December 2018
On behalf of the EMF team, thank you for your support of emergency healthcare research in 2018. This has been another big year for EMF and we're delighted with the increasing impact of EMF-funded clinician-researchers in improving patient care. Below are some of the highlights from this year as well as some more recent news. Our best wishes to you and your family for a happy and safe festive session.
2018 HIGHLIGHTS
Paramedics using new drug to calm violent patients
Queensland paramedics are leading the world by introducing a new drug, droperidol, to quickly and safely calm violent patients.
New program keeping elderly out of emergency departments
A medical program is successfully keeping elderly aged care residents out of hospital, reducing demand on emergency departments and delivering $8 million in annual economic benefits.
Fewer needles in emergency thanks to new program
Emergency departments are introducing a new intervention to reduce the unnecessary use of cannulas in patients.
New research grants
This month, EMF announced the grant recipients in the Rural and Remote Program and Round 30 of the Queensland Research Program.
New sepsis treatment a step closer
Australian emergency doctors are at the forefront of a large clinical study to assess how clinicians are treating sepsis.
Paracetamol pain relief same from IV and tablets
Paracetamol tablets found to be just as good at relieving pain as the more expensive intravenous (IV) paracetamol.
Remote point of care testing better for patients and the economy
On-site pathology testing is allowing rural Australians to receive emergency medical treatment close to home, while saving millions in medical evacuations.
Bronchiolitis treatment set to change
A landmark study into the care and management of infants with bronchiolitis is changing the way the illness is treated by emergency clinicians.
HHSs help fund RSN
EMF’s unique emergency healthcare research support network has secured 12 months funding from the Gold Coast, West Moreton, Darling Downs and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services (HHS) districts as well as Griffith University.
EMF 2018 Annual Report is now available online.
PUBLICATIONS
Recent publications related to EMF-funded research
Antibiotics
Denny K.J., Gartside J.G., Alcorn K., Cross J.W., Maloney S., Keijzers G., “Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in the Emergency Department”, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, dky447. doi.org/10.1093/jac/dky447
Emergency department services
Forero R., Man N., McCarthy S., Richardson D., Mohsin M., Toloo G.S., FitzGerald G., Ngo H., Mountain D., Fatovich D., Celenza A., Gibson N., Xu F., Nahidi S., Hillman K., "Impact of the National Emergency Access Target policy on emergency departments' performance: A time-trend analysis for New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland", Emerg Med Australas. 2018 Jul 24. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.13142
Mass disasters
Jamie Ranse J., Lenson S., Keene T., Luther M., Burke B., Hutton A., Johnston A.N.B., Crilly J., “Impacts on in-event, ambulance and emergency department services from patients presenting from a mass gathering event: A retrospective analysis”, Emergency Medicine Australasia, 2018 doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.13194
Rhabdomyolysis
Knafl, E.G., Hughes, J.A., Dimeski, G. and Eley, R., “Rhabdomyolysis: Patterns, Circumstances, and Outcomes of Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department”, Ochsner Journal, 2018;18(3), pp.215-221. doi: 10.31486/toj.17.0112
Sepsis
Macdonald S. P. J., Keijzers G., Taylor D. McD., Kinnear F., Arendts G., Fatovich D.M., Bellomo R., McCutcheon D., Fraser J.F., Ascencio Lane J-C., Burrows S., Litton E., Harley A., Anstey M., Mukherjee A., and for the REFRESH trial investigators, “Restricted fluid resuscitation in suspected sepsis associated hypotension (REFRESH): a pilot randomised controlled trial”, Intensive Care Medicine Experimental, 2018; 6(Suppl 1):21. doi: 10.1007/s00134-018-5433-0
Sedation
Page C.B., Parker L.E., Rashford S.J., Isoardi K.Z., Isbister G.K., “A Prospective Study of the Safety and Effectiveness of Droperidol in Children for Prehospital Acute Behavioural Disturbance”, Prehosp Emerg Care, 2018 Oct 31:1-26. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2018.1542473. [Epub ahead of print]
NOTICES
Research 101 Workshop: A must for clinicians new to research; to be held in Brisbane on Tuesday 12 March 2019.
EMF office closure: EMF will be closed from Monday, 24th December 2018 to Tuesday, 1st January 2019.