatment may alter the course of septic shock and led to the concept of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency. Two recent trials have provided more data regarding steroid therapy for septic shock. Comparing these seminal studies provides context for the decision about whether to treat septic shock with steroid therapy.
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Pediatric Abdominal Ultrasound: A Comprehensive Guide to Making the Diagnosis — Part I
Ultrasound is rapidly evolving as the ideal imaging modality for many common pediatric complaints. This two-part series reviews the select applications of ultrasound, reviewing the basic techniques, indications, and limitations for each exam.
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Significant Legal Exposure for Hospital if Patient Assaulted in ED
Seldom does a person go from a state of calm to physical violence without warning. Are staffers trained to recognize when an aggressive patient’s behaviors are escalating?
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‘Divide and Conquer’ Is Plaintiff’s Strategy With ED Co-defendants
When both ED nurses and EPs are named in a malpractice suit, a unified defense is the goal.