ERASE: a feasible early warning tool for elder abuse, developed for use in the Dutch emergency department.

Background: Elder abuse is a worldwide problem with serious consequences for individuals and society. To effectively deal with elder abuse, a timely identification of signals as well as a systematic approach towards (suspected) elder abuse is necessary. This study aimed to develop and test the acceptability and appropriateness of ERASE (EldeR AbuSE) in the emergency department (ED) setting.

[What to do when elder abuse is suspected?].

Elder abuse is a worldwide problem with serious consequences for individuals and society. The recognition of elder abuse is complex due to a lack of awareness and knowledge. We present a case of a patient with signs of elder abuse.

Patient factors associated with conveyance decision-making by Emergency Medical Services professionals in patients with a syncope: a cross-sectional factorial survey design.

Background: The clinical decision-making of non-conveyance is perceived as complex and difficult by emergency medical services (EMS) professionals. Patients with a transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) based on syncope constitute a significant part of the non-conveyance population. Risk stratification is the basis of the clinical decision-making process by EMS professionals.

Risk stratification tools for patients with syncope in emergency medical services and emergency departments: a scoping review.

Background: Patients with a syncope constitute a challenge for risk stratification in (prehospital) emergency care. Professionals in EMS and ED need to differentiate the high-risk from the low-risk syncope patient, with limited time and resources. Clinical decision rules (CDRs) are designed to support professionals in risk stratification and clinical decision-making.

The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and well-being of ambulance care professionals: A rapid review.

The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the health and well-being of all healthcare professionals. However, for ambulance care professionals it is unknown on which health outcomes the impact of COVID-19 is measured, and what the actual impact on these health outcomes is. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gain insight in a) which type of health outcomes were measured in relation to the impact of COVID-19 among ambulance care professionals, and b) to determine the actual impact on these outcomes.

The quality of pre-announcement communication and the accuracy of estimated arrival time in critically ill patients, a prospective observational study.

Background: Efficient communication between (helicopter) emergency medical services ((H)EMS) and healthcare professionals in the emergency department (ED) is essential to facilitate appropriate team mobilization and preparation for critically ill patients. A correct estimated time of arrival (ETA) is crucial for patient safety and time-management since all team members have to be present, but needless waiting must be avoided. The aim of this study is to investigate the quality of the pre-announcement and the accuracy of the ETA.

The updated national research agenda 2021-2026 for prehospital emergency medical services in the Netherlands: a Delphi study.

Background: In 2015, a national research agenda was established for Dutch prehospital EMS to underpin the evidence base of care delivery and inform policymakers and funders. The continuously increasing demand for ambulance care and the reorientation towards the role of EMS in recent years may have changed research priorities. Therefore, this study aimed to update the Dutch national EMS research agenda.

Types, characteristics and anatomic location of physical signs in elder abuse: a systematic review : Awareness and recognition of injury patterns.

Purpose: Elder abuse is a worldwide problem with serious consequences for individuals and society. The recognition of elder abuse is complex due to a lack of awareness and knowledge. In this systematic review, types, characteristics and anatomic location of physical signs in elder abuse were identified.

Medical Coordination Rescue Members' and Ambulance Nurses' Perspectives on a New Model for Mass Casualty and Disaster Management and a Novel Terror Attack Mitigation Approach in the Netherlands: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Mass-casualty incidents (MCIs), specifically incidents with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents (CBRN) or terrorist attacks, challenge medical coordination, rescue, availability, and adequate provision of prehospital and hospital-based emergency care. In the Netherlands, a new model for Mass Casualty and Disaster Management (MCDM) along with a Terror Attack Mitigation Approach (TAMA) was introduced in 2016.

Study Objective: The objective of this study was to provide insight in the first experiences of health policy advisors and managers with a medical rescue coordinator and ambulance nursing background regarding the new MCDM and TAMA in order to identify strengths and pitfalls in emergency preparedness and to provide recommendations for improvement.

[Care contacts of elderly patients in the emergency care pathway: a retrospective cohort study].

Objective: To gain insight into the differences in emergency care offered to elderly (65+ years) and younger patients (20-64 years). The emergency care pathway includes: out-of-hours general practitioner cooperatives, regional ambulance services, psychiatric emergency medical services, accident and emergency departments and acute cardiac care units.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Factors influencing the decision to convey or not to convey elderly people to the emergency department after emergency ambulance attendance: a systematic mixed studies review.

Background: The decision over whether to convey after emergency ambulance attendance plays a vital role in preventing avoidable admissions to a hospital's emergency department (ED). This is especially important with the elderly, for whom the likelihood and frequency of adverse events are greatest.

Objective: To provide a structured overview of factors influencing the conveyance decision of elderly people to the ED after emergency ambulance attendance, and the outcomes of these decisions.

A patient-safety and professional perspective on non-conveyance in ambulance care: a systematic review.

Background: This systematic review aimed to describe non-conveyance in ambulance care from patient-safety and ambulance professional perspectives. The review specifically focussed at describing (1) ambulance non-conveyance rates, (2) characteristics of non-conveyed patients, (3) follow-up care after non-conveyance, (4) existing guidelines or protocols, and (5) influencing factors during the non-conveyance decision making process.

Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and reference lists of included articles, in June 2016.

Solo emergency care by a physician assistant versus an ambulance nurse: a cross-sectional document study.

Background: This study compares the assessment, treatment, referral, and follow up contact with the dispatch centre of emergency patients treated by two types of solo emergency care providers in ambulance emergency medical services (EMS) in the Netherlands: the physician assistant (PA), educated in the medical domain, and the ambulance registered nurse (RN), educated in the nursing domain. The hypothesis of this study was that there is no difference in outcome of care between the patients of PAs and RNs.

Methods: In a cross-sectional document study in two EMS regions we included 991 patients, treated by two PAs (n = 493) and 23 RNs (n = 498).

A nurse-initiated pain protocol in the ED improves pain treatment in patients with acute musculoskeletal pain.

While acute musculoskeletal pain is a frequent complaint, its management is often neglected. An implementation of a nurse-initiated pain protocol based on the algorithm of a Dutch pain management guideline in the emergency department might improve this. A pre-post intervention study was performed as part of the prospective PROTACT follow-up study.

Improving the governance of patient safety in emergency care: a systematic review of interventions.

Objectives: To systematically review interventions that aim to improve the governance of patient safety within emergency care on effectiveness, reliability, validity and feasibility.

Design: A systematic review of the literature.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and PsychInfo were searched for studies published between January 1990 and July 2014.

A national research agenda for pre-hospital emergency medical services in the Netherlands: a Delphi-study.

Background: In pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) more research is needed to direct and underpin care delivery and inform policy. To target future research efforts, this study aimed to determine future research priorities with representatives of the EMS field.

Methods: A four-round online Delphi survey was used to discuss different viewpoints and reach consensus on research priorities.

Pain management in the emergency chain: the use and effectiveness of pain management in patients with acute musculoskeletal pain.

Objective: While acute musculoskeletal pain is a frequent complaint in emergency care, its management is often neglected, placing patients at risk for insufficient pain relief. Our aim is to investigate how often pain management is provided in the prehospital phase and emergency department (ED) and how this affects pain relief. A secondary goal is to identify prognostic factors for clinically relevant pain relief.

Internet and social media for health-related information and communication in health care: preferences of the Dutch general population.

Background: Health care is increasingly featured by the use of Web 2.0 communication and collaborative technologies that are reshaping the way patients and professionals interact. These technologies or tools can be used for a variety of purposes: to instantly debate issues, discover news, analyze research, network with peers, crowd-source information, seek support, and provide advice.

Use of social media by Western European hospitals: longitudinal study.

Background: Patients increasingly use social media to communicate. Their stories could support quality improvements in participatory health care and could support patient-centered care. Active use of social media by health care institutions could also speed up communication and information provision to patients and their families, thus increasing quality even more.

[Guideline 'Pain management for trauma patients in the chain of emergency care'].

Pain management for trauma patients is a neglected aspect in the chain of emergency care in general practices, ambulance services, mobile trauma teams and in hospital emergency departments. The aim of the guideline 'Pain management for trauma patients in the chain of emergency care' is to provide pain management recommendations for trauma patients in the chain of emergency care and thereby improve the assistance that patients receive. Paracetamol is the treatment of choice, if necessary with additional use of NSAIDs or opioids; NSAIDs can be administered in the absence of contra-indications, but should be avoided in cases where the patient history is unknown; fentanyl and morphine can be given for severe pain during emergency care, esketamine can be considered in patients with severe pain and hypovolemia.

Prevalence and relief of pain in trauma patients in emergency medical services.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to give insight in the prevalence of pain, and the (effect of) pain management according to the national emergency medical services analgesia protocol in trauma patients in the Netherlands.

Methods: The retrospective document study included adult and alert trauma patients. Data collection concerned patient characteristics, prevalence of pain, and the (effect of) pain management.

Facilitators and barriers in pain management for trauma patients in the chain of emergency care.

Introduction: The aim of the study is to give insight into facilitators and barriers in pain management in trauma patients in the chain of emergency care in the Netherlands.

Patients And Methods: A qualitative approach was adopted with the use of the implementation Model of Change of Clinical Practice. The chain of emergency care concerned prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Emergency Departments (EDs).

[Acute pain at the emergency department: better treatment required].

Acute pain is common among patients at the emergency department and is still not being treated adequately. Repeated measurement and documentation of pain is essential for adequate pain treatment. The patient determines how much analgesia is needed.

Definition of Health 2.0 and Medicine 2.0: a systematic review.

Background: During the last decade, the Internet has become increasingly popular and is now an important part of our daily life. When new "Web 2.0" technologies are used in health care, the terms "Health 2.