Annals of emergency medicine
Audio Summaries

Urgent Care and Emergency Department Visitors: A Latent Class Analysis

Mar 24, 2026

The authors aimed to identify distinct patterns of health care utilization among adults, particularly the interaction between emergency department (ED) and urgent care visits. Using latent class analysis on data from the National Health Interview Survey, they identified four classes of health care users, revealing that urgent care can either complement ED use or be utilized independently by those with fewer barriers to care. The findings highlight the need for targeted health system strategies to improve access and delivery of care based on these utilization patterns.

Sex Differences in Clinical Outcomes and Resource Utilization Among Emergency Department Patients With Unexplained Syncope or Presyncope: A Prospective, Observational, Cohort Study

Mar 20, 2026

The study aimed to investigate sex differences in baseline characteristics, physician risk estimation, admission rates, and clinical outcomes among emergency department patients aged 40 and older with unexplained syncope or presyncope. The findings revealed that men had higher rates of baseline cardiac disease, were more frequently admitted, and experienced a greater incidence of serious adverse events within 30 days; however, these differences were attributed to variations in baseline clinical factors rather than inherent sex differences. Ultimately, after adjusting for these factors, no significant disparities in admission rates or clinical outcomes remained between men and women.

Early Clinical Deterioration Among Emergency Department Boarders: A Retrospective Analysis

Mar 20, 2026

The authors aimed to define the incidence and identify factors associated with early clinical deterioration among patients boarding in the emergency department (ED). Their retrospective analysis of over 173,000 encounters revealed that 3.6% of patients experienced deterioration, with longer boarding times significantly increasing the risk. Key predictors included care at academic safety-net hospitals, overnight admissions, and elevated lactate levels, highlighting the patient safety risks associated with prolonged ED boarding.

Patterns of Intramuscular Chemical Sedation Use for Patients Receiving a Mental Health Consultation While in the Emergency Department

Mar 19, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the characteristics and adverse outcomes associated with the use of intramuscular (IM) chemical sedation in emergency department patients receiving mental health consultations. They found that IM sedation was more frequently administered to Black patients, those arriving via Emergency Medical Services or law enforcement, and individuals placed on involuntary mental health holds. The study highlights the need for further investigation into the factors influencing the use of IM chemical sedation, including potential biases and comorbid conditions.

A Pilot Study to Evaluate Artificial Intelligence-Driven Early Retrieval of Medical Histories in the Emergency Department

Mar 19, 2026

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using ChatGPT to collect medical histories from patients or caregivers in a pediatric emergency department. Results indicated high usability and satisfaction ratings from participants, as well as favorable assessments from physicians regarding the accuracy and readability of the generated summaries. The findings suggest that AI-driven history taking could reduce documentation burdens and improve patient engagement in emergency settings.

Past-Year Emergency Department Utilization Patterns Among Suicide Decedents: Characterizing At-Risk Patient Populations

Mar 12, 2026

This study investigates the patterns of emergency department (ED) utilization among individuals who died by suicide, specifically examining the timing of their final nonfatal ED visits in relation to their death. The authors aim to characterize differences between frequent (≥4 visits) and infrequent (<4 visits) ED users among suicide decedents and compare these groups to other ED patients. Findings reveal that frequent users exhibit distinct demographic and visit characteristics and have a significantly higher risk of suicide shortly after their last ED visit compared to infrequent users.

Telemedicine Use and Outcomes Following Discharge From the Emergency Department, 2020-2022

Mar 12, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the use of telemedicine for outpatient follow-up care after discharge from the emergency department and its association with return hospitalizations. They found that telemedicine was utilized by a small percentage of patients and did not lead to a higher risk of return hospitalization compared to in-person follow-up visits. The study suggests a need for targeted interventions to enhance telemedicine access for certain patient populations.

Treatment-Related Aortoenteric Fistula in a Patient With Intra-abdominal Cancer

Feb 27, 2026

The authors investigate the occurrence of treatment-related aortoenteric fistula in a patient with fallopian tube carcinoma, highlighting the potential role of bevacizumab in compromising vascular integrity despite the absence of an aortic aneurysm. They emphasize the importance of considering aortoenteric fistula in oncology patients presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly those who have undergone recent antiangiogenic therapy, and recommend early vascular imaging in such cases. This report contributes to the understanding of vascular complications arising from modern oncologic treatments.

Association Between Emergency Department Undertriage or Overtriage With Timeliness of Care and Patient Outcomes

Feb 21, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between emergency department (ED) mistriage—both undertriage and overtriage—and its impact on the timeliness of care and patient outcomes. Their analysis of over 5 million ED encounters revealed that mistriage was linked to small delays in care, with undertriaged high-acuity patients experiencing an 8-minute delay and overtriaged low-acuity patients facing a 3-minute delay and longer ED stays. The findings highlight the importance of accurate triage to improve patient care and outcomes.

The National Pediatric Prehospital Readiness Project: First Comprehensive Assessment of United States Emergency Medical Services Agencies

Feb 21, 2026

The study aimed to assess the pediatric readiness of emergency medical services (EMS) agencies across the United States to optimize out-of-hospital pediatric care. Findings revealed a median Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Score of 65.5, with notable strengths in equipment and policies but weaknesses in family-centered care and quality improvement. The presence of a pediatric emergency care coordinator was linked to higher readiness scores, highlighting the need to address barriers to pediatric readiness and its impact on patient outcomes.