A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of a Double Check on the Detection of Medication Errors.

Study Objective: The use of a double check by 2 nurses has been advocated as a key error-prevention strategy. This study aims to determine how often a double check is used for high-alert medications and whether it increases error detection.

Methods: Emergency department and ICU nurses worked in pairs to care for a simulated patient.

The Effect of Emergency Department Boarding on Order Completion.

Study Objective: We identify differences in the process of care for admitted patients who board in the emergency department (ED) compared with admitted patients who are transferred to an inpatient care area.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of a random sample of adult patients admitted through the ED at one urban teaching hospital. Patients who boarded in the ED for at least 6 hours after the decision to admit were matched to similar control patients.

Volume of fluids administered during resuscitation for severe sepsis and septic shock and the development of the acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the volume of intravenous (IV) fluids administered in the resuscitative phase of severe sepsis and septic shock and the development of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted with severe sepsis and septic shock at a large academic public hospital. The relationship between the volume of IV fluids administered and the development of ARDS was examined using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

The effect of financial incentives on adherence with outpatient human immunodeficiency virus testing referrals from the emergency department.

Objectives: Undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is not uncommon among patients who seek care in urban inner-city emergency departments (EDs). The optimal method for providing appropriate HIV counseling, testing, and referral in this setting is unclear. A previous evaluation of an outpatient referral system for HIV testing among patients seen in the ED demonstrated that only 11% returned to be tested; of those tested, 7% were seropositive.

Evaluation of an emergency department referral system for outpatient HIV testing.

Background: Undiagnosed HIV infection is prevalent among patients who present to urban emergency departments (EDs). Providing appropriate counseling, testing, and follow-up in the ED is difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a referral-based outpatient HIV testing system for patients referred from the ED.