Patients' sex and race are independent predictors of HEART score documentation by emergency medicine providers.

Introduction: The HEART score is a widely used clinical decision tool that provides emergency providers with objective risk stratification for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with undifferentiated chest pain (CP). There is no data as to which patients undergo formal risk stratification with a HEART score, and whether patient demographics influence decisions to apply the HEART score. Our objective was to determine if sex or race independently predict documentation of patients' HEART scores in CP patients.

Failure Rates During Reuse of Disposable N95 Masks in Clinical Practice in the Emergency Department.

Introduction: The coronavirus 2019 pandemic caused a shortage of disposable N95 respirators, prompting healthcare entities to extend the use of these masks beyond their intended single-use manufacturer recommendation with a paucity of supporting research.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of ED healthcare workers (HCW) ("subjects") required to use respirators at an academic, Level I trauma center. Subjects had been previously fit tested and assigned an appropriately sized N95 mask per hospital protocol.

The pragmatic use of industrial elastomeric facemasks in health care practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced health care workers to explore alternative personal protective equipment (PPE) strategies due to traditional product shortages in the setting of increased global demand. Some physicians have chosen to use elastomeric face masks (EFMs), traditionally used in non-healthcare industries.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of Emergency Medicine (EM) physicians working at a Level 1 Trauma Center who chose to use self-supplied EFMs for PPE.

The efficacy of continuous use disposable N95 masks in clinical practice in the emergency department.

Unlabelled: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many emergency departments (EDs) initiated continuous use of N95 disposable respirators (N95s) rather than discarding them after each use to conserve respirators. This study investigates the efficacy of wearing disposable N95s continuously during clinical work.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of ED staff required to wear N95s continuously throughout their shifts.