Publications by authors named "Virginia Labond"

Background: Current trauma activation guidelines do not clearly address age as a risk factor when leveling trauma patients. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and mode of injury play a major role in leveling trauma patients. We studied the above relationship in our elderly patients presenting with traumatic head injury.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • In 2013, Michigan introduced a law requiring parents and athletes to learn about sport-related concussions (SRC) to enhance awareness and education.
  • A study surveyed parents in a suburban school district one year and five years after the law was implemented, comparing their knowledge to a pre-law survey.
  • Results showed a significant increase in awareness of district concussion policies and guidelines, with many parents recognizing the greater risks of head injuries in children compared to adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Study Background: In 2015 a county sheriff department in Michigan began a training program for its deputies on administration of naloxone for non-medical providers.

Methods: A descriptive analysis was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Data collected from the Sheriff's department allowed the study to quantify the incidence of naloxone administration, describe characteristics related to the administration, and report on aggregate outcomes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

COVID-19 is a pandemic that has affected not only the United States, but the entire world. The impact it has had has overwhelmed the entire healthcare system, from the unknown carrier status, poor testing capabilities to hospitals running out of ventilators for severely ill patients. There has been a variety of potential treatment modalities for the various forms of illness ranging from asymptomatic carriers to the ventilated ICU patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Physician in triage (PIT) has been used as a potential solution to emergency department (ED) overcrowding and to decrease ED length of stay (LOS). This study examined the relationship between computerized tomography (CT) utilization of PIT and ED patient volumes. We hypothesized that despite the pressure on PIT to improve throughput on the busiest days, they will continue to utilize CT at the same rate.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Overcrowding in the Emergency Department is a problem with many strategies for intervention such as the physician in triage (PIT). This brief evaluation is designed to minimize diagnostic uncertainty and expedite the work up when the patient is seen in the Emergency Department. We hypothesized that this would increase CT imaging which would be increasingly negative as the pressure to maintain throughput rises on busy days in the Emergency Department.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Thoracic trauma accounts for 10%-15% of all trauma admissions. Rib fractures are the most common injury following blunt thoracic trauma. Epidural analgesia improves patient outcomes but is not without problems.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The Focused Abdominal Sonography in Trauma (FAST) scan is used to detect free fluid in the peritoneal cavity, or pericardium, to quickly assess for injuries needing immediate surgical intervention. Mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) are settings where paramedics must make triage decisions in minutes. The Simple Triage and Rapid Transport (START) system is used to prioritize transport.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The short- and long-term neurologic impairment of children sustaining sports-related head injuries has recently entered the forefront of medical literature, resulting in new guidelines on concussion management being provided to clinicians, coaches, and trainers. Yet, most parents have not been formally educated on head injuries. The purpose of this article is to share the findings of a study conducted with 235 parents that identified their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of sports-related head injuries in school-age students.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF