Emergency
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Will Antibiotics for Appendicitis Become Standard of Care for ED?
Antibiotics instead of surgery is a reasonable approach for some patients with early uncomplicated appendicitis, according to the authors of a recent study; however, it is not the standard of care.
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Plaintiff Attorney Could Depict ‘Early Adopters’ of New ED Treatment Approaches as Reckless
New treatment approaches may be good options for a particular ED patient, but a bad outcome can trigger malpractice litigation alleging the standard of care was violated.
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Untwisting the Myths: A Medicolegal Review of Testicular Torsion
Testicular torsion (TT) is a urologic emergency with potentially devastating consequences and costs for providers and patients alike. With an annual incidence of approximately 4.5 per 100,000 males aged 1-25 years, TT is an uncommon medical condition, yet is the third most common cause of medical malpractice suit in this demographic. Because of varying presentations and physical exam findings, along with diagnostic imaging subject to individual interpretation, ED providers may miss this time-sensitive diagnosis.
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Community Hospital Uses Mobile App to Improve Communications, Accelerate Throughput
To improve communications between EMS providers and the ED, The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ, adopted an app that enables prehospital providers to notify the ED electronically that a patient is on the way, along with any key clinical information. The approach replaces the need for phone or radio notifications, which can tie up ED-based staff or get missed when the ED is busy.
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Flu Season Strains ED Capacity Across Country
Still, by the end of February, data show that flu activity remained widespread in every state except Oregon and Hawaii, and health officials warn frontline providers that flu activity is likely to remain elevated for several more weeks.
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Three-tier Accreditation Process for Geriatric EDs is on the Launch Pad
In recognition of the fact that older adults present unique care needs, ACEP has taken a leading role in a new effort to provide Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation to EDs that meet the standards spelled out in the Geriatric Emergency Department Guidelines, a series of recommendations the ACEP board of directors and several other national emergency medicine and geriatrics organizations endorsed in 2014.
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Avoiding Costs, Risks Through Reduced Hospitalization Among Older Adults
New research suggests that transitional care nurses with geriatrics training can help facilitate the discharge of older patients who present to the ED for care. Investigators found that such interventions can reduce hospitalization in this patient group, enabling patients to avoid hospital-associated risks such as functional and cognitive declines and healthcare-associated infections.
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Advanced Management of Opioid Overdose in the Emergency Department
This article aims to provide acute care providers with advanced techniques in the management of opioid overdoses, including the use of naloxone, the opioid receptor antagonist, as well as harm reduction management strategies aimed at long-term risk mitigation in this vulnerable population.
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Ultrasound-guided Nerve Blocks in the Emergency Department
Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks offer effective and safe alternatives to systemic analgesics to manage pain in the ED. This article reviews the literature supporting the use of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks in the ED and describes how to perform some of the most basic nerve blocks.
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Orofacial, Eye, and Ear Trauma
Facial trauma is uncommon in children. However, the unique features of these injuries, as well as the assessment and management considerations to minimize radiation exposure and ensure optimal cosmetic outcome, require an awareness of the diagnostic and therapeutic approach in pediatric patients. The authors provide an overview of orofacial, eye, and ear trauma in children.