Publications by authors named "Kenneth Dittrich"
The need for implementing a standardized, evidence-based emergency department discharge plan for optimizing adult asthma patient outcomes in the UAE, expert meeting report.
Int J Emerg Med
November 2024
Article Synopsis
- Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that can significantly impact patients' quality of life, leading to increased hospital visits and healthcare costs when not properly controlled.
- Overreliance on short-acting bronchodilators and neglecting inhaled corticosteroids can contribute to poor asthma management, particularly in patients frequenting emergency departments.
- A collaborative task force has created a comprehensive discharge plan for asthma management based on recent guidelines, aimed at improving patient outcomes and reducing the strain on the healthcare system in the UAE through effective education and treatment strategies.
Leave against medical advice (LAMA) is defined as 'a decision to leave the hospital before the treating physician recommends discharge', and is associated with higher rates of readmission, longer subsequent hospitalization, and worse health outcomes. In addition to this, they also contribute to poor healthcare resource utilization. We conducted a single-center audit to establish patient demographics and contributing factors of patients leaving against medical advice from our emergency department (ED).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is important for clinicians to be aware of the sensitivity and limitations of commonly used methods to confirm endotracheal tube placement. Overreliance on insensitive indicators can lead to delayed recognition of esophageal intubation. The case presented highlights this concern.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma (FAST) is not widely practiced by Trauma Surgeons in the Middle East despite its international acceptance. A FAST course was established by the Trauma Group at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at United Arab Emirates (UAE) University aiming to introduce doctors who have limited experience of ultrasound to the basics of FAST. This article summarizes the content of the course; the evaluation of the participants and their recommendations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF