Forecasting severe respiratory disease hospitalizations using machine learning algorithms.

Background: Forecasting models predicting trends in hospitalization rates have the potential to inform hospital management during seasonal epidemics of respiratory diseases and the associated surges caused by acute hospital admissions. Hospital bed requirements for elective surgery could be better planned if it were possible to foresee upcoming peaks in severe respiratory illness admissions. Forecasting models can also guide the use of intervention strategies to decrease the spread of respiratory pathogens and thus prevent local health system overload.

Emergency management of paediatric status epilepticus in Australia and New Zealand: practice patterns in the context of clinical practice guidelines.

Aims: To establish current acute seizure management through a review of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and reported physician management in the 11 largest paediatric emergency departments in Australia (n= 9) and New Zealand (n= 2) within the Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT) network, and to compare this with Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) guidelines and existing evidence.

Methods: (i) Review of CPGs for acute seizure management at PREDICT sites. (ii) A standardised anonymous survey of senior emergency doctors at PREDICT sites investigating management of status epilepticus (SE).

Patterns of presentation to the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Emergency Research Network.

Objective: To describe epidemiological data concerning paediatric ED visits to an Australian and New Zealand research network.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of paediatric ED visits to all Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT) sites in 2004. Epidemiological data, including demographics, admission rates and diagnostic grouping, were examined and analysed using descriptive and comparative statistical methods.

Inhaled methoxyflurane as a prehospital analgesic in children.

Objective: Despite widespread use of methoxyflurane as an inhaled analgesic by ambulance services in Australia there are no published data as to its use pattern, efficacy and safety in the prehospital setting. We set out to characterize methoxyflurane use in children in the prehospital setting.

Methods: An observational case series was conducted over an 8 month period.

Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT): first steps towards the development of an Australian and New Zealand research network.

Paediatric emergency research is hampered by a number of barriers that can be overcome by a multicentre approach. In 2004, an Australia and New Zealand-based paediatric emergency research network was formed, the Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT). The founding sites include all major tertiary children's hospital EDs in Australia and New Zealand and a major mixed ED in Australia.