Hospital Admission Rates and Mortality Among Emergency Department Patients with COVID-19 Discharged with Remote Patient Monitoring with or without HOME - A Value-Based Approach.

Background: The pandemic caused by the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) overwhelmed healthcare systems with emergency department (ED) and hospital overcrowding. Our hospital system was able to discharge a subset of COVID-19 patients home with remote patient monitoring (RPM) and home oxygen (HOME) if needed, which opened up beds for the more critical patients. The objective of this study was to review the all-cause 30-day mortality and admission rates for patients chosen for our program, and to additionally examine the financial impact.

Short-Term Topical Tetracaine Is Highly Efficacious for the Treatment of Pain Caused by Corneal Abrasions: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Study Objective: The objective of this study is to show that patients with corneal abrasions would experience more pain relief with short-term topical tetracaine than placebo.

Methods: The study was a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial of tetracaine versus placebo set in the emergency department (ED). A total of 118 adults who presented with uncomplicated corneal abrasions were included and randomized.

The Dangerous Life of a Storm Chaser: A Lightning Strike Injury Causing Serious Injury.

Lightning strikes to people are rare events that cause significant injuries and mortality when they do occur. We describe an uncommon case of a storm chaser in Oklahoma who was struck by lightning who suffered cutaneous burns, bilateral tympanic membrane ruptures, as well as pulmonary edema, which is an atypical finding in survivors. This case report highlights several injury patterns seen in lightning strike cases and provides evidence that these patients should be managed at a center with multidisciplinary services available.

A Case of Acute Coronary Occlusion in a Morbidly Obese Patient Masked on Electrocardiogram by Low QRS Voltage.

Timely diagnosis of acute coronary occlusion is essential to avoid chronic cardiac impairment and death. We describe an uncommon case of acute myocardial infarction masked by low QRS voltage secondary to morbid obesity. This case highlights the importance of considering the degree of ST-segment elevation proportionally to the QRS amplitude if there is clinical suspicion of acute coronary occlusion.

High Prevalence of Sterile Pyuria in the Setting of Sexually Transmitted Infection in Women Presenting to an Emergency Department.

Introduction: The clinical presentations for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and urinary tract infections (UTI) often overlap, and symptoms of dysuria and urinary frequency/urgency occur with both STIs and UTIs. Abnormal urinalysis (UA) findings and pyuria are common in both UTIs and STIs, and confirmatory urine cultures are not available to emergency clinicians to aid in decision-making regarding prescribing antibiotics for UTIs. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of sterile pyuria in women with confirmed STIs, as well as whether the absolute number of leukocytes on microscopy or nitrite on urine dipstick correlated with positive urine cultures in patients with confirmed STIs.

Simple infrared thermometry in fever detection: consideration in mass fever screening.

Objective: The need to rapidly screen patients during outbreaks has prompted Cutaneous Infrared Thermometry (CIT) use. Little is known of CIT performance in this context. What are the performance characteristics of simple CIT in detecting fever?

Design: Prospective cohort, sequential convenience sample.

Risk factors for postpartum depression: a retrospective investigation at 4-weeks postnatal and a review of the literature.

Objective: To describe possible correlations between incidence of postpartum depression and the following patient characteristics: age, breastfeeding status, tobacco use, marital status, history of depression, and method of delivery.

Study Design: Data gathered at routine 4-week postnatal visits were obtained from the patient records of 209 women who gave birth between June 1, 2001, and June 1, 2003, at three university medical clinics in Tulsa, Okla. Inclusion criteria required that the records of potential study subjects contain data on the characteristics noted as well as patient-completed Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale forms.