Challenges in Statewide Implementation of a Prehospital Evidence-Based Guideline: An Assessment of Barriers and Enablers in Five States.

Background: Individual states, regions, and local emergency medical service (EMS) agencies are responsible for the development and implementation of prehospital patient care protocols. Many states lack model prehospital guidelines for managing common conditions. Recently developed national evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) may address this gap.

Predictors of patient adherence to follow-up recommendations after an ED visit.

Background: It is unclear whether factors identified during the emergency department (ED) visit predict noncompliance with ED recommendations.

Study Objective: We sought to determine predictors of adherence to medical recommendations after an ED visit.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study at a single urban medical center.

Emergency physician knowledge of reimbursement rates associated with emergency medical care.

Study Objective: We investigated emergency physician knowledge of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement for common tests ordered and procedures performed in the emergency department (ED), determined the relative accuracy of their estimation, and reported the impact of perceived costs on physicians' ordering and prescribing behavior.

Methods: We distributed an online survey to 189 emergency physicians in 11 EDs across multiple institutions. The survey asked respondents to estimate reimbursement rates for a limited set of medical tests and procedures, rate their level of current cost knowledge, and determine the effect of health expenditures on their medical decision making.

Web-based emergency department patient satisfaction surveys may introduce potential for bias.

Background: Emergency departments (ED) have proposed utilizing a Web-based format to distribute patient satisfaction surveys, but the potential for bias in this distribution method has not been assessed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of ED patients who have access to the Internet to better understand potential bias in Web-based patient satisfaction surveys.

Methods: We distributed a 20-question survey to consenting, English-speaking adult patients presenting to the ED from December 2010 to March 2012.

Intranasal sufentanil provides adequate analgesia for emergency department patients with extremity injuries.

Background: In emergency medicine, the ability to provide rapid, adequate pain control without high resource utilization is ideal. In this study, the efficacy of intranasal sufentanil in emergency department (ED) patients with acute distal extremity injury was evaluated.

Methods: A nonrandomized, open-label dose trial to determine safety and efficacy of intranasal sufentanil in patients with a distal extremity injury who presented to the ED with moderate to severe pain was conducted.

Folic acid use in pregnant patients presenting to the emergency department.

Background: The US Preventive Services Task Force has recommended daily folic acid supplementation for women planning on becoming pregnant in an effort to prevent fetal neural tube defects. We evaluated pregnant patients presenting to the emergency department to determine rates of folic acid supplementation.

Methods: We surveyed a convenience sample of pregnant patients who presented to the University of Utah Emergency Department (ED) between 1 January 2008, and 30 April 2009, regarding pregnancy history and prior medical care.

A fibril-specific, conformation-dependent antibody recognizes a subset of Abeta plaques in Alzheimer disease, Down syndrome and Tg2576 transgenic mouse brain.

Beta-amyloid (Abeta) is thought to be a key contributor to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) in the general population and in adults with Down syndrome (DS). Different assembly states of Abeta have been identified that may be neurotoxic. Abeta oligomers can assemble into soluble prefibrillar oligomers, soluble fibrillar oligomers and insoluble fibrils.