Emergency Department Utilization and Patient Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic in America.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic precipitated fear of contagion and influenced many people to avoid the emergency department (ED). It is unknown if this avoidance effected overall health or disease mortality.

Objective: We aimed to quantify the decreased ED volume in the United States, determine whether it occurred simultaneously across the country, find which types of patients decreased, and measure resultant changes in patient outcomes.

Influence of COVID-19 outbreak on emergency department Press Ganey scores of emergency physicians.

Background And Hypothesis: The authors investigate whether there is a difference in Press Ganey (PG; patient satisfaction scores) scores for the emergency physicians before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a regional group of emergency departments in the southeastern United States. The authors hypothesize that decreases in emergency department volume, less emergency department boarding of admissions, reduced use of hallway beds, and favorable attitudes toward emergency physicians during the COVID-19 outbreak may influence patient satisfaction scores measured in the Press Ganey surveys.

Study Design And Methods: The authors performed a retrospective review of PG scores obtained over the prior 7 months at 8 larger teaching hospitals in the Southeast region (Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina).

Prehospital Antibiotics Improve Morbidity and Mortality of Emergency Medical Service Patients with Sepsis.

Background: Severe sepsis is a major cause of mortality in patients evaluated in the Emergency Department (ED). Early initiation of antibiotic therapy and IV fluids in the ED is associated with improved outcomes. We investigated whether early administration of antibiotics in the prehospital setting improves outcomes in these patients with sepsis.