Introduction: Peripheral facial palsy (PFP) is commonly diagnosed in every emergency department. Despite being a benign condition in most cases, PFP causes loss in quality of life mostly due to facial dysmorphia. The etiology of PFP remains unknown in most cases, while medical opinion on epidemiology, risk factors and optimal treatment is not consensual. The aim of this study was to review the ...

A series of 2,389 Emergency Department surgical admissions was assessed for quantitative indices of actual services rendered and time spent. Auto accident-related patients were compared to other Emergency Department surgical patients. The average diagnostic index for auto accident patients was 48 units compared to 25 units for all patients. Their workload for Emergency Department personnel was ...

INTRODUCTION Emergency department overcrowding is a serious problem nationwide. Of an estimated 14 million visits to hospital emergency departments, only 12.9% are considered emergent. Many emergency departments, however, employ only physicians despite the fact that nurse practitioners have a proven record of providing high quality, cost-effective care in the emergency department. The purpose o...

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of clinician designation on emergency department (ED) fast track performance. DESIGN AND SETTING A retrospective audit of patients managed in the fast track area of an ED in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS Patients triaged to ED fast track from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008 (n=8714). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Waiting times in relation to Au...