NPWT vs Primary Closure in SSI Prevention for Emergency Laparotomies for Peritonitis
PeritonitisSurgical Site Infection2 moreThe study aims to evaluate the efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) compared with primary closure (PC) in surgical site infection (SSI) prevention for laparotomy for peritonitis.
Linking Emergency Department Patients to Assistance Programs Study
Social Determinants of HealthThe objective of this randomized controlled trial is to test the effect of screening patients in Penn Medicine Emergency Departments for eligibility of public benefits programs and using text messages post-discharge to connect patients to benefits enrollment specialists at Benefits Data Trust (BDT). Eligible patients will be randomly selected to receive text messages for two weeks after Emergency Department discharge with the phone number to speak with a benefits enrollment specialist at BDT. The number of calls to the BDT phone line and the number of submitted applications to public benefits programs will be compared between patients receiving a summary flyer with the phone number for BDT and the text message intervention to connect with BDT in comparison to an active control group who receives only a summary flyer with the phone number for BDT.
Etonogestrel Implant as Emergency Contraception
ContraceptionThe investigators propose a single site, single arm, open label mechanism of action pharmacodynamic pilot study of etonogestrel implant insertion prior to an luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. The investigators will evaluate ovulation rates via serum levels of reproductive hormones and transvaginal ultrasound findings following placement of an etonogestrel implant once the dominant follicle reaches a size of 15mm or greater, but prior to an LH surge, in persons with prior documented regular cycles and confirmed ovulation. The researchers' hypothesis is that ovulation will be inhibited if the etonogestrel implant is placed prior to an LH surge. Based on data from the Food and Drug Administration label for Nexplanon, etonogestrel rises to levels associated with ovulation suppression within 8 hours of placement. Given this rapid increase, it is therefore plausible to assume that ovulation can be inhibited by the implant if placed prior to an LH surge. This study is novel as there have been no published studies evaluating an etonogestrel implant for this indication. The contribution of this proposed research to the literature is significant because current recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) regarding timing of etonogestrel implant placement are stringent and not patient-centered. Any day insertion of the etonogestrel implant is supported by retrospective data and this pharmacodynamic data would further support the literature for any day insertion without the need for additional emergency contraception. If results support the investigators' hypothesis, it could increase access to contraception and decrease duplicative therapy.
Intergenerational Program for Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults Discharged From the...
Social IsolationLoneliness1 moreSocial isolation and loneliness worsens older adults' risk of dementia, quality of life, and death as much as smoking. Older adults are more likely to use emergency services and are also more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness than younger people. The emergency department is a new setting to screen for social isolation and loneliness in older adults and help accordingly. Social isolation and loneliness are experienced differently by different older adults. Different interventions combatting social isolation and loneliness may work better for different people, and little is known about older adult's preferences for specific types of interventions. HOW R U? is an effective and feasible intervention using same-generation peer support offered by trained hospital volunteers to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults. In partnership with the Australian developer of HOW R U?, this study will compare an intergenerational HOW R U? intervention using younger volunteers with the same-generation peer support intervention and a waitlist control arm. The investigators partnered with the staff of emergency departments and family medicine clinics to identify people who will benefit from an intervention combatting, and Volunteer Services to recruit volunteers. The investigators hypothesize that the older adults who receive the intergenerational HOW R U? intervention will have a greater improvement in social isolation and loneliness.
Comparative Effectiveness of Direct Admission & Admission Through Emergency Departments for Children...
HospitalizationChild HealthAt a national level, emergency departments (EDs) serve as the portal of hospital admission for 75% of hospitalized children. The remainder occur via direct admission, defined as admission to hospital without first receiving care in the hospital's ED. The overall goals of this research are to: (i) implement pediatric direct admission systems at 3 hospitals, (ii) compare the timeliness of healthcare delivery for children who are admitted directly and through emergency departments, (iii) determine which patient populations achieve the greatest benefits from direct admission, and (iv) identify barriers and facilitators of successful implementation.
Video Images About Decisions for Ethical Outcomes in the Emergency Department (VIDEO-ED)
EmergenciesA randomized controlled trial of a video decision aid in the Emergency Department Setting to improve advance care planning documentation.
INterest of the Negative Predictive Value of Integrons in Choosing a Narrow-spectrum Empirical anTibiotic...
Urinary Tract Infections in ChildrenINVICTUS PED primary objective is to show the non-inferiority of an empirical antibiotic therapeutic management guided by the early detection of integrons in the urine, compared to a usual empirical antibiotic treatment, for the recovery of children admitted to the pediatric emergency department (ED) with a non-severe urinary tract infection (UTI) with fever
SurgeCon: An Emergency Department Surge Management Platform
Length of StayEmergency DepartmentsWait times and overcrowding are challenging emergency departments (EDs) around the world. Several countries with advanced healthcare systems cannot keep pace with patient demand, and Canada ranks among the longest wait times compared to peer-industrialized countries. In fact, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) identified an 11% increase in ED wait times from 2015-2016 to 2016-2017. This translates to long wait times that deter patients from pursuing necessary care and increases their likelihood of leaving without being seen by an ED physician. In Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), this issue has precipitated strikingly serious situations regarding long wait times that have made the province a case-in-point for ED issues. To counter this, the investigators propose an innovative quality-improvement intervention called SurgeCon that includes a protocol-driven software platform and several other initiatives to reduce wait times and improve the sustainability of health systems without significant workforce changes. The investigators piloted SurgeCon at the ED in Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) and found there was a 32% reduction in ED wait time.
MCG Discovery Study in Emergency Departments
ACS - Acute Coronary SyndromeNSTEMI - Non-ST Segment Elevation MIThis prospective discovery study is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of using an unshielded, mobile MCG device in an Emergency Department (ED) setting. The main question it aims to answer is whether interpretable data can be reliably collected as part of an ED workflow.
ED to EPI: Using SMS to Improve the Transition From the Emergency Department to Early Psychosis...
First Episode PsychosisPsychosis10 morePsychosis is a disabling condition that typically has its onset in adolescence and early adulthood. Many young people with psychosis have difficulty navigating services or are reluctant to engage in treatment until their illness becomes an emergency. Consequently, nearly half of all new psychotic disorders are diagnosed in the emergency department (ED). Despite the rationale and evidence for early psychosis intervention (EPI), around half of youth do not access these services. The investigators will use short message service (SMS)/text messaging, a low-cost, low-complexity, youth-friendly approach, to improve transitions in care from the ED and related acute services to EPI services, investigating the intervention's effect on attendance at the first consultation appointment, longer term service engagement, and system-level outcomes. The investigators will also evaluate cost-effectiveness and user perspectives of the intervention.