Emergency Medicine - Adult and Pediatric
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ED Nurses Feel Unprepared for Mental Health Complaints
Engaging with the patient can help ED nurses avoid these risky situations. Nurses can notice subtle signs of escalation, treat with medications when appropriate, offer food, perform regular assessments, and facilitate hygiene. It also is important for ED nurses to demonstrate they did everything in their power to transfer the patient to a higher level of care, if that is what the patient needs. -
Test Ordering Mistakes Are Issue in Most Diagnosis-Related ED Malpractice Claims
Team training — on communication skills, monitoring patients, and sharing information while the patient still is in the ED — can ensure the correct tests are ordered and acted on. -
Certain Recovery Activities Can Protect First Responders’ Well-Being
Considering the effects of stress on well-being, first responders are at higher risk of suffering from emotional fallout from their work. The good news is there are some straightforward solutions that could mitigate the harmful effects of stress and reduce their risk of developing depression, PTSD, or other mental health problems. -
Watch Closely for Surge in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Cases
The list of long-term health problems affecting patients after recovering from COVID-19 continues growing. One of these lesser-known conditions is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Although treatments for POTS exist, the condition often is missed or misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary suffering and anxiety for patients. However, given the condition’s recent visibility, frontline providers could gain a new understanding of POTS while also providing patients with a fast, accurate explanation for their symptoms. -
Healthcare Workers, Hospital Systems Clash Over Vaccine Mandates
While it may be hard to understand why a person at higher risk for contracting the virus might take issue with this requirement, the idea of mandating the vaccine as a condition of employment is simply too strong a push for some. However, a coalition of healthcare organizations is calling on all medical facilities to mandate the vaccines. -
EDs Boost COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
Some emergency providers may view COVID-19 vaccinations as another task piled on an already-full plate. However, EDs are uniquely positioned to reach many underserved and high-risk populations that have yet to receive protection from COVID-19. -
Drugs of Abuse in Trauma Patients Part II: Central Nervous System Depressants
Drugs of abuse are commonly encountered in the trauma setting. Patient care may be affected by acute intoxication and chronic use of these substances. Central nervous system depressants can result in coma and respiratory depression in severe toxicity. The authors discuss common presentations, potential complications, and management of central nervous system depressants in the context of a trauma patient. -
Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Emergency Department
Autism spectrum disorder is a very individual diagnosis with individual needs, which generally can be best described by the patients themselves or an advocate who has presented with the patient. Patience, accommodation, and flexibility are key skills to the clinical care of patients with autism spectrum disorder. -
Throat Infections Part II: Deadly, Must-not-Miss, Pediatric Throat Infections
Although less frequent than the conditions discussed in part I, recognition of the critical, life-threatening throat infections is essential. Ill-appearing pediatric patients with a change in voice or stridor should prompt a rapid and thorough evaluation to ensure expedited management. This article reviews the critical, must-not-miss etiologies of a sore throat.
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Diagnostic Certainty Affects ED Patients’ Satisfaction
Just remaining mindful that patients are looking for certainty is important for emergency physicians. This does not mean ordering more tests or procedures; instead, take the time to explain any diagnostic uncertainty that may exist even after an ED evaluation.