A comprehensive strategy for the evaluation and triage of the chest pain patient: A cost comparison study

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to determine the cost-effectiveness of a comprehensive, risk-based triage system, composed of multiple critical pathways, with the use of early myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in low-risk patients. We found previously that a chest pain evaluation system that uses MPI in low-risk patients was safe and effective, but the cost-effectiveness of this approach was not studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared two groups. The Acute Cardiac Team (ACT) group (n = 874) was assigned prospectively to 1 of 4 risk levels by emergency department (ED) physicians. Level 1, 2, and 3 patients were admitted; level 4 patients were evaluated in the ED. Level 3 and 4 patients underwent ED MPI. The control group (n = 713) represented consecutive patients evaluated in the prior year according to standard care and assigned retrospectively to an ACT level based on the presenting electrocardiographic and clinical data. Record and hospital administrative data were assessed for clinical variables, outcomes, lengths of stay, and all expenses incurred within 30 days of the index visit. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar, including age, sex, myocardial infarction prevalence, and 30-day revascularization rates within each level or between the two groups. Mean costs per encounter were reduced for the ACT patients for each level, which was significant when all patients were compared ($5,030 +/- $7,081 vs $6,044 +/- $10,432, P =.02). Use of MPI in the low-risk patients was associated with reduced costs (level 3, $4,958 +/- $4,948 vs $5,051 +/- $7,036; level 4, $1,529 +/- $2,664 vs $1,794 +/- $6,854) and was associated with a significantly lower angiography rate and shorter length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a comprehensive strategy for chest pain evaluation and triage reduced overall costs for patients with chest pain on presentation. Acute MPI in the ED setting did not increase net cost.     

浅析市场经济体制下的医院管理模式

阐述了在市场经济体制下医院管理面临的新情况,提出了新的医院管理模式应以分级管理为基础, “业务部制”式管理为重点,科室成本核算为核心,注重形象管理,服从政府宏观调控,确保医院的生存和发展。     

Alcohol Use among Subcritically Injured Emergency Department Patients

Objectives: To determine the incidence of alcohol use in subcritically injured patients presenting to the ED, by using a saliva alcohol test (SAT) at ED triage during the ED initial assessment; to compare the incidence of alcohol use revealed by the SAT with documentation of alcohol use by ED nurses and emergency physicians (EPs) blinded to the SAT results; and to describe the demographics of the SAT-positive, subcritically injured population.
Methods: A blinded, prospective, observational evaluation of ED patients presenting with subcritical injuries was performed. The patients were tested for alcohol use with an SAT, and a subsequent record review was conducted for extraction of demographic data and evidence of documentation of alcohol use by ED nurses and EPs blinded to the SAT results.
Results: During the study. 791 subcritically injured patients had SATs performed. Twenty-one percent of these patients were found to be alcohol-positive by SAT. Either the ED nurse or the EP documented a clinical impression of alcohol use for 52% of the SAT-positive patients. There were higher SAT-positive rates among men (24%), victims of assault (47%), and patients arriving at night (41%).
Conclusions: While the SAT identified 21% of the subcritically injured patient population as alcohol-positive, ED nurse and EP documentation did not identify half of these alcohol-positive patients. Many of these patients may be at risk for additional injuries related to their drinking behavior.     

内支架结合放疗治疗晚期食管癌18例临床分析

目的　通过被覆支架治疗晚期食管癌恶性狭窄 ,并行术后放射治疗 ,以提高生活质量 ,延长生存期。方法　晚期食管癌恶性食管狭窄 18例 ,狭窄直径均在 2 .5mm以下 ,其中 3例呈梗阻状 ,4例合并有食管瘘 ,1例出现肝部转移。经口置入镍钛合金被覆支架 2 0枚 ,于 2周后行外照射 ,肿瘤试剂照射剂量 (DT) :6 0～ 70Gy。结果　所有患者均一次顺利完成支架置入 ,患者进普食顺利 ,疗效满意。 2周后均顺利接受放射治疗 ,未出现并发症。经随访复查 ,支架未发生移位及出现再狭窄改变 ,食管通畅 ,患者进食顺利 ,生存期延长 ,平均 11个月。结论　被覆支架治疗晚期食管癌恶性食管狭窄及术后结合放疗 ,能有效地抑制肿瘤生长 ,提高生活质量 ,延长生存期 ,是治疗晚期食管癌患者的一种安全有效的治疗方法。     

经皮局部隔离肝脏灌注化疗合并血液灌流方法学实验研究

目的　探讨经皮局部隔离肝脏灌注化疗的方法及可行性。方法　 12只实验用犬 ,对照组 4只 ,进行常规经肝动脉灌注化疗 ;实验组 8只 ,利用介入放射学方法进行经皮局部隔离肝脏灌注化疗结合血液灌流。化疗药物选用阿霉素 ,分别检测肝静脉及外周血液中的血药浓度。结果　实验组介入操作全部成功 ,1例死于血液灌流的血路管漏气 ,平均操作时间 ( 132 .3± 15 .3)min。血药浓度测定显示 ,对照组肝静脉血和外周静脉血浓度峰值分别为 ( 370 9.676± 385 .72 3)ng/ml、( 15 76.14 0± 2 2 6.933)ng/ml;实验组为( 465 3.42 0± 430 .2 0 4)ng/ml、( 433.612± 40 .5 0 1)ng/ml。统计学处理 ,两组相差非常显著。结论　经皮局部隔离肝脏灌注化疗结合血液灌流是一种可行的技术 ,具有简单、创伤小、可保护正常肝脏、便于重复治疗的优点。与常规经肝动脉灌注化疗相比 ,不仅可以增加局部血药浓度 ,更可以降低外周的血药浓度 ,降低毒副作用     

科室主任管理职能与基本素质探讨

人力资源在管理中发挥着重要作用，其中，科室主任作为医院人力资源的重要组成部分，在医院惯性运行和可持续发展中扮演着重要角色。因此，科室主任因其技术和管理双重职责所具备的管理职能、基本素质和领导艺术在日常工作中显得尤为关键。     

Invasive ventilation in the emergency department: Part 2: Implications for patient safety

The use of mechanical ventilation in the Emergency Department requires adequate resources in order to maintain patient safety and avoid potential risks. Moreover, developments in technology require increased knowledge of mechanical ventilation techniques to address the complexity of decision-making involved. Organisational issues and system factors have the potential to negatively impact on the ability of the emergency service to provide optimum care to patients receiving mechanical ventilation. These issues include staffing and skill-mix, demand on emergency services, role-delineation, scope of practice, and current mechanisms for monitoring of quality and safety. Furthermore, in response to advances in ventilator technology, current education programs for both nursing and medical staff require review to ensure that they provide comprehensive information about the types of ventilation techniques now available and the relative risks and benefits associated with their application.This article is the second in a two-part series and explores the educational and organisational factors that impact upon safety and quality of care delivered to patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the emergency department. Recommendations for future policy development, curriculum review and reporting mechanisms to support further research in the application of mechanical ventilation in the emergency department are made.