ACEP Now

MARCH 9, 2025

As hospital boarding, increased emergency department (ED) volumes, and complexity of patients have increased, so have wait times. Some physicians now coin themselves waiting room medicine specialists as departments schedule a physician in triage or attempt to evaluate patients in whatever spaces might be available.

Emergency Department 83

Emergency Department Point-of-Care Testing Documentation/Coding Hospitals 83

Taming the SRU

AUGUST 30, 2023

In a small study involving 79 hospitalized children, PCT was found to be elevated in bacterial infections, with a decrease after appropriate antibiotic therapy, and decreased in viral infections [24]. It found no significant difference in antibiotic usage in the group using PCT compared to the usual care group [49]. ng/mL, 0.25-0.5

Infectious Diseases 89

Infectious Diseases Sepsis Emergency Department Point-of-Care Testing 89

PEMBlog

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

The sodium, calcium, and potassium can be checked in settings with access to rapid point-of-care testing. Electrolytes Think about hyponatremia or hypernatremia (especially at <125 or >160, respectively), hypocalcemia, hypo/hyperkalemia, hypomagnesemia, or hypophosphatemia.

Seizures 52

Seizures Pediatrics Point-of-Care Testing Wellness 52

Don't Forget the Bubbles

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

Do not obtain comprehensive viral panel testing for patients who have suspected respiratory viral illnesses. The parents of two-year-old, previously healthy, Jamie bring him to the Emergency Department with coryzal symptoms, wheezing and difficulty breathing. SpO2 is 88%. Which children need a respiratory viral panel?

Emergency Department 84

Emergency Department Pediatrics Point-of-Care Testing Hospitals 84

Don't Forget the Bubbles

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

This blog post aims to help familiarise you with some of the most common reasons for prescribing antibiotics in the paediatric emergency department. Antibiotic Use for Common Infections in Pediatric Emergency Departments: A Narrative Review. Conventionally IV antibiotics have been limited to in-hospital use.

Emergency Department 143

Emergency Department Infectious Diseases Pediatrics Sepsis 143

Don't Forget the Bubbles

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

A 7-week-old baby presents to the Emergency Department (ED) with a one-day history of coryza and cough. You perform a viral swab test at ED which comes back positive for SARS-CoV-2. Reattendance and potential IBI diagnosis were assessed via hospital chart review. C with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test?

Point-of-Care Testing 69

Point-of-Care Testing Outcomes Wellness Emergency Department 69