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Already burdened with increased demand for medical services, EDs across the country are also seeing a spike in the number of patients who present with behavioral health issues.
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When patients present to the ED with dizziness, oftentimes the provider will order a computed tomography (CT) scan to rule out serious medical problems, such as intracranial bleeding or stroke. However, a new study suggests that such scans may not be worth the expense in the vast majority of cases.
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Under-triage, or assessing patients as being less ill than they actually are, can lead to treatment delays and adverse outcomes, including serious injury and even death.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular, disorganized, electrical activity of the atria. It is characterized by uncoordinated atrial activity that leads to inefficient atrial contraction and impaired ventricular filling.
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Several decades ago, two patients arrived in my emergency department with intense vomiting, bronchorrhea, and seizure-like activity. Their symptoms started about 30 minutes after consuming a mushroom stew. The wife considered herself to be an expert in mushroom identification and had picked several species of mushrooms, including a few very large ones with bright red tops. Both patients required intubation and several milligrams of atropine to handle their bronchial secretions. Several hours before, they had eaten a mushroom stew containing mushrooms they had picked that morning.
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"Everyone knows that a patient with a heart rate higher than 90 should be admitted to the hospital."
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Patients have referred to receiving mechanical ventilatory support as, "the most inhumane ever experienced".... While mechanical ventilation is one of the most commonly used treatment modalities in the ICU, this life-saving modality causes great anxiety, distress, and discomfort in patients.
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In this issue: New treatment for prostate cancer; avastin and breast cancer; new CMS disclosure rule; and FDA actions.