Using Interrupted Time Series Analysis to Measure the Impact of Legalized Syringe Exchange on HIV Diagnoses in Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Background: Syringe exchange programs (SEP) reduce HIV incidence associated with injection drug use (IDU), but legislation often prohibits implementation. We examined the policy change impact allowing for SEP implementation on HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs in 2 US cities.

Setting: Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD.

Combatting the opioid epidemic: Baltimore's experience and lessons learned.

In the midst of a national opioid crisis, Baltimore City witnessed 393 deaths from drug and alcohol overdose in 2015. With an estimated 25 000 residents who are addicted to heroin or other opioids, Baltimore has been profoundly affected by the opioid epidemic. Other resources have commented on federal, state-based, and provider responses to the opioid crisis.

Evaluating the impact of Affordable Care Act repeal on America's opioid epidemic.

In this month's Editorial, Health Commissioner of the City of Baltimore Leana S. Wen and co-authors discuss why the United States needs Medicaid to address its epidemic of opioid abuse.

The Role of Public Health in Combatting Synthetic Cannabinoid Use in Adolescents.

As the country struggles to address an epidemic of alcohol and drug overdose, a wide-ranging category of chemical substances known as synthetic drugs have provoked a new sense of public urgency over the past decade. Synthetic cannabinoids, a heterogeneous and evolving set of synthetic compounds that act on endogenous cannabinoid receptors, have become particularly popular among adolescents due to their relative ease of access and reputation as a "legal high." The Baltimore City Health Department has worked to combat the recent surge in synthetic drug use through a major public awareness campaign, legislative reform, and retailer engagement and compliance initiative.

A comparison of perspectives on costs in emergency care among emergency department patients and residents.

Background: Costs of care are increasingly important in healthcare policy and, more recently, in clinical care in the emergency department (ED). We compare ED resident and patient perspectives surrounding costs in emergency care.

Methods: We conducted a mixed methods study using surveys and qualitative interviews at a single, academic ED in the United States.

Measles, social media and surveillance in Baltimore City.

Background: Baltimore City was faced with two potential measles outbreaks in 2015. Both cases occurred in the wake of national media attention paid to the Disneyland outbreaks of the same year.

Methods: A comparative case study approach was used applying qualitative data to elicit best practices in infectious disease protocols in the age of social media.

The Emergency Medicine Workforce: Profile and Projections.

Background: The landscape of the emergency medicine workforce has changed dramatically over the last few decades. The growth in emergency medicine residency programs has significantly increased the number of emergency medicine specialists now staffing emergency departments (EDs) throughout the country. Despite this increase in available providers, rising patient volumes, an aging population, ED overcrowding and inefficiency, increased regulation, and other factors have resulted in the continued need for additional emergency physicians.

Baltimore's Unrest: Perspectives From Public Health and Emergency Physician Leaders.

The tragic April 19, 2015, death of an African American man injured while in police custody spurred several days of protest and civil unrest in Baltimore City. This article outlines the opportunity and role for a local health department during civil unrest, from the perspective of 2 emergency physicians who also led the Baltimore City Health Department through these recent events. Between April 27 and May 8, 2015, the Health Department was a lead agency in the unrest response and recovery activities.

The Role of Public Health in Responding to and Recovering from Civil Unrest: Baltimore's Experience.

The death of an African-American man, injured while in police custody, led to protests and several days of civil unrest in Baltimore City beginning on April 27, 2015. This article discusses the role of the Baltimore City Health Department, during and after the initial protests and civil unrest, as the lead agency for ESF-8 response. We review and share initial response actions, short-term recovery operations, long-term recovery efforts, and lessons learned.

Emergency department characteristics and capabilities in Bogotá, Colombia.

Background: Emergency departments (EDs) are a critical, yet heterogeneous, part of international emergency care. The National ED Inventories (NEDI) survey has been used in multiple countries as a standardized method to benchmark ED characteristics. We sought to describe the characteristics, resources, capabilities, and capacity of EDs in the densely populated capital city of Bogotá, Colombia.