by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 22nd, 2011
Frequent Flyers
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/227515.php
Medical News Today
Frequent Users Wear Down Emergency Department Physicians
05 Jun 2011
“Emergency department physicians are frustrated and burned out from treating patients who frequent the ED for their care, according to a……survey of physicians from across the country.
The survey found that 59 percent of physicians acknowledged having less empathy for so-called frequent users than other patients, and 77 percent held bias for frequent users. Physicians defined frequent users…..as patients who visit the ED at least 10 times a year.
Other highlights:
- 91 percent of physicians say frequent users pose challenges for the ED.
- 71 percent of physicians believe a program to manage frequent users is necessary.
- 82 percent of physicians say they feel some level of burnout.
- Experience did not shield physicians from burnout. ……….”
by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 21st, 2011
New FDA Cigarette Health Warnings
Beginning September 2012, FDA will require larger, more prominent cigarette health warnings on all cigarette packaging and advertisements in the United States. These warnings mark the first change in cigarette warnings in more than 25 years and are a significant advancement in communicating the dangers of smoking.
by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 20th, 2011
Recreational Water Illness: What Every Clinician Needs to Know
Date/Time: June 28, 3:00-4:00 pm (Eastern Daylight Savings Time)
Call Number: 888-673-9802
Passcode: 1281914
Register for this Webinar at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event
Swimming is the second most popular sport activity in the U.S. Disease outbreak reports associated with pools, hot tubs, and other recreational water venues have increased in recent years. In 2007, 2.4 million cases of acute otitis externa (AOE), or swimmer’s ear, were diagnosed in the U.S. During this COCA call, CDC subject matter experts will review updated recommendations for interventions to reduce the risk of AOE and other recreational water illnesses.
For more information on this call: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls/2011/callinfo_062811.asp
by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 7th, 2011
4 Clinical Decision Rules, a D-dimer & Ruling Out PE
Performance of 4 Clinical Decision Rules in the Diagnostic Management of
Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Prospective Cohort Study
Renee A. Douma, Inge C.M. Mos, Petra M.G. Erkens, Tessa A.C. Nizet, Marc F.
Durian, Marcel M. Hovens, Anja A. van Houten, Herman M.A. Hofstee,
Frederikus A. Klok, Hugo ten Cate, Erik F. Ullmann, Harry R. Buller, Pieter
W. Kamphuisen, Menno V. Huisman for the Prometheus Study Group
Ann Intern Med 2011;154 709-718
http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/abstract/154/11/709?etoc
by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 7th, 2011
Detroit News, 6/7/11
Last Updated: June 07. 2011 1:37PM
WHO: Time running out to solve E. coli outbreak
Associated Press
Berlin — An expert at the World Health Organization says time is running out for German investigators to find the source of the world’s deadliest E. coli outbreak………
German officials are still seeking the cause of the outbreak weeks after it began May 2. They wrongly accused Spanish cucumbers of being the culprit last week but had to retract when the cucumbers had a different strain of E. coli. On Sunday, they blamed German sprouts, only to backtrack a day later when initial tests were negative………
So far, the outbreak has killed 24 people, infected more than 2,400 and left hundreds hospitalized with a serious complication that can lead to kidney failure……
In a major difference from other E. coli outbreaks, the crisis is mostly affecting women. Most of the victims in Germany are women between 20 and 50 years old, highly educated and very fit, investigators said……”
by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 4th, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13652817
BBC, 6/4/11
“European health officials say there are signs that the outbreak of a deadly strain of E. coli is stabilising.
They said that despite nearly 200 new cases in Germany – the centre of the outbreak – in the first two days of June, infection rates were dropping.
However, one doctor cautioned: “It may be less, but it’s not over yet.”
At least 18 people have died and 1,836 have been infected by the bug since it was first detected on 1 May. Most of those affected are in Germany……”
by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 4th, 2011
Stein, Deborah M.; Kufera, Joseph A.; Ho, Shiu M.; Ryb, Gabriel E.; Dischinger, Patricia C.; O’Connor, James V.; Scalea, Thomas M. Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 70(2):299-309, February 2011. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e3181f8aa91
by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 4th, 2011
Kingella kingae: An Emerging Pathogen in Young Children
Pablo Yagupsky, Eric Porsch, and Joseph W. St Geme, III
Pediatrics 2011;127 557-565
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/127/3/557?etoc
by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 2nd, 2011
http://www.ems1.com/ambulances-emergency-vehicles/articles/1055000-UK-boy-dies-as-ambulance-crew-takes-break/
EMS1
By Paula Murray
Sunday Express
DUNDEE, Scotland — “Grieving parents are demanding a public inquiry after their three-year-old son died while one ambulance crew took a tea break and another got lost trying to find their home………[T]he paramedics took more than 45 minutes to respond to a 999 call……..Martyn awoke screaming in the night with blood in his mouth and then stopped breathing……”
by Paul Rega, MD — published on June 2nd, 2011
June 1, 2011
Virulent E. Coli Strain Spreads in Germany and Puzzles Health Officials
By ALAN COWELL and WILLIAM NEUMAN
BERLIN — “An unusually lethal strain of E. coli bacteria has infected more than 1,500 people in Germany, mystifying public health officials, ravaging Spain’s agricultural heartland, and touching off panic in Europe as people weighed whether it was safe to eat raw vegetables.
The source of the outbreak, which has killed at least 16 people — 15 in Germany and a Swede who visited there recently — remained unknown.
Public health officials are alarmed because a startlingly high proportion of those infected suffer from a potentially lethal complication attacking the kidneys…”
