Mount Sinai Ophthalmologists Develop Novel Protocol to Rapidly Diagnose and Treat Eye Stroke

Study shows using advanced technology and time can prevent permanent vision loss

A new path to recovery: Specialized unit looks to take mental health patients out of the emergency room for better care

The EmPATH unit at Overlook Medical Center will put adult behavioral emergency patients into a setting in which they will get the appropriate care more quickly, thereby lessening volumes and wait times in the emergency department, and, ultimately, reducing the need for inpatient hospitalization.

Women stroke survivors believe they will receive worse care in the emergency room

Women who have survived a stroke believe they are less likely to receive adequate emergency care – based on gender and race or ethnicity, a study shows. Researchers say future studies must focus on whether the beliefs these women hold about emergency care are leading to delays in stroke care.

Anesthesiologist, Emergency Physician and Radiologist Groups Laud Court Decision, Urge HHS Action to Unfreeze Arbitration Process

In its fourth ruling regarding the flawed implementation of the No Surprises Act, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas agreed with the plaintiffs, the Texas Medical Association, that the government was incorrectly permitting insurers to use a faulty methodology when calculating their median in-network rate, also known as the qualifying payment amount (QPA). This TMA III ruling does not impact the patient protections included in the No Surprises Act that the American College of Radiology® (ACR®), (ACR), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) advocated for and continue to fully support, nor does it raise patient out-of-pocket costs.

Brain stimulation may prove helpful to acute stroke patients, pilot study suggests

There are few effective treatments for acute stroke, and many patients aren’t eligible for them. An innovative pilot study from UCLA Health found promising results for a new potential treatment: highly targeted electrical stimulation to the affected brain area.

Transgender people seen in the ER much more likely than cisgender people to be admitted to hospital

Transgender people who come to the emergency room for care tend to be sicker than cisgender people who are otherwise similar to them and are much more likely to be admitted to the hospital once they visit the ER, according to a study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

‘Concerning’ CT scans may cause unnecessary hospitalization for some pulmonary embolism patients

Some pulmonary embolism patients may be hospitalized unnecessarily due to CT imaging results rather than clinical risk factors, a study finds. Roughly half of the low risk patients had CT imaging features that physicians consider “concerning”, and these patients fared just as well in the hospital as those whose CT scans showed no concerning findings.

Bilingual, digital health tool helps reduce alcohol use, UC Irvine-led study finds

An automated, bilingual, computerized alcohol screening and intervention health tool is effective in reducing alcohol use among Latino emergency department patients in the U.S., according to a study led by the University of California, Irvine. “This is the first bilingual, large-scale, emergency department-based, randomized clinical trial of its kind in the country focused on English- and Spanish-speaking Latino participants,” said lead author Dr.

Bypassing contrast in patients with kidney disease and contrast allergies may lead to less accurate scans

Upon an arrival to the emergency department for abdominal pain of unknown cause, most non-pregnant adult patients receive a CT scan with IV contrast to diagnose the source of the pain. However, IV contrast can be a risk in patients with severe kidney disease or at risk for an allergic reaction from the dye. When scans are performed without IV contrast, though, they are usually less accurate, which can lead to misdiagnosis.

Seven Hackensack Meridian Medical Centers Recognized for Excellence with ACC Heart Failure Accreditation

Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to better patient education, improved patient outcomes, and more effective and efficient disease control.

Patients prefer immediate access to medical test results online, even if it’s bad news

Patients overwhelmingly prefer to receive test results as soon as they are available on online medical portals, even if it means viewing the results prior to discussing them with their doctor, a new study co-led by researchers at UT Southwestern and Vanderbilt University medical centers reports.

Men Over 65 Are at Greater Risk than Women of Skull Fractures from Falls

Because females 65 and older have an increased rate of falls and facial fractures, researchers compared the risk of skull fracture secondary to head trauma in geriatric female and male patients. Results showed that males had a significantly increased incidence of skull fracture secondary to head trauma, due mostly to falls. This outcome was unexpected, as previous research has indicated females are more susceptible to facial fractures. This trend also was seen across race/ethnicity, though results were only statistically significant for whites.

CHOP Researchers Find Rate of Fatal Opioid Poisonings Among Children More Than Doubled Over 13-Year Span

Researchers found opioids were responsible for more than half of all fatal poisonings in children ages 5 and younger, more than double the proportion of fatal poisonings caused by opioids in 2005. Additionally, over-the-counter drugs still contribute to fatal poisonings in this age group despite increased regulation. The findings, published today in the journal Pediatrics, underscore the need for improved intervention to prevent further fatal poisonings.

Researchers Uncover Mechanisms of Brexanolone and the Role of Inflammation in Post-partum Depression

Brexanolone, an IV infusion comprised of a derivative of progesterone, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of PPD in 2019. The fast-acting medication significantly reduces depression symptoms and provides effects for up to 90 days. However, exactly how the drug provides these therapeutic effects has remained a mystery – until now.

CHOP Study Finds Multidisciplinary Approach Best When Assisting Families with Limited English Proficiency

Pediatric patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) may face additional challenges when they present to an emergency room. However, researchers found that a multidisciplinary approach helped implement the services of interpreters earlier and significantly improved the identification of these patients to help them receive the care they need.

Traitement de première intention inapproprié de l’état de mal épileptique : problématique et solutions

Malgré les recommandations, le traitement de première intention de l’état de mal épileptique est souvent inapproprié. Des études suggèrent que jusqu’à deux tiers des patients reçoivent des doses subcliniques de benzodiazépines, soit avant d’arriver à l’hôpital, soit pendant un traitement hospitalier d’urgence. Existe-t-il des solutions ?

University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center Designated Provisional Level 3 Trauma Center by the State of Ohio

University Hospitals (UH) Lake West Medical Center has been designated as a provisional Level 3 Trauma Center by the state of Ohio, based on consultation from reviewers of the American College of Surgery Verification, Review, and Consultation Program for excellence in trauma centers. The Program is designed to help hospitals evaluate and improve trauma care as well as provide objective, external review of institutional capability and performance. This is accomplished by an on-site review and assessment of the hospital’s commitment, readiness, resources, policies, patient care, performance improvement and other features.

Cost concerns keep older adults from seeking emergency care

Worries about what emergency care might cost them have kept some older adults from seeking medical attention even when they felt they might need it, a new study shows. In all, 22% of older adults who may have needed care from the emergency department didn’t go because of concerns about what they might have to pay.

UC San Diego Health Recognized for Health Equity in Care of Sickle Cell Crisis

UC San Diego Health has been awarded the prestigious 2022 California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems Quality Leaders Award in the category of health equity.

Mount Sinai’s Yvette Calderon, MD, MS, Elected to National Academy of Medicine for Contributions to Emergency Medicine

Yvette Calderon, MD, MS, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Election to the NAM is considered one of the highest honors in health and medicine, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. With her election, Mount Sinai has 26 faculty members in the NAM.

American Neurological Association Publishes Research Abstracts for ANA2022, Oct. 22–25 in Chicago

Abstracts of breaking research in neurology and neuroscience, to be presented at the 2022 American Neurological Association Annual Meeting Oct. 22-25, are now available in Annals of Neurology and on the ANA2022 website.

Vertigo: Remote Diagnosis by Experts Using Video-oculography Can Help Rule Out Benign Causes of Dizziness and Vertigo

Vertigo can be due to relatively benign conditions like vestibular neuritis or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), but it can also be a symptom of dangerous conditions such as stroke. Being able to accurately diagnose the less dangerous causes in…

Current Insurer Calculation of Qualified Payment Amount for Out-of-Network (OON) Care May Violate No Surprises Act

In possible violation of the No Surprises Act, health insurance company calculations of Qualified Payment Amounts (QPA) for anesthesiology, emergency medicine and radiology services (and possibly other specialty services) likely include rates from primary care provider (PCP) contracts. A new study conducted by Avalere Health and commissioned by three national physician organizations examined a subpopulation of PCPs and determined that contracting practices may directly impact the QPA.

Patient deterioration predictor could surpass limits of traditional vital signs, study suggests

A device driven by artificial intelligence that works to predict when a patient will deteriorate could provide a more accurate picture than traditional vital signs, a new study suggests. The technology developed at University of Michigan continuously monitors patients using data from a single electrocardiogram lead, and researchers say it has the potential to save lives anywhere from the hospital to the battlefield.

Child Abuse Evaluations in Emergency Departments Drop During Pandemic, But Reason Unclear

Pediatric Emergency Department (ED) encounters related to physical abuse decreased by 19 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a multicenter study published in the journal Pediatrics. While encounter rates with lower clinical severity dropped during the pandemic, encounter rates with higher clinical severity remained unchanged. This pattern raises concern for unrecognized harm, as opposed to true reductions in child abuse.

Addressing status epilepticus management in low-resource regions: “Where do we fit in?”

Low-resource areas face multiple challenges to diagnosing and treating long-lasting seizures, or status epilepticus. We talked with neurologists in four countries about how status epilepticus is managed in their areas.