MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'emergency care'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:07:25 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130654&cid=t_92129_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fthe-queen%25e2%2580%2599s-ambulance-service-medal-qam%2F Scan or Click to Download 'The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM)' Title: The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM) The Skinny: Details the issue of a Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM) to recognise distinguished service by the ambulance service. The Command Paper [Cm 8140] was laid before Parliament on 11 July 2011 instituting the QAM. A copy of the Command Paper is available with further information on the criteria for eligibility, along with details on how to nominate individuals for the Medal. Publisher: DH Published: 11/07/11 Size: 5p. Additional Documents: The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM) Guidance Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Ambulance care assistants, Ambulance Services, Ambulance staff, Ambulance technicians, Awards, Control assistant... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130654 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:21:38 +0100 5130654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057717&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fmarried-men-seek-help-for-heart-attacks-faster.html Men: Listen to your wives! It could save your life. Fast treatment after a heart attack can make the difference between life and death. So, if you experience chest pain, the sooner you get treated the better. But many people who get chest pain delay going to the emergency room, maybe because they don’t want to make a fuss, or they’re not sure whether their symptoms are serious. A new study shows that married men are much more likely to make it to the emergency room within six hours of chest pain starting, compared with men who are single or living alone. About 75 in 100 married people got help promptly, compared with 68 in 100 people who were single, 69 in 100 who were divorced, and 71 in 100 who were widowed. The study, which looked at 4,000 people in Canada, found men w... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057717 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:40:00 +0100 5057717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968490&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffood-allergies-treating-severe-allergic-reactions%2F2011.06.25 An allergic reaction in an outdoor setting can rapidly become a life-threatening emergency. While most of us think of food allergies as annoyances, they can be quite serious or even life threatening. Itchy skin rashes can progress to breathing difficulty, swollen soft tissues (e.g., lips, tongue, throat) that compromise the airway, and low blood pressure or even shock. Therefore, it’s important to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of severe allergy and to be prepared to respond rapidly in the event of an emergency. An EpiPen (an epinephrine auto-injector) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has released Food Allergy Guidelines for healthcare professionals to help guide the care of patients with life-threatening food allergies. The full guidelines can be found ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968490 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:00:00 +0100 4968490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893432&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Frisk-of-death-with-crowded-emergency-rooms.html Overcrowding and long waits in emergency rooms lead to more patients dying or needing further hospital treatment, researchers have found. In an analysis of more than 14 million patients in Canada, researchers found that hospital shifts with longer average waiting times were linked to a higher risk of patients dying, or returning to the hospital for more treatment, in the following seven days. Cutting average waiting times by one hour would have saved more than 800 lives over the course of the study, the researchers estimated. Among the sickest patients, spending six hours or more in the ER was linked to a 79 percent higher chance of dying during the next seven days, compared with staying less than an hour. For less seriously ill patients, the risk of dying increased by 71 percent with a... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893432 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:15:00 +0100 4893432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847947&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Fzombie-apocalypse-preparedness-dont-forget-your-go-bag.html Now, we don't really think the world will end tomorrow. On the other hand, you never do know when disaster will strike. So, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out yesterday, it does make sense to plan for the worst, whether from zombies, hurricanes, or nuclear emergencies. That means knowing the needed steps to take, practicing with your family, creating a communication plan, stocking supplies, and being ready to act. Consider storing the following basic supplies in a “go-bag” for home use or evacuation: • At least three days' worth of nonperishable food, water, and essential medicines • Toiletries and clothing • Iodine tablets or bleach to disinfect water if you can't boil it • Candles and matches, flashlights or battery-powered lamps, and a ba... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847947 Fri, 20 May 2011 20:05:00 +0100 4847947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803126&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2F1-in-7-strokes-may-occur-during-sleep.html Strokes frequently occur during sleep, undermining the ability of clot-busting drugs to minimize damage, suggests a large study being published tomorrow in the journal Neurology. And that makes stroke prevention more important than ever. Researchers examined the records from 1,854 ischemic strokes—caused by blocked blood flow to the brain—treated in hospital emergency rooms in the greater Cincinnati area (which also includes parts of Northern Kentucky) in 2005. Of them, 273, or 14 percent, were “wake-up strokes,” meaning the person went to bed healthy and woke up with stroke symptoms, such as slurred speech, facial drooping, and weakness on one side of the body. None of the wake-up stroke patients received intravenous clot-dissolving drugs known as thrombolytic... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803126 Mon, 09 May 2011 21:01:00 +0100 4803126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789237&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Fheadaches-migraines-send-millions-to-emergency-room.html More than 3 million U.S. adults and children went to emergency rooms for headaches or migraines in 2008, according to a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Roughly 81,000 of those were admitted to the hospital for treatment. Women seemed to be the hardest hit. They accounted for almost 3 out of 4 of the ER trips and hospitalizations. And women were treated for migraines in the ER and the hospital at roughly four times the rate of men. Headache pain can sometimes make people worry they are having a stroke or some other serious health problem instead. See our advice on how to know when a headache could be a true emergency. See also how to distinguish regular tension headaches from migraines. See our Best Buy Drugs recommendations for treating migraines. Sour... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789237 Thu, 05 May 2011 16:05:00 +0100 4789237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753685&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fsafety%2F2011%2F04%2Ffda-warning-contaminated-iodine-pads-wipes-in-first-aid-kits-atwater-carey-triad-group.html If you own a first-aid kit made by Atwater Carey, be careful. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning that the disinfecting iodine swabs included in certain kits might actually cause life-threatening infections. The problem lies with Atware Carey First Aid Kits distributed by Wisconsin Pharmacal Company, which contain Triad Povidone Iodine Prep Pads. Those medicated swabs, manufactured by H&P Industries Inc., have been recalled from the market for possible bacterial contamination, which could lead to wounds becoming infected rather than disinfected. The FDA warns that other items in the kits are still safe to use. However, consumers with these kits should immediately discard the bacteria-tainted Triad pads. Atwater Carey First Aid Kits that included Triad Povidone Iodine P... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753685 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:15:00 +0100 4753685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714735&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F04%2Fhospitalizations-from-medications-rise-dramatically.html Nearly 1.9 million people were hospitalized because of drug side effects and errors in 2008, up from 1.2 million in 2004, according to a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Nearly 56,000 people died as a result of those problems—an 11 percent increase from four years earlier. The biggest drug offenders that led to hospitalization were corticosteroids, painkillers, blood-thinners, medications to treat cancer and immune-system disorders, as well as heart and blood pressure medicines. Ninety-two percent of the hospitalized cases occurred in people who had taken proper dosages but developed side effects anyway or had allergic or hypersensitive reactions. About 7 percent of the cases stemmed from errors, such as patients taking or being given the wrong drug... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714735 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:01:00 +0100 4714735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626807&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F03%2Fthe-current-situation-at-the-earthquake-damaged-nuclear-power-plant-in-japan-has-lead-to-a-slew-of-questions-and-concerns-abo.html Radiation from damaged nuclear power plants in Japan has now been carried by air currents as far as the East Coast of the U.S., and radioactive isotopes has been detected in milk and spinach from farms within about 100 miles of the facility. But the airborne radiation has been diluted to miniscule amounts that appear to pose no clear health risks to humans. And Japan exports little if any of those food products here. Moreover, the FDA says on its website that it will be extra vigilant in monitoring shipments of food, cars, and other products from Japan for radiation.  Still, concerns still linger. Here are answers to four common questions: 1. Who should stockpile potassium-iodide pills? Our medical consultants think that's a good idea if you live live within 100 miles of a nucl... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626807 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:34:04 +0100 4626807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626817&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fcars%2F2011%2F03%2Fjapanese-radiation-potassium-iodide-japan-nuclear-reactors-disaster-earthquake-tsunami-dangerous-drug-advice.html Source: New York Times Radiation from the damaged nuclear reactors in Japan could reach the Aleutian Islands later today and California tomorrow, according to a simulated model from the United Nations reported on by the New York Times. (See the animated graphic from the Times story.) The projection doesn't show how much radiation could arrive, but simply estimates when monitoring stations might be able to detect extremely low levels of radiation. Experts quoted in the Times story say that by the time the plume travels that far the radiation will be diluted and extremely unlikely to pose any significant risks to human health. That hasn't stopped people in California and elsewhere, however, from worrying. Many people have apparently started stocking up on potassium-iodide pills, which c... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626817 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:33:07 +0100 4626817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626821&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F03%2Fnuclear-power-plant-radiation-danger-drugs-iodine-potassium-iodide-japan-crisis-us-shortage-supplies.html As the drama over Japan's earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant unfolds, many in the U.S. are worried about the risk of radiation exposure—and causing a shortage of a radiation prophylactic: potassium-iodide pills. The U.S. government is currently debating whether the drug should be made more widely available, especially to people who live near nuclear sites. The pills can help mitigate exposure to radiation, such as that coming from the partial Japanese nuclear meldown, by blocking the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. Business Week reported on Monday how demand for the drug has hammered U.S. suppliers, however. A Virginia-based company, sold out of its brand of the drug, a pharmaceutical company in Missouri was due to run out of its iodide medication yesterday, and ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626821 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:14:11 +0100 4626821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592386&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F03%2F8-steps-for-preparing-for-radiation-exposure-and-other-emergencies.html It’s still unknown whether a partial or complete meltdown of several nuclear reactors in Japan, caused by last weekend’s earthquake and tsunami, would pose any health risks to people in Hawaii or on the West Coast of the U.S. Still, the recent events in Japan underscore our advice on the need to prepare for emergencies, whether from a malfunctioning nuclear power plant, an earthquake, or other cause. 1. Prepare for radiation exposure. Radioactive iodine released after a nuclear attack or accident at a nuclear-power plant can cause thyroid cancer, the main long-term risk from radiation exposure. Taking potassium-iodide pills cuts that risk by saturating the blood with harmless iodide and blocking the thyroid’s uptake of radioactive iodine. Infants and children are particularly vulner... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592386 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:13:32 +0100 4592386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570540&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F03%2Fatrial-fibrillation-linked-to-dementia-in-stroke-victims.html Older stroke victims who experience atrial fibrillation, a kind of irregular heartbeat, are about twice as likely to develop dementia as others who've had a stroke, according to an analysis out this week in Neurology. The analysis combined the results of 14 prevous studies that included almost 47,000 subjects. Researchers said it's still unclear whether atrial fibrillation increases the risk of mild cognitive impairment in people who haven't had a stroke. In atrial fibrillation, the two upper chambers of the heart don’t beat effectively, and the quiver can cause blood to pool and clot. A clot can then travel from the heart to the brain and lodge in the blood vessels that supply the brain with blood, in some cases triggering another stroke or ministroke (transient ischemic ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570540 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:38:35 +0100 4570540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424237&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffire-department-app-theres-a-hero-in-all-of-us%2F2011.02.01 Just admit it: Deep in your heart you’ve always wanted to be an emergency medical technician, if at least for a few moments. If you’re located in San Ramon Valley, California, you can now live that dream: The local fire department has released an iPhone app that will alert you of any emergency activity in the area. The well thought-out application will send out a push notification to users who have indicated that they are proficient in CPR whenever there is a cardiac emergency nearby. In addition, the closest public-access automated external defibrillator (AED) is located by the app. Current response status of dispatched units are shown and incident locations are pinpointed on an interactive map. There’s even a log of recent incidents including a photo gallery. For the ol... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424237 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:00:12 +0100 4424237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125004&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F11%2Fconcussions-and-sports-head-injuries-concussions-in-young-athletes-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy.html Sports are second only to car accidents as theleading cause of brain injury in 15- to 24-year-olds. This past week I had half a dozen calls from parents and coaches requesting that I see high school and college athletes with concussions. They all wanted the same thing: urgent medical clearance to play. Their goal was to get the players back in the field or on the court right away. It seems that all the recent media attention has helped to raise awareness about long-term consequences of head trauma, but we still have a long way to go. While schools are appearing to tighten up their policies about getting doctors involved, I’m not sure the message about the potential seriousness of sports-related injuries has gotten through. Indeed, earlier this week, a school nurse told me that she ha... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125004 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:01:00 +0100 4125004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119754&cid=t_92129_158_f&fid=38949&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAgingWithGraceCareconnection%2F%7E3%2FPJwfGpfbWQg%2Fhospitals-designing-senior-ers-to-cater.html Melissa Burden The Detroit NewsWhen 85-year-old Aloysius "Al" Boroniec fell twice in a matter of weeks, he found treatment for his injuries in a different kind of emergency room — one that caters specifically to the needs of seniors. The six-bed senior emergency room at St. Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital includes everything from padded mattresses and non-glare flooring to a consultation with a senior ER social worker. "It's just been a wonderful experience," said Boroniec of Livonia. "This is very efficient. In a reasonable time the doctor was with you and took care of you. "Before you leave, they explain everything to you, what to do to take care of yourself, when to come back." Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, which will have eight senior emergency rooms open in southeast Michigan by yea... Aging with Grace CareConnection blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119754 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:05:00 +0100 4119754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077241&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F10%2Fcpr-hands-only-cpr-mouth-to-mouth-resuscitation-emergency-safety-kiss-goodbye-to-the-kiss-of-life.html Back in my Girl Scout days, I spent some happy evenings learning how to give mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions to our resuscitation dummy, Fred, to earn my First Aid badge. At the time it seemed straightforward, yet I’m glad I’ve never had to put my resuscitation technique into practice. After all, Fred never complained, never threw up, and best of all, it didn’t matter if I got it wrong. Back in the real world, people are often reluctant or afraid to give mouth-to-mouth, preferring to wait for the paramedics. Yet if someone collapses with a cardiac arrest, quick resuscitation by a bystander can make all the difference between life and death. But mouth-to-mouth may not be the best option for resuscitation. New research in The Lancet medical journal shows that people were actua... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077241 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:43:10 +0100 4077241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907595&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F08%2Fask-president-obama-what-does-health-reform-mean-for-me.html Exciting news! We’ve just received an invitation from the White House to sit down next week for an in-person conversation with the President about the new law. But the invitation, we’re quite sure, is really meant for you, the American consumer. So here’s your chance to give us the questions you’d like President Obama to answer about the new law. Is there something you still don’t understand? Wondering when or whether your own health coverage might be affected? We’re interested in any and all suggestions. Obviously the President is a busy guy and our time with him is limited, so we probably won’t be able to make it through the whole list.  But we’ll do our best to get follow-up answers from the White House about questions that we don’t get to ask in the interview.... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907595 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:49:18 +0100 3907595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706667&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F06%2Fhospital-infections-las-vegas-dont-gamble-with-your-health-in-vegas.html A two-year investigation has found that the odds of getting safe medical care in Las Vegas hospitals aren’t as good as they should be. Reporters for the Las Vegas Sun collected a decade’s worth of billing records, as well as a government database detailing 425,000 inpatient visits. This information, they wrote, “tells a story of preventable harm, deadly infections and apparent neglect at a rate of at least one injury per day,” including 21 cases in which patients had objects left inside their bodies, 79 cases of advanced bed sores (pressure ulcers), and 475 central-line infections during 2008 and 2009.“These are events that no one can be proud of," said our own John Santa, M.D., M.P.H, director of Consumer Reports’ Health Ratings Center, in the report. "They aren’t ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706667 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:05:49 +0100 3706667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676658&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F06%2Funinsured-more-likely-to-die-in-the-hospital-after-heart-attack-stroke.html The recent wrangling over health care reform provided no shortage of controversial views, coming from all sides of the debate. But the one that perplexed me most? This rousing call to inaction: The US health care system is not broken, so don't fix it. There are, of course, numerous stories of individual hardship vividly illustrating why the current health care system doesn't work for many Americans. Studies have also shown that a lack of health insurance means millions of people with chronic conditions (such as diabetes and high blood pressure) don't receive proper treatment—or don’t even know they have a life-threatening illness. Now a new study highlights yet another indication of ill health within the current system: uninsured Americans have a 50 percent hi... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676658 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0100 3676658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595588&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Femergency-cares-ambiguity-in-the-affordable-care-act%2F2010.05.24 There’s just so much hidden and buried in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that it’s like trying the find all the goodies in an Easter egg hunt. ACEP News pointed out one hidden goodie, nicely illustrated in this article from Kaiser Health News: Under the new health law, insurance companies must extend several new protections to patients who receive emergency care. One of the biggest guarantees: Patients who need emergency treatment will have their costs covered at the same rate, regardless of whether they are treated at “in-network” or “out-of-network” hospitals. The law also bars health plans from requiring prior authorization for emergency services. And it mandates that plans follow the “prudent layperson” rule. For example, if a person goes ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595588 Mon, 24 May 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3595588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556090&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F05%2Fbeau-biden-know-the-signs-of-a-stroke-it-could-save-a-life.html Do you know the signs of a stroke? In a 2008 study of 400 people, less than half who were treated for stroke knew they were having one when they got symptoms. The alarming news of 41-year-old Beau Biden’s stroke, which he is expected to recover from, is perhaps a reminder that acting fast at the first sign of symptoms can save your life, or the life of someone close to you. The sooner you are treated for a stroke, the better your chances of making a good recovery. Quick medical treatment can restore flow of blood to the brain and make the difference between a mild impairment or a serious disability. If you or someone you know have any of these symptoms, treat it as an emergency and get medical help right away: Suddenly feeling numb, weak or unable to move your face, arm or leg... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556090 Tue, 11 May 2010 21:15:27 +0100 3556090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354316&cid=t_92129_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F03%2Femergency-life-supportwhat-every-parent-should-know.html If a child stops breathing, and their heart stops beating, you need to act fast. Every cell in the body needs oxygen to survive, and if the blood stops bringing fresh oxygen, the cells begin to die. That can quickly lead to brain damage and death. So every parent should know how to provide life support for a child, until the emergency medical services arrive. This is what the American Heart Association’s guidelines recommend: Check the child for movement and response to your voice If the child isn’t moving or responding, call for help and start life support. If possible, get someone else to call 911. Ensure the child is lying face up on a hard surface. Check their mouth and throat are not blocked. Tilt their head backward slightly and lift their chin. Cover the child’s mout... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354316 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3354316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3163724&cid=t_92129_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F12%2Finformatics-in-primary-care-2009-vol-17-no-3%2F content page Fade Fave: use of electronic patient record (EPR) system data for emergency care, quality improvement and research – things not to take for granted Fade Skinny: This issue continues the discussion within our journal about how we can legitimise the use of the routinely collected data for research. We have some of the best long-term computer records in the world – which are potentially goldmines for research. However, we are currently working through how to codify this process. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Books, Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, electronic patient records, Emergency Care, Quality, Research (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3163724 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:50:22 +0100 3163724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2788706&cid=t_92129_101_f&fid=38969&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheemtspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2F08%2Fseven-flawless-physical-restraint-tips%2F Physical restraint techniques and procedures are a subject of debate and controversy in EMS. Few agencies have taken the time and energy to research and develop a comprehensive restraint guideline for field providers to follow. When violent or aggressive patients show up (and they always do) EMT’s are left to fend for themselves. In these situations we take on a great deal of risk, both personal and legal, to bring the patient safely to the hospital. I’ve had my share of both good and bad take-downs. When things go well the call transitions smoothly from the street to the hospital. The patient stays protected, the prehospital personnel stay safe and everyone goes back in service happy. When things go badly people get hurt, patient care gets compromised and everyone ends up wri... The EMT Spot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2788706 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:32:01 +0100 2788706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2663913&cid=t_92129_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F03%2Femergency-medicine-journal-2009-vol-26-no-8%2F This study looks at evaluating the cost effectiveness to primary care trusts (PCT) in commissioning general practitioner (GP) referrals in-hours to emergency care practitioners (ECP). A retrospective case note review for patients referred by GPs in-hours to ECP over a 4-month period to ascertain any added value over a GP visit was carried out. In a 4-month period 105 patients were referred. In most cases (90.5%) the ECP was utilised as a substitute for a GP rather than providing any additional skills. Defining an avoided attendance as the ECP undertaking an intervention outside a GP skill set this equated to a 9.5% avoided attendance rate compared with the ECP service standard rate of 60%. This has implications both in terms of financial benefit and ongoing ECP service sustainability. (NHS... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2663913 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:32:32 +0100 2663913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660806&cid=t_92129_114_f&fid=34901&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdocadvocate.com%2F%3Fp%3D1009 It is spring in McAllen, Texas. The morning sun is warm. The streets are lined with palm trees and pickup trucks. McAllen is in Hidalgo County, which has the lowest household income in the country, but it’s a border town, and a thriving foreign-trade zone has kept the unemployment rate below ten per cent. McAllen calls itself the Square Dance Capital of the World. “Lonesome Dove” was set around here. McAllen has another distinction, too: it is one of the most expensive health-care markets in the country. Only Miami—which has much higher labor and living costs—spends more per person on health care. In 2006, Medicare spent fifteen thousand dollars per enrollee here, almost twice the national average. The income per capita is twelve thousand dollars. In other words, Medicare spends ... Doc Advocate blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660806 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:49:35 +0100 2660806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458024&cid=t_92129_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F05%2Femergency-services-review%2F The Emergency Services Review from OSHA aims to provide focus and support to local health communities to improve the effectiveness of emergency care, enhance patient safety and achieve national emergency care standards. It has 3 strands Analysis of emergency care performance Development of accessible tools to support high performance Providing direct, expert support when asked Posted in Clinical Governance, Decision Making, Emergency Planning, Health and Safety, NHS, Quality, Risk Evaluation Tagged: Emergency Care, Grey Literature, Patient Safety, Quality (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458024 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:10:36 +0100 2458024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348894&cid=t_92129_114_f&fid=34901&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdocadvocate.com%2F%3Fp%3D984 Dr. John Ghertner, MD Medicare works for your parents, why not you? It is time to encourage our elected officials in Washington to begin a serious open minded discussion about ways to improve our society’s health care system. We must implore them to listen to facts, ignore the lobbying noise from those who continue to profit inordinately from our damaged health care system and make a final decision that is practical, not ideological. As a physician and nursing home operator in the Sodus and Williamson community for the last 30 years, I have become increasingly distressed with the state of the health care industry. I have witnessed first hand as insurance companies, physicians and hospitals have become part of a system that forces doctors to compromise patient care, institutions to... Doc Advocate blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348894 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:34:05 +0100 2348894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2305914&cid=t_92129_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F27%2Fcompetencies-for-recognising-and-responding-to-acutely-ill-patients-in-hospital%2F (Equality Impact Assessment) sets out a non-mandatory framework of competencies for recognising and responding to acutely ill patients in hospital. It supports NICE Guideline 50 (Acutely ill patients in Hospital - July 2007) and includes comments made during a consultation on the document that took place between March and June 2008. Posted in Accident and Emergency Departments, Competency Framework, Critical Care, Emergency Admission, Grey Literature, Hospitals, Quality Tagged: Competencies, Ctitical Care, Emergency Care, Grey Literature, Hospitals, Quality, Urgent Care (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2305914 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:18:43 +0100 2305914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1195843&cid=t_92129_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2008%2F2%2F1%2Fcould-the-super-bowl-be-harmful-to-your-health.html By Pat SalberWhen I was a practicing Emergency Physician, I always used to volunteer to work Super Bowl Sunday. Two reasons: 1) I could care less about football, and 2) It is the one day of the year when no one, and I mean no one, comes to the ER. Whole families on their second week of a cold show up on Christmas Eve. Folks drop by to have their skin rashes checked out on Thanksgiving Day. New Years Eve and New Years Day – busy, busy, busy. But Super Bowl Sunday, while the Super Bowl is on, is dead quiet.If you talk to emergency physicians, they all have stories about the guy who got chest pain during the first quarter, but held out, sweating and breathing hard, until the game was over. By the time this fellow actually showed up in the ED, his heart muscle had been sta... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1195843 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:16:39 +0100 1195843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1101402&cid=t_92129_127_f&fid=34828&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrclouthier.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Finformation-to-save-life.html New research appears to support the fact that when doing CPR for a suddenly collapsed individual it may be better to only use chest compressions and forgo mouth to mouth resuscitation. It appears that some researchers in the study of this area have felt this way for years. It is a good read and something important for most of us to know. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier) Dr. Steve Clouthier blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1101402 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:39:00 +0100 1101402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551037&cid=t_92129_114_f&fid=34901&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdocadvocate.com%2F%3Fp%3D795 CNN It was more like a scene from an episode of “ER” than one from a real-life hospital in a small college town. “Nobody had ever seen anything like this before,” CEO for Montgomery Regional Hospital Scott Hill said. “You can never adequately prepare for this level of violence.” On a day where too many died on the scene, many more were taken, injured and bleeding to the hospital. It was a process hindered by the weather. High winds prevented the use of helicopters to move patients, Hill said. Dr. Joseph Cacioppo, an emergency room doctor at Montgomery, indicated he was stunned when victims began pouring in. “The injuries were just amazing. This man was brutal. There wasn’t a shooting victim that didn’t have less than three bullet wou... Doc Advocate blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551037 Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:47:09 +0100 551037