Emergency Medicine News and Research

RSS

Study evaluates link between Medicaid fee bump and appointment availability for Medicaid patients

The increase in Medicaid reimbursement for primary care providers, a key provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was associated with a 7.7 percentage points increase in new patient appointment availability without longer wait times, according to results of a new 10-state study — co-authored by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the Urban Institute, and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation — published online-first by the New England Journal of Medicine.

22 Jan 2015

Tiny lumps of calcium phosphate may trigger age-related macular degeneration

New research from scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has found that tiny lumps of calcium phosphate may be an important triggering factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a degenerative eye disease that can cause severe vision loss and blindness.

20 Jan 2015

New study finds no correlation between opioids administered in the ER and patient satisfaction scores

A new study co-authored by investigators at the University of Massachusetts Medical School found that there is no correlation between opioids administered in the emergency room setting and Press Ganey ED patient satisfaction scores, one of the most commonly used metrics for measuring patient satisfaction.

16 Jan 2015

Bayshore Community Hospital releases new Multi-specialty Interventional Suite

Bayshore Community Hospital recently unveiled its new Multi-specialty Interventional Suite, outfitted with advanced technology capable of performing complex minimally invasive cardiovascular, endovascular, and interventional radiology procedures.

14 Jan 2015

Protecting children in advance from head injuries helps reduce brain trauma

An exhaustive analysis of data from more than 40,000 cases of brain trauma in children - published by the authoritative New England Journal of Medicine - provides convincing evidence that protecting children in advance from head injuries is the key to reducing their severity.

7 Jan 2015

Nearly one-quarter of parents report making change from rear-facing to forward-facing car seats

Using a rear-facing car seat until a child is age two reduces risk of serious injury, but close to one-quarter of parents report they turned the seat around before their child was even one year old, according to a new University of Michigan study.

7 Jan 2015

Cardiac arrest associated with high mortality even in the world of Star Trek

The Star Trek universe is one of the most popular pieces of science fiction entertainment. Lots of the technologies seen in the TV and cinema episodes featuring Captain Kirk, Mr Spock or Captain Picard were once regarded as futuristic, but have now become reality - with examples including wireless communication or portable computers. In a recent study by the University Department of Emergency Medicine at the MedUni Vienna, the make-believe future of the human race depicted in this series has been used to investigate the frequency and mortality of cardiac arrests in the 24th century.

1 Jan 2015

Teens misuse holiday baking ingredients in high-risk games

Watch your kitchen cupboards this season as thrill seekers look to common holiday baking ingredients for a rise - cinnamon, nutmeg and even marshmallows are the primary ingredients in an increasingly popular and high-risk game of "chicken."

23 Dec 2014

Study finds increasing shortage of stroke specialists in the U.S.

Although stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, there's an increasing shortage of neurologists who specialize in stroke care.

18 Dec 2014

UC Davis study finds that firearm suicides on the rise among whites

While the overall death rate from firearm violence has remained unchanged for more than a decade, the patterns for suicide and homicide have changed dramatically, a UC Davis study on the epidemiology of gun violence from 2003 to 2012 has found.

18 Dec 2014

Study: Internet searches may predict ER visits for geographic region, individual hospitals

The correlation between Internet searches on a regional medical website and next-day visits to regional emergency departments was "significant," suggesting that Internet data may be used in the future to predict the level of demand at emergency departments.

11 Dec 2014

UTHealth receives $7.3 million grant to research on health information technology

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Biomedical Informatics has been awarded grants totaling $7.3 million to enhance health care and biomedical discovery through the use of health information technology.

8 Dec 2014

UTHealth professor receives John A. Rupke Legacy Award

Arlo F. Weltge, M.D., M.P.H., clinical professor of emergency medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School, has received the John A. Rupke Legacy Award for his lifelong commitment to the American College of Emergency Physicians.

3 Dec 2014

Study examines rate of psychotropic medication prescribed to children in Kentucky

Researchers with the Child and Adolescent Health Research Design and Support Unit (CAHRDS Unit) at the University of Louisville have begun a study to examine one of Kentucky's most vexing children's health issues: the higher-than-average rate of psychotropic medication being prescribed to children in the Bluegrass State.

2 Dec 2014

Kessler Institute provides tips to help reduce risk of injury during winter months

Winter appears to have arrived early, bringing with it record snowfalls and cold temperatures across the country. It also brings an increased risk for injuries. Whether shoveling snow, dealing with icy roads, or simply trying to walk on wet, slippery pavement, caution is the key word.

29 Nov 2014

Despite evidence of value of PAs, several provinces still lag behind

As political and health care leaders from across Canada celebrate and recognize the value of Physician Assistants (PAs) on National PA Day, the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA), released a National Report Card highlighting the progress in some provinces vs. others in integrating PAs into the health care system.

27 Nov 2014

Good Samaritan Hospital receives $417,560 grant to implement telemedicine program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development awards Good Samaritan Hospital, a prominent downtown Los Angeles hospital, a $417,560 grant to implement a telemedicine program that will connect members of the medical staff at Good Samaritan Hospital with public health and primary care providers and their patients at six Public Health sites on the island of Guam.

27 Nov 2014

MD Anderson study sheds light on little-known protein complex

A study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center led by Mong-Hong Lee, Ph.D., a professor of molecular and cellular oncology, has demonstrated the significance of CSN6 in regulating Myc which may very well open up a new pathway for treating and killing tumors.

21 Nov 2014

Nationwide STEMI rates drop, reveals Vanderbilt study

The most emergent form of heart attacks is decreasing nationwide, but this declining incidence could affect emergency departments' quality and timeliness of care.

18 Nov 2014

Spinal cord injuries can cause brain degeneration, find UM SOM researchers

Most research on spinal cord injuries has focused on effects due to spinal cord damage and scientists have neglected the effects on brain function. University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have found for the first time that spinal cord injuries (SCI) can cause widespread and sustained brain inflammation that leads to progressive loss of nerve cells, with associated cognitive problems and depression.

17 Nov 2014