Browse Emergency Articles by Topic

Electronic Tool, Clinical Judgment Replace Electronic Severity Index Triage System

Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore has replaced a widely used triage system with a new decision-support tool that enables nurses at triage in the ED to better differentiate patients based on acuity level. The electronic tool, dubbed e-triage, is able to quickly factor in a patient’s medical history, vital signs, and chief complaint, and compare this information to thousands of other patients.

How Las Vegas Hospitals Responded to Nation’s Deadliest Mass Shooting

Las Vegas medical professionals describe their experience responding to the nation's deadliest mass shooting that occurred in October. These providers also emphasize the importance of developing a versatile emergency response process that can be deployed in any type of mass casualty event.

Emerging Infectious Disease and Emergency Medicine

There are many emerging infections for which the emergency physician must remain clinically vigilant. Although many infections may not represent true emergencies, it is important for ED providers to understand the epidemiology, presentation, and treatment of some of today’s common and life-threatening infections.

Tachycardia

The recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of tachycardia is a cornerstone of emergency medicine practice. This article will cover the most commonly seen supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias encountered in the ED, with a focus on their electrocardiographic diagnoses and treatment options.

In-hospital vs. Telephone Availability of an Intensivist at Night

When overnight shifts were staffed by nighttime intensivists rather than residents with attending intensivists on call remotely, most nurses perceived improvements in clinical care, procedures, efficiency, communication, and job place comfort.

Is There Still a Role for High-frequency Oscillatory Ventilation in ARDS?

In this patient-level meta-analysis of four well-known randomized, controlled trials of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the authors found that HFOV increases mortality for most patients with ARDS but may improve survival among patients specifically with severe ARDS.

Hyponatremia in the Critically Ill

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder encountered in hospitalized patients (30-40%) and is present in 17.7% of patients admitted to the ICU. A recent registry demonstrated significant practice variation regarding this common disorder, underlining the frequent diagnostic and therapeutic challenges clinicians face in this area.

Hypersensitivity Reactions in the Pediatric ED: The Tip of the Iceberg

Hypersensitivity reactions are very common. Understanding the different types, including serum sickness-like reactions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermolytic necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, is valuable both for an accurate and timely diagnosis as well as appropriate management.

Liability Protections for EMTALA Care Elusive for EPs

Although several states have enacted liability reform legislation for ED care, efforts at the federal level have been less successful. Here is a summary of legislation under consideration in Congress.

Visit Volume Linked to Being Named in Claim

One in 11 EPs was named in malpractice claims during a 4.5 year period, according to a recent study. Total number of years in practice and visit volume were the only factors associated with being named as a defendant.