Tag

Emergency Department

All articles tagged with #emergency department

health1 day ago•2 min saved

ER Wait Times Grow as Americans Spend Over 2.5 Hours in Emergency Departments

CMS data show the national median ER visit length was 162 minutes in the year ending Sept. 30, 2025, with Washington, D.C. at 303 minutes and North Dakota at 110. About 2% of patients leave before being seen, and 24 states plus D.C. posted longer wait times than the prior year, signaling ongoing overcrowding and potential delays in care. With upcoming Medicaid eligibility and cost changes, access to care could tighten and push more people to the ED, raising costs; meanwhile, AI tools are being explored to reduce waits, though data quality and ethics remain concerns.

via Axios|

#cms-data #emergency-department #er-wait-times

health16 days ago•2 min saved

CDC study links rising ER visits to cannabis hyperemesis syndrome in heavy marijuana users

A CDC analysis of emergency-department data from about 7,500 facilities finds diagnoses of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome rose 16% from October to May after a dedicated diagnosis code was introduced, with nearly 200,000 syndrome-related ER visits since January 2023. The surge is largest among people aged 15–24, teenage girls and women, and among Black Americans and American Indian/Alaska Native groups, suggesting underdiagnosis in the past and highlighting the need for greater awareness and further research into high-potency THC and hemp-derived products’ impact on younger users.

via WIBW|

#cannabis-hyperemesis-syndrome #cdc #emergency-department

health16 days ago•2 min saved

CDC study links surge in hospital visits to cannabis hyperemesis syndrome with new coding

A CDC study finds a 16% rise in emergency department visits for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome after a dedicated diagnosis code was introduced, with nearly 200,000 visits from Jan 2023 through summer 2025. Increases were largest among 15–24-year-olds, teen girls and women, and among Black Americans and American Indian/Alaska Native groups, highlighting prior underdiagnosis and the need for more research on high-potency cannabis products and usage patterns.

via Action News 5|

#cannabis #cannabis-hyperemesis-syndrome #cdc

health1 month ago•20 min saved

Heavy cannabis use linked to a cycle of vomiting that's often misdiagnosed

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a cannabis-related condition in frequent users that causes recurrent abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting and is often misdiagnosed because tests are usually normal; diagnosis is clinical and management centers on stopping cannabis, IV fluids, and antiemetics, with some patients finding relief from hot showers or capsaicin cream, reflecting rising clinician awareness as ER visits for CHS increase.

via The Washington Post|

#cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome #cannabis-use #emergency-department

health2 months ago•3 min saved

Study maps non-opioid options for emergency-room pain relief

A UCSF-led review identifies non-opioid meds—ranging from acetaminophen and NSAIDs to ketamine, SNRIs, and certain antipsychotics—as potential alternatives for common emergency department pain conditions, emphasizing tailored regimens and noting that opioids still have a role in pain treatment.

via The Guardian|

#antidepressants #antipsychotics #emergency-department

health3 months 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

health3 months 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

entertainment4 months 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

health6 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

health1 year 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