A Systematic Survey of Emergency Medical Services Fellows in the United States.

Emergency medical services (EMS) fellowship program accreditation in the United States began in 2013, and the number of available programs has rapidly expanded since then with a corresponding increase in the number of fellows. Despite this increase in program number and attendance, there is a paucity of data in the literature reviewing personal and professional characteristics of the fellows, their experiences during fellowship, or understanding of their intended desires from fellowship. This study surveyed 2020-21 and 2021-22 EMS fellows regarding their personal and professional characteristics, motivations for program choice, remaining school debt, and the effects of COVID-19 on their training.

Procedural sedation and analgesia versus nerve blocks for reduction of fractures and dislocations in the emergency department: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) and peripheral nerve blocks (NBs) are techniques to manage pain and facilitate reduction of dislocated joints or fractures. However, it is unclear if either approach provides any distinct advantage in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this systematic review is to compare these 2 techniques on pain scores, adverse events, patient satisfaction, and length of stay (LOS) in the ED.

Characteristics of EMS Fellowships in the United States.

Background: EMS was recognized as a subspecialty of Emergency Medicine in 2010. Accreditation of EMS fellowship programs started in 2013. Despite increasing numbers of programs and a decade since recognition, little has been written about the characteristics and offerings of these programs.

Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Transport of COVID-19 Patients in the "First Wave": A National Survey.

Study objectives Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) providers have had to adjust to transporting patients with a novel, highly infectious pathogen. This study describes how HEMS organizations in the USA approached the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in its first wave. Methods A survey was distributed via REDCap™ to HEMS organizations in May of 2020 using a national database.

COVID-19: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Pandemic's Effect on an Emergency Department.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) is a historic pandemic severely impacting health care. This study examines its early effect on a busy academic emergency department.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients from an academic tertiary care Level I trauma, cardiac and stroke center's emergency department seeing an average of 54,000 adults and 21,000 pediatric patients per year.

Triage Performance of School Personnel Using the SALT System.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine if school personnel can understand and apply the Sort, Assess, Life-saving interventions, Treat/Transport (SALT) triage methods after a brief training. The investigators predicted that subjects can learn to triage with accuracy similar to that of medically trained personnel, and that subjects can pass an objective-structured clinical exam (OSCE) evaluating hemorrhage control.

Methods: School personnel were eligible to participate in this prospective observational study.

Implementation strategies for procedural sedation and analgesia in the emergency department.

Implementing procedural sedation and analgesia in the emergency department is still is a challenge on an international scale. Here, we describe the Dutch setting of emergency medicine and explain the strategies that were successful for the implementation of safe and effective procedural sedation and analgesia by emergency physicians. We describe strategies on how to bridge the gap of knowledge and skills and how to deal with a resistance to change.

Use of Radio Frequency Identification to Establish Emergency Medical Service Offload Times.

Emergency medical services (EMS) crews often wait for emergency department (ED) beds to become available to offload their patients. Presently there is no national benchmark for EMS turnaround or offload times, or method for objectively and reliably measuring this. This study introduces a novel method for monitoring offload times and identifying variance.

Characteristics of prehospital ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions.

Introduction: Despite attention directed at treatment times of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs), little is known about the types of STEMIs presenting to the emergency department (ED).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relative frequencies and characteristics of emergency medical services (EMS) STEMIs compared with those in patients who present to the ED by walk-in. This information may be applied in EMS training, system planning, and public education.

Paramedic ability to recognize ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction on prehospital electrocardiograms.

Background: Identifying ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) by paramedics can decrease door-to-balloon times. While many paramedics are trained to obtain and interpret electrocardiograms (ECGs), it is unknown how accurately they can identify STEMIs.

Objective: This study evaluated paramedics' accuracy in recognizing STEMI on ECGs when faced with potential STEMI mimics.

Prehospital electrocardiographic computer identification of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Identifying ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) in the field can decrease door-to-balloon times. Paramedics may use a computer algorithm to help them interpret prehospital electrocariograms (ECGs). It is unknown how accurately the computer can identify STEMIs.

The impact of an emergency motorcycle response vehicle on prehospital care in an urban area.

Introduction: Faster emergency response times are generally considered to have a positive effect on life expectancy of patients with a life-threatening event, leading many communities to determine response time intervals. However, worldwide, increasing urbanization and traffic congestion threatens ambulance response times. An emergency motorcycle response vehicle (MRV) can overcome these hurdles more easily than a larger ambulance.

Safety and efficacy of procedural sedation with propofol in a country with a young emergency medicine training program.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of procedural sedation with propofol by newly trained Dutch emergency physicians.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort study of patients in emergency department undergoing procedural sedation at two teaching hospitals. Primary outcomes were serious adverse events, sedation events, and efficacy.

Validation of the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) in self-referred patients in a European emergency department.

Objective: To validate the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage algorithm in predicting resource consumption and disposition by self-referred patients in a European emergency department.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational cohort study using a convenience sample of self-referred emergency department patients >14 years of age presenting to a busy urban teaching hospital during a 39-day period (27 May-4 July 2001). Observed resource use was compared with resource utilisation predicted by the ESI.

Emergency department patient characteristics: Potential impact on emergency medicine residency programs in the Netherlands.

Objectives: We set out to study emergency department patient characteristics at a busy level-2 trauma center, to gain insight into the practise of emergency medicine, which is not yet recognized as a specialty in the Netherlands.

Methods: From May 27 to July 4 2001, the following data were recorded from the charts of all patients presenting to the emergency department: age, time and form of presentation, diagnostics, treatment, disposition and the single best diagnosis (International Classification of Disease-10 classification).

Results: The majority (84%) of the 5234 patients (134/day) patients seen were self-referred and treated by the emergency department physician.