Canadian Association of Radiologists Diagnostic Imaging Referral Guidelines: a guideline development protocol.

Background: Comprehensive diagnostic imaging referral guidelines are an important tool to assist referring clinicians and radiologists in determining the safest and best-clinical-value diagnostic imaging study for their patients; the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) last produced its diagnostic imaging referral guidelines in 2012. In partnership with several national organizations, referring clinicians, radiologists, and patient and family advisors from across Canada, the association is redoing its referral guidelines using a new methodology for guideline development, and these guideline recommendations will be suited for integration into clinical decision support systems.

Methods: Expert panels of radiologists, referring clinicians and a patient advisor will work with epidemiologists at the CAR to create guidelines across 13 clinical sections.

Development of the Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network population-based registry: a methodology study.

Background: Emergency physicians lack high-quality evidence for many diagnostic and treatment decisions made for patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our objective is to describe the methods used to collect and ensure the data quality of a multicentre registry of patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

Methods: This methodology study describes a population-based registry that has been enrolling consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 since Mar.

Prescribing Patterns and Patient Outcomes for Bone and Joint Infections Treated with Cefazolin and Probenecid: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Previous studies have described the use of cefazolin with probenecid to treat uncomplicated skin and soft-tissue infections. Some prescribers are extrapolating from this evidence to treat more invasive infections, which have a greater potential for poor outcomes, including treatment failure that could lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Information supporting cefazolin with probenecid as effective treatment in this context is needed.

Review of emergency preparedness in the office setting: How best to prepare based on your practice and patient demographic characteristics.

Objective: To outline an approach to assessing the risk of emergencies in one's medical practice and determining the equipment and medications required for emergencies and the necessary staff training to meet this important facet of patient care.

Sources Of Information: The emergency preparedness recommendations presented in this article are based on data collected from family physicians' current preparedness plans, formal physician evaluation and informal feedback provided after 2 large group presentations, and the authors' expertise in areas including family medicine, emergency medicine, prehospital care, and pharmacology.

Main Message: Delineating risk based on practice profile, location, and demographic characteristics will inform the development of an appropriate plan to meet both public expectations and professional obligations.

Discharge communication practices in pediatric emergency care: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Background: The majority of children receiving care in the emergency department (ED) are discharged home, making discharge communication a key component of quality emergency care. Parents must have the knowledge and skills to effectively manage their child's ongoing care at home. Parental fatigue and stress, health literacy, and the fragmented nature of communication in the ED setting may contribute to suboptimal parent comprehension of discharge instructions and inappropriate ED return visits.

Prevalence of low back pain in emergency settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Low back pain may be having a significant impact on emergency departments around the world. Research suggests low back pain is one of the leading causes of emergency department visits. However, in the peer-reviewed literature, there has been limited focus on the prevalence and management of back pain in the emergency department setting.

End-tidal capnometry during emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia: a randomized, controlled study.

Background: This prospective, randomized trial was undertaken to evaluate the utility of adding end-tidal capnometry (ETC) to pulse oximetry (PO) in patients undergoing procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: The patients were randomized to monitoring with or without ETC in addition to the current standard of care. Primary endpoints included respiratory adverse events, with secondary endpoints of level of sedation, hypotension, other PSA-related adverse events and patient satisfaction.

Can we predict which patients with community-acquired pneumonia are likely to have positive blood cultures?

Background: Blood cultures (BC) are commonly ordered during the initial assessment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), yet their yield remains low. Selective use of BC would allow the opportunity to save healthcare resources and avoid patient discomfort. The study was to determine what demographic and clinical factors predict a greater likelihood of a positive blood culture result in patients diagnosed with CAP.