Prospective, Multicenter, Controlled Trial of Mobile Stroke Units.

Background: Mobile stroke units (MSUs) are ambulances with staff and a computed tomographic scanner that may enable faster treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) than standard management by emergency medical services (EMS). Whether and how much MSUs alter outcomes has not been extensively studied.

Methods: In an observational, prospective, multicenter, alternating-week trial, we assessed outcomes from MSU or EMS management within 4.

Improved Administration of Antibiotics in the Emergency Department: A Practice Improvement Project.

Problem: Although consensus exists among experts that early intravenous antibiotic therapy has an impact on patient mortality, the medical literature includes little information about ensuring that the patient receives the complete dose. At our emergency department, it had become standard clinical practice to administer antibiotics with primary pump tubing and an infusion pump. Clinical pharmacy staff identified this practice as a cause for concern, because at least 20 mL (up to 40%) of the dose volume remains in the tubing.