COPD Care Bundle in Emergency Department Observation Unit Reduces Emergency Department Revisits.

Background: COPD exacerbations lead to accelerated decline in lung function, poor quality of life, and increased mortality and cost. Emergency department (ED) observation units provide short-term care to reduce hospitalizations and cost. Strategies to improve outcomes in ED observation units following COPD exacerbations are needed.

The association between ambulance hospital turnaround times and patient acuity, destination hospital, and time of day.

Introduction: The availability of ambulances to respond to emergency calls is related to their ability to return to service from the hospital. Extended hospital turnaround times decrease the number of available unit hours ambulances are deployed, which in turn can increase coverage costs or sacrifice coverage.

Objective: To determine whether ambulance turnaround times were associated with patient acuity, destination hospital, and time of day.

Association between prehospital time intervals and ST-elevation myocardial infarction system performance.

Background: Among individuals experiencing an ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction, current guidelines recommend that the interval from first medical contact to percutaneous coronary intervention be ≤90 minutes. The objective of this study was to determine whether prehospital time intervals were associated with ST-elevation myocardial infarction system performance, defined as first medical contact to percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods And Results: Study patients presented with an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction diagnosed by prehospital ECG between May 2007 and March 2009.

The association between prehospital endotracheal intubation attempts and survival to hospital discharge among out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Objectives: The benefit of prehospital endotracheal intubation (ETI) among individuals experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOHCA) has not been fully examined. The objective of this study was to determine if prehospital ETI attempts were associated with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival to discharge among individuals experiencing OOHCA.

Methods: This retrospective study included individuals who experienced a medical cardiac arrest between July 2006 and December 2008 and had resuscitation efforts initiated by paramedics from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.