Publications by authors named "Becca M Scharf"

Introduction: Ambulance patients who are unable to be quickly transferred to an emergency department (ED) bed represent a key contributing factor to ambulance offload delay (AOD). Emergency department crowding and associated AOD are exacerbated by multiple factors, including infectious disease outbreaks such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Initiatives to address AOD present an opportunity to streamline ambulance offload procedures while improving patient outcomes.

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Increasing naloxone access has been identified as a primary strategy to reduce opioid overdose deaths. To supplement community naloxone training and distribution access points, EMS systems have instituted public safety-based naloxone leave behind (NLB) programs that allow emergency medical responders to distribute "leave behind" naloxone kits on the scene of an overdose. This model presents an opportunity to expand naloxone access for individuals at high risk for future overdoses.

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Introduction: Frequent calls to 911 and requests for emergency services by individuals place a costly burden on emergency response systems and emergency departments (EDs) in the United States. Many of the calls by these individuals are non-emergent exacerbations of chronic conditions and could be treated more effectively and cost efficiently through another health care service. Mobile integrated community health (MICH) programs present a possible partial solution to the over-utilization of emergency services by addressing factors which contribute to a patient's likelihood of frequent Emergency Medical Services (EMS) use.

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