The analysis of the geographical distribution of emergency departments' frequent users: a tool to prioritize public health policies?

Background: The individual factors associated to Frequent Users (FUs) in Emergency Departments are well known. However, the characteristics of their geographical distribution and how territorial specificities are associated and intertwined with ED use are limited. Investigating healthcare use and territorial factors would help targeting local health policies.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Impact Caused by School Closure and National Lockdown on Pediatric Visits and Admissions for Viral and Nonviral Infections-a Time Series Analysis.

A time series analysis of 871 543 pediatric emergency visits revealed that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown and school closures were associated with a significant decrease in infectious diseases disseminated through airborne or fecal-oral transmission: common cold, gastroenteritis, bronchiolitis, and acute otitis. No change was found for urinary tract infections.

No more winter crisis? Forecasting daily bed requirements for emergency department admissions to hospital.

Study Hypothesis: We hypothesized that age, calendar variables, and clinical influenza epidemics may have an impact on the number of daily through-emergency department (ED) hospitalizations. The aim of our study was to elaborate a pragmatic tool to predict the daily number of through-ED hospitalizations.

Methods: We carried out a prospective-observational study including data from 18 ED located in the Paris metropolitan area.

Factors associated with the length of stay of patients discharged from emergency department in France.

Objectives: The length of stay in the emergency department (ED) has been proposed as an indicator of performance in many countries. We conducted a survey of length of stay in two large areas in France and tested the hypothesis that patient and ED-related variables may influence it.

Patients And Methods: During 2007, we examined lengths of stay in ambulatory patients, that is, excluding admitted patients.

Assessment of a syndromic surveillance system based on morbidity data: results from the Oscour network during a heat wave.

Background: Syndromic surveillance systems have been developed in recent years and are now increasingly used by stakeholders to quickly answer questions and make important decisions. It is therefore essential to evaluate the quality and utility of such systems. This study was designed to assess a syndromic surveillance system based on emergency departments' (ED) morbidity rates related to the health effects of heat waves.

[Estimating emergency hospital admissions to gauge short-term effects of air pollution: evaluation of health data quality].

The study of the short-term effects and health impact of air pollution is carrier out by the ERPURS regional surveillance program which utilizes hospitalization data obtained from the French hospital information system (PMSI) to determine these links. This system does not permit the distinction between emergency hospital admissions from scheduled ones, which cannot be related to short term changes in air pollution levels. This study examines how scheduled admissions affect the quality of the health indicators used to estimate air pollution effects.

Syndromic surveillance and heat wave morbidity: a pilot study based on emergency departments in France.

Background: The health impacts of heat waves are serious and have prompted the development of heat wave response plans. Even when they are efficient, these plans are developed to limit the health effects of heat waves. This study was designed to determine relevant indicators related to health effects of heat waves and to evaluate the ability of a syndromic surveillance system to monitor variations in the activity of emergency departments over time.

Triage patients with suspected pulmonary embolism in the emergency department using a portable ultrasound device.

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is difficult, despite validated diagnostic models. We sought to determine the value of a portable ultrasound device for triage of patients with suspected PE referred to the emergency department, using simplified echo criteria. We prospectively studied 103 consecutive patients with suspected PE, referred to our emergency department.

Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide in assessment of acute dyspnea.

We examined the analytical correlation between non-radioimmunometric plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and evaluated whether NT-proBNP or BNP was superior in the emergency diagnosis of heart failure and whether this was influenced by age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and renal function. Data were collected prospectively from patients admitted to the emergency department for acute dyspnea. Plasma BNP (Triage, Biosite) and NT-proBNP (Elecsys, Roche diagnostic(R)) were measured at admission in addition to other standard biological parameters and clinical variables.

Analytical correlation between plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide in patients presenting with dyspnea.

Objectives: We examined the analytical correlation N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

Design And Methods: Electrochemiluminescence and fluorescence immunoassays were used to measure NT-proBNP and BNP levels, respectively.

Results: The analytical correlation was satisfactory using the equation: NT-proBNP = 8.

Assessment of radiological referral practice and effect of computer-based guidelines on radiological requests in two emergency departments.

Aim: To assess medical emergency radiology referral practice compared with a set of French guidelines and to measure the efficiency of computer-based guidelines on unnecessary medical imaging.

Materials And Methods: All radiological requests were computerized in the medical emergency departments of two French teaching hospitals. During control periods, radiological requests were recorded but no action was taken.