Tag

Emergency Department

All articles tagged with #emergency department

health11 days ago•3 min saved

Record ER Visits Rise as Tick Bites Surge Across the U.S.

Warmer weather is boosting tick activity and driving a surge in emergency department visits for tick bites, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, according to the CDC. Lyme disease remains common in the U.S., with about 476,000 cases annually, but not all ticks carry the bacteria. Transmission can take as long as 24–36 hours for Lyme, while other tick-borne diseases may transmit more quickly—sometimes in minutes. The piece also notes which tick species spread Lyme and provides practical prevention tips, including checking clothes, showering after outdoor activity, and performing full-body checks for ticks.

via USA Today|

#cdc #climate-change #emergency-department

health24 days ago•2 min saved

Family Sues Schneider Hospital Clinicians Over Alleged Care Shortfalls in Pneumonia Death

A civil lawsuit filed in the territory’s Superior Court accuses Schneider Regional Medical Center doctors Thomas Launch, Immett Habtes, and Michael Fisher, along with multiple unnamed nurses, of medical malpractice after Jahnai Niles died in October 2024 following a pneumonia admission. The complaint alleges delayed diagnostics and procedures, lack of a protective airway/aspiration plan, inadequate escalation to cardiology, risky sedative use, and a delayed staff response when he tried to stand; autopsy reportedly found severe cardiomyopathy. The suit seeks damages for pain and suffering, loss of future earnings, medical and funeral expenses, and the mother’s suffering, with defendants yet to respond.

via The Virgin Islands Consortium|

#emergency-department #health #hospital-care

entertainment1 month ago•10 min saved

A Doctor Rates The Pitt's Medical Realism

Dr. Mary Siki, a surgical resident, says HBO Max’s The Pitt largely mirrors real hospital life—ED chaos, rapid decision-making, and the emotional toll on clinicians—while noting that some events are compressed into single shifts and that medical students have less independence than shown; she also praises the show’s portrayal of resource constraints and overall commitment to realism.

via SlashFilm|

#emergency-department #entertainment #hbo-max

health3 months ago•6 min saved

Ventilation not enough: SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in hospital air during outbreaks

A Sydney hospital study found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 39% of aerosol air samples during two COVID-19 waves, with higher positivity in the emergency department than the ICU. Positive samples appeared in hotspots such as the ED waiting room and acute-care area, and four positives were detected before the hospital officially declared an outbreak, suggesting aerosol sampling could help with early outbreak detection. Surface contamination was low. The findings indicate that good ventilation alone may not fully prevent airborne transmission during high community activity, underscoring the value of HEPA filtration, respirators, portable purifiers, and enhanced ventilation in high-traffic areas like EDs.

via CIDRAP|

#aerosol #emergency-department #health

health9 months ago•3 min saved

Children in Mental Health Crisis Often Stuck in ERs for Days

A study reveals that about 10% of pediatric mental health emergency visits result in children being stuck in ERs for three or more days, with some states experiencing up to 25% of visits leading to prolonged boarding, highlighting a nationwide crisis in mental health care capacity for children.

via NPR|

#boarding #children #emergency-department

health1 year ago•5 min saved

Psychedelics Linked to Increased Schizophrenia Risk

A study from Ontario, Canada, reveals that individuals with hallucinogen-related emergency department visits have a 21-fold increased risk of developing schizophrenia compared to the general population, even after adjusting for other mental health disorders and substance use. The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, highlights an 86% rise in such ED visits from 2013 to 2021, reflecting the growing popularity of psychedelics. While the findings do not establish causation, they emphasize the potential risks of hallucinogen use, particularly for those predisposed to psychosis, and call for cautious use outside controlled therapeutic settings.

via Neuroscience News|

#emergency-department #health #mental-health

health2 years ago•5 min saved

"Link Between Heavy Cannabis Use and Increased Risk of Anxiety Disorders"

A study of over 12 million Ontarians found a significant link between emergency department visits for cannabis use and the development of new anxiety disorders, with individuals showing a nearly fourfold increase in risk compared to the general population. The research suggests that cannabis use may exacerbate existing anxiety symptoms and highlights the need for caution in its medicinal or recreational use, challenging the perception of cannabis as a benign substance. The study underscores the complexities of cannabis use and its impact on mental health, advocating against its use as a treatment for anxiety symptoms.

via Neuroscience News|

#anxiety #cannabis #emergency-department

healthcare2 years ago•3 min saved

Mass General Hospital Seeks More Beds Amid Unprecedented Capacity Crisis

Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is facing a "capacity disaster" and urgently needs more beds to combat the ongoing crisis, with the emergency department operating in Code Help or Capacity Disaster status for the past 16 months. The hospital president described the situation as a "full-blown crisis" for patients and staff, with patients spending hours waiting for inpatient beds and contributing to clinician burnout. Efforts to address the crisis include increasing inpatient beds, facilitating earlier discharges, and providing home hospital services. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued a memo urging expedited discharge planning to mitigate pressure on the hospital's staff, and MGH has launched a new website to provide information about its response to the crisis.

via Boston 25 News|

#capacity-crisis #emergency-department #healthcare

healthcare2 years ago•2 min saved

"Over Capacity: Strong Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department Struggles"

Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. is currently over capacity with nearly 1,100 patients, 200 more than its licensed bed capacity, due to a shortage of nursing home beds. The hospital is working with government officials and nursing home partners to find solutions to the staffing crisis. Hospital leaders are urging the community to take proper precautions to prevent an increase in cases of flu, COVID, and RSV, and are encouraging non-critically ill individuals to use their Get Care Now website for on-demand video visits to alleviate the strain on the emergency department.

via 13WHAM-TV|

#emergency-department #healthcare #healthcare-facilities

healthcare2 years ago•4 min saved

Improving Pediatric ER Safety: A Hospital's Success Story | Mint

Grand River Health, a small hospital in Colorado, has significantly improved its readiness to treat children in emergency situations. By appointing child-emergency coordinators, color-coding equipment for different-sized children, and providing training for staff, the hospital scored a 97.5 on a pediatric-readiness test. This demonstrates the importance of health authorities in pushing hospitals to improve their emergency care for children. Research shows that prepared emergency rooms increase the chances of survival for critically ill children, but many departments are ill-prepared. Grand River Health's success highlights the need for more pediatric-ready emergency departments nationwide.

via Mint|

#emergency-department #healthcare #hospital-readiness

medical-research2 years ago•25 min saved

"Revolutionizing Emergency Care: Aortic Occlusion Saves Lives"

A bayesian randomized clinical trial conducted at 16 major trauma centers in the UK found that the addition of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) to standard care did not reduce, and may have increased, mortality in trauma patients with exsanguinating hemorrhage. The trial included 89 patients followed up for 90 days, and the all-cause mortality was 54% in the REBOA and standard care group compared to 42% in the standard care alone group. The findings suggest that the strategy of REBOA and standard care in the emergency department does not improve outcomes for these patients.

via JAMA Network|

#emergency-department #hemorrhage #medical-research

health3 years ago•4 min saved

The Dangerous Trend of Using Sulfonylureas as Recreational Drugs

Taking sulfonylureas sold as "street Valium" can lead to severe hypoglycemia that may result in emergency department (ED) visits. Sulfonylureas have no potential for abuse, but they physically resemble Valiums and are easier for illicit drug dealers to obtain because they're not a controlled substance, and they can be sold for considerably more money. A typical urine toxicology screen for drugs wouldn't detect a sulfonylurea. Ocreotide, a long-acting somatostatin agonist, is a unique antidote for sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia.

via Medscape|

#drug-abuse #emergency-department #health

health3 years ago•5 min saved

Telehealth and Buprenorphine: Effective Tools in Reducing Opioid Overdose Deaths

A multi-site clinical trial supported by the National Institutes of Health showed that less than 1% of people with opioid use disorder whose drug use includes fentanyl experienced withdrawal when starting buprenorphine in the emergency department. The findings are strong evidence that buprenorphine can be safely started in the emergency department without triggering withdrawal, even for people who use stronger opioids. The study addressed the question of how the prevalence of fentanyl in the drug supply affects the process of addiction treatment for people with opioid use disorder.

via National Institutes of Health (.gov)|

#addiction-treatment #buprenorphine #emergency-department