Annals of emergency medicine
Audio Summaries

A Research Agenda for Acute Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Emergencies

Jul 10, 2026

The authors aimed to identify high-priority research questions regarding the emergency care of children with mental and behavioral health conditions and to develop a consensus-based research agenda. Utilizing a modified Delphi method with a diverse group of experts, they established 51 research priorities, including areas such as out-of-hospital care, management of acute agitation, and suicide prevention. This agenda seeks to enhance the identification and management of at-risk children in emergency settings.

Effectiveness of a Novel Emergency Department Psychiatric Care Model in Reducing Length of Stay

Jul 9, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel Psychiatric Model of Care in reducing the length of stay for patients with psychiatric emergencies in the emergency department (ED). Their study found that implementing this model significantly decreased the median ED length of stay from 8.35 hours to 5.61 hours, particularly benefiting patients on involuntary holds and those transferred to psychiatric facilities. This suggests that the model may enhance patient flow and care delivery in the ED setting.

Association Between Time Spent in the Emergency Department and 30-Day Mortality: A Population-Level Observational Study in England

Jul 7, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between the duration of stay in Type 1 emergency departments and the risk of all-cause mortality within 30 days after discharge or admission. Their analysis of over 6.7 million patients revealed that longer ED stays were associated with increased mortality risk, but the authors caution that this correlation may be influenced by confounding factors rather than a direct causal link, highlighting the need for further research to clarify these drivers.

"It's Just So Important to Make Them Feel Seen": Teen and Caregiver Perspectives of Lethal Means Safety Planning for the Emergency Department

Jul 6, 2026

The authors aimed to identify the ideal characteristics of a lethal means safety counseling tool for the emergency department from the perspectives of teens and caregivers with lived experience. Through qualitative interviews, they found that effective counseling should incorporate technology, straightforward language, and supportive messaging while addressing family dynamics and balancing teen autonomy with safety. Their findings will inform the development of a family-centered intervention to enhance suicide prevention efforts in the emergency department setting.

Incidence and Outcomes of Emergency Physician-Performed Awake Intubations: A Report From the Airway Interventions Registry and Observational Database

Jul 6, 2026

The authors aimed to assess the incidence, practice patterns, and outcomes of awake tracheal intubations performed by emergency physicians in a tertiary-care emergency department. They found that out of 1,213 intubations screened over ten years, 7.2% were awake intubations, achieving a high overall success rate of 92% without major adverse events, and a first-pass success rate of 71%. The study highlights the feasibility and safety of awake intubation in emergency settings, despite the presence of predictors for difficulty in many patients.

Hepatitis C Screening Among Persons Experiencing Homelessness in the Emergency Department: A Secondary Analysis of the Determining Effective Testing in Emergency Departments and Care Coordination on Treatment Outcomes (DETECT) for Hepatitis C (Hep C) Screening Trial

Jul 6, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between homelessness and hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening outcomes in emergency departments, specifically examining test offer, acceptance, seropositivity, and viremia. They found that individuals experiencing homelessness were more likely to accept nontargeted HCV screening and had higher rates of HCV seropositivity and viremia compared to housed individuals, indicating that nontargeted screening may be more effective for this population. The study highlights the potential of emergency departments to improve HCV detection among underserved groups like those experiencing homelessness.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound-Guided Hydrostatic Reduction of Ileocolic Intussusception in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Jul 2, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)-guided hydrostatic reduction for treating ileocolic intussusception in children within a pediatric emergency department. Their case series demonstrated an 88.9% success rate with no complications or recurrences, suggesting that this method is a safe and efficient alternative to traditional approaches, especially in settings lacking pediatric radiology services. Further research is needed to confirm these findings on a larger scale.

Variation in Emergency Department Experience With Pediatric Critical Illness

Jul 2, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the variation in emergency department (ED) encounters for pediatric critical illness and assess the geographic proximity of low-volume EDs to high-volume EDs. Their study found that a small percentage of pediatric ED visits involved critical illness, with many low-volume EDs infrequently managing such cases, suggesting that direct transport to high-volume centers may not be a feasible strategy for improving access to quality emergency care for critically ill children.

Needle Thoracostomy: Implications of Chest Wall Thickness for Anatomical Location and Needle Length

Jul 1, 2026

This study aimed to evaluate how chest wall thickness varies at different anatomical locations in patients with class II and III obesity, specifically comparing the second intercostal space in the midclavicular line (ICS 2-MCL) and the fourth/fifth intercostal space in the anterior axillary line (ICS 4/5-AAL). The findings revealed that chest wall thickness was significantly greater at ICS 4/5-AAL, particularly in relation to increasing body mass index (BMI), suggesting that ICS 2-MCL may be a more favorable site for needle thoracostomy due to lower thickness and reduced risk of failure in accessing the pleural space.

Women Emergency Physicians and Gender Disparities from Entry to Advancement

Jul 1, 2026

The authors aimed to summarize two decades of research on gender disparities in the emergency medicine workforce, focusing on experiences and challenges faced by women in the field. Through a scoping review of 191 studies, they identified persistent disparities in areas such as financial compensation, leadership roles, and experiences of bias, despite some improvements in women's representation in academic positions and authorship. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address ongoing gender-based inequities among emergency physicians.