Time Isn't your FoCUS, do cardiac POCUS!

Background: Physicians often cite time as a limitation to performing a focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) exam. The primary outcome of this study was to determine the amount of time to complete a quality FoCUS exam. Secondary outcomes evaluated time differences between different training levels.

Influence of polysubstance use on the health-related quality of life among people who inject drugs undergoing opioid agonist treatment following treatment for hepatitis c virus.

Background: Treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people who inject drugs (PWID) has been associated with increased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Polysubstance use (PSU) is common among PWID, but no studies have investigated PSU influence on PWID's HRQOL HCV treatment.

Methods: Participants included 150 PWID receiving HCV treatment at opioid agonist treatment clinics in Bronx, NY.

The Effect of Contrast Rationing on the Development of Acute Kidney Injury During the Global Contrast Shortage.

Background: In April of 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a global shortage of intravenous contrast media (ICM), which led our health care system to implement rationing measures.

Study Objectives: We set out to determine if the reduction in ICM use was associated with a change in the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort analysis to compare the incidence of AKI in patients who presented before and after ICM rationing.

No Patient Left Behind: A Novel Paradigm to Fulfill Hepatitis C Virus Treatment for Rural Patients.

Background: This study evaluates a novel multidisciplinary program providing expanded access to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment for rural Appalachian patients in South Carolina. This program identified patients via an opt-out emergency department screening program, and it aimed to achieve HCV cure by using community paramedics (CPs) to link and monitor patients from treatment initiation through 12-week sustained virologic response (SVR).

Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years who were HCV RNA positive were eligible for enrollment if they failed to appear for a scheduled HCV appointment or reported barriers to accessing office-based treatment.

Prehospital Blood Administration in Pediatric Patients: A Case Report.

Prehospital blood administration programs have demonstrated success both on the battlefield and throughout civilian emergency medical services programs. While previous research often discusses the use of prehospital blood administration for adult trauma and medical patients, few studies have reported the benefits of prehospital blood administration for pediatric patients. This case report describes treatment received by a 7-year-old female gunshot victim who was successfully treated by a prehospital blood administration program in the southern United States.

Using Community Paramedicine to Treat Hepatitis C Virus in Upstate South Carolina.

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an infection of the liver that can lead to significant liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma. Individuals born between 1945 and 1965 and individuals with intravenous drug use represent the largest HCV demographics and often experience barriers to treatment. In this case series, we discuss a novel partnership between community paramedics (CPs), HCV care coordinators, and an infectious disease physician to provide HCV treatment to individuals with barriers accessing care.

Missed opportunities for diagnosis of HIV in the emergency department using non-risk-based testing strategy.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the number of missed opportunities (MO) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses within our emergency departments (EDs) and assess any significant associated patient characteristics. Following current Centers for Disease Control guidelines, an opt-out HIV screening program was implemented in 2 of 7 EDs within a large Southern healthcare system. This study sought to differentiate the risk of MO in opt-out compared to clinician-initiated, risk-based ED screening protocols.

Equine-assisted services for individuals with substance use disorders: a scoping review.

The implementation of equine-assisted services (EAS) during treatment for psychological disorders has been frequently documented; however, little is known about the effect of EAS on outcomes for populations with substance use disorder (SUD). The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesize existing literature reporting the effects of EAS when incorporated into SUD treatment. This review followed guidelines in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist for scoping reviews.

Differences in Motivating Factors for SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Perceptions of Infection Risk among Healthcare and EMS Personnel in South Carolina.

Objectives: Although medical workers were prioritized to receive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, many have declined. Even though studies have investigated differences in COVID-19-related attitudes and vaccination for workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities, none have included emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. We investigated the association between type of medical worker (EMS vs healthcare worker [HCW]) and COVID-19 vaccination, vaccine beliefs, vaccine motivators, personal protection behaviors, and risk perceptions.

HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Care Continuum Among Individuals Receiving Medication for Opioid Use Disorder, South Carolina, 2020-2021.

We implemented the HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care continuum among individuals receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). We screened HIV-negative MOUD participants for PrEP eligibility by assessing injection drug use risk factors and sexual behaviors. Implementation of the PrEP care continuum was challenging; less than a third of MOUD participants were aware of PrEP, and very few initiated PrEP.

Effectiveness of peer recovery support services on stages of the opioid use disorder treatment cascade: A systematic review.

Background: Peer recovery support services (PRSS) have been increasingly incorporated during the recovery process for opioid use disorder (OUD), yet little is known about the effects of PRSS on clinical outcomes of individuals who misuse opioids. This study systematically synthesized existing literature reporting the effectiveness of PRSS interventions on stages of the OUD treatment cascade.

Methods: A search conducted on five databases identified studies from database inception to January 26th 2021 that evaluated the effects of PRSS on PRSS engagement, medication for OUD (MOUD) initiation, MOUD retention, opioid and non-opioid misuse, and remission.

Changes in Health-related Quality of Life for Hepatitis C Virus-Infected People Who Inject Drugs While on Opioid Agonist Treatment Following Sustained Virologic Response.

Background: Although efforts to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people who inject drugs (PWID) yield high rates of sustained virologic response (SVR), the relationship between successful HCV treatment and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among PWID is poorly understood. We examined HRQOL changes throughout HCV treatment and post-treatment for PWID achieving SVR.

Methods: Participants included 141 PWID who achieved SVR following HCV treatment onsite at 3 opioid agonist treatment (OAT) clinics in the Bronx, New York.

Assessment of Co-Occurring Substance Use During Opiate Treatment Programs in the United States.

The effectiveness of opiate treatment programs (OTPs) can be significantly influenced by co-occurring substance use, yet there are no standardized guidelines for assessing the influence of co-occurring substance use on treatment outcomes. In this review, we aim to provide an overview on the status of the assessment of co-occurring substance use during participation in OTPs in the United States. We searched 4 databases-MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL)-from database inception to November 2018 to select relevant publications on OTPs that assessed participants' co-occurring substance use.

The Influence of Co-Occurring Substance Use on the Effectiveness of Opiate Treatment Programs According to Intervention Type.

This systematic review describes the influence of co-occurring substance use on the effectiveness of opiate treatment programs. MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched from database inception to November 28, 2018, to identify eligible opioid treatment studies in the United States that assessed the relationship between co-occurring substance use and treatment outcome (i.e.