How to be EPIC in the COVID-19 Era

How to be EPIC in the COVID-19 Era

Evolution is afoot. It's entirely possible you have noticed somewhat of an alteration in the world around us. A pandemic—the downwind effect of a miniscule strand of RNA and its lollipop-studded shell, a savage little virus... read more

Medical officials use new tool for COVID patients

Medical officials use new tool for COVID patients

The Barren-Metcalfe County Emergency Medical Service will soon implement a new medical device that will benefit COVID-19 patients as well as emergency medical personnel. The medical device, the Sea-Long helmet, is a clear,... read more

Effective design of barrier enclosure to contain aerosol emissions from COVID-19 patients

Effective design of barrier enclosure to contain aerosol emissions from COVID-19 patients

Facing shortages of personal protective equipment, some clinicians have advocated the use of barrier enclosures (typically mounted over the head, with and without suction) to contain aerosol emissions from coronavirus disease... read more

Decrease in CPR Initiation During COVID-19 Outbreak

Decrease in CPR Initiation During COVID-19 Outbreak

During the COVID-19 period, we observed decreased initiation of CPR by bystanders and first aid providers for BLS, and decreased ALS by the MMT, regardless if subjects were infected with SARS-CoV-2 or not. ROSC rates... read more

CDC update calls for universal mask-wearing

CDC update calls for universal mask-wearing

The CDC calls for universal mask use at all times indoors, except when within one's own household, and outside when distances of 6 feet or more cannot be maintained. Additional strategies in the report are social distancing... read more

Missouri physician starts petition calling for governor to implement mask mandate

Missouri physician starts petition calling for governor to implement mask mandate

Michah Luderer, MD, PhD, internal medicine resident at St. Louis based-Barnes Jewish Hospital recently started a petition urging Gov. Mike Parson to issue a statewide mask mandate, reports local CBS affiliate KMOV. "We're... read more

Pre-hospital Care & Interfacility Transport of 385 COVID-19 Emergency Patients

Pre-hospital Care & Interfacility Transport of 385 COVID-19 Emergency Patients

All participating air ambulance providers were prepared for COVID-19. Safe care and transport of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients is achievable. Most patients on primary missions were transported by ground. These... read more

Measuring COVID-19 Fatalities Among EMS Providers

Measuring COVID-19 Fatalities Among EMS Providers

The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic resonate around the world. Escalating infection and death rates are reported daily. While emergency medical services clinicians have been operating at the far forward front... read more

COVID-19: Practical Strategies to Reduce Nosocomial Transmission

COVID-19: Practical Strategies to Reduce Nosocomial Transmission

The frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk for contracting the COVID-19 disease when caring for patients and providing aerosol-generating procedures. Until further high-quality studies generate robust evidence, defining... read more

Sepsis and COVID-19: Perspectives From a Sepsis Coordinator

Sepsis and COVID-19: Perspectives From a Sepsis Coordinator

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought difficulties and disruptions to all corners of the world. As a sepsis coordinator, I can attest that the scientific and healthcare community in the United States has been particularly... read more

Variation in Hospital Visitor & ICU Communication Policies Due to COVID-19

Variation in Hospital Visitor & ICU Communication Policies Due to COVID-19

A new study documents how 49 of those hospitals reacted, and how those efforts varied. It finds that virtually all hospitals put in place a "no visitors" blanket policy. But 59% of hospitals did allow some exceptions to this... read more

Fit-testing of N95/P2-masks to Protect Healthcare Workers

Fit-testing of N95/P2-masks to Protect Healthcare Workers

In the context of COVID-19, well fitted respirators e.g. N95/P2-masks are recommended as part of personal protective equipment when performing aerosol generating procedures. Fit-checking is recommended prior to donning... read more

Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging for LVAD and OHT During COVID-19

Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging for LVAD and OHT During COVID-19

Considerations for cardiac imaging in the COVID-19 era include thoughtful patient and study selection with a goal to limit the overall number of tests. General recommendations are as follows: Defer routine or low-risk... read more

Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke During COVID-19 Pandemic

Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke During COVID-19 Pandemic

The evaluation and treatment of acute large vessel occlusion stroke present many challenges during the COVID-19 era. It may be difficult to screen stroke patients for COVID-19 symptoms because of encephalopathy or aphasia.... read more