Screening for Health-Related Social Needs of Emergency Department Patients.

Study Objective: There has been increasing attention to screening for health-related social needs. However, little is known about the screening practices of emergency departments (EDs). Within New England, we seek to identify the prevalence of ED screening for health-related social needs, understand the factors associated with screening, and understand how screening patterns for health-related social needs differ from those for violence, substance use, and mental health needs.

Change in opioid policies in New England emergency departments, 2014 vs 2018.

Objective: The U.S. opioid epidemic persists, yet it is unclear if opioid-related emergency department (ED) policies have changed.

Fecal Impaction With Multisystem Organ Involvement.

Fecal impactions are a common complaint in the emergency department (ED) population. The potential for significant derangement in physiologic processes of other organ systems is often underappreciated. A 19-year-old male, previously healthy, presented to the ED at our institution with complaint of abdominal pain, which was found to be secondary to severe fecal impaction.

Activated chlorine dioxide solution can be used as a biocompatible antiseptic wound irrigant.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare cosmesis at 3 to 4 months and infection in simple lacerations irrigated with normal saline (NS) versus activated chlorine dioxide (CD).

Design: This was a prospective, randomized trial of a convenience sample of patients. This study was approved by the institutional review board and Food and Drug Administration as a physician-sponsored trial (FDA investigational new drug no.

Trauma in pregnancy.

The treatment of pregnant patients with traumatic injuries requires knowledge of the fundamentals of general trauma management as well as the specific anatomic and physiologic changes brought about by pregnancy. This article provides a review of the spectrum of trauma prevention and treatment in pregnant women, from counseling strategies that can be used during any emergency department visit to a step-by-step evaluation protocol for patients with trauma during pregnancy and the severe injuries that might be encountered by providers during the treatment of these women, including maternal cardiopulmonary arrest and the perimortem cesarean section.

Digital imaging analysis of scar aesthetics.

Objective: Aesthetic outcome is an important end point of wound care. The purpose of this study was to compare a wound aesthetic scoring system by emergency physicians, patients, and digital imaging by blinded plastic surgeons. The goal was to see if digital photography could accurately analyze the aesthetics of closed lacerations for future research.

Factors associated with delay to emergency department presentation, antibiotic usage and admission for human bite injuries.

Objectives: Evidence and consensus on best practices on the management of human bite injuries is lacking. Our objective was to identify factors that are associated with delay to emergency department (ED) presentation, antibiotic usage and patient admission.

Methods: We present a retrospective chart review of adults treated for human bites.