Impact of Nepal Earthquake on Patients Presenting for Emergency Care at Patan Hospital

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (02) ◽  
pp. 211-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mimang Tembe ◽  
Sushma Dhakal ◽  
Ashis Shrestha ◽  
Josh Mugele ◽  
Darlene R. House
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Emergency Department Utilization ◽  
Patient Volume ◽  
Nepal Earthquake ◽  
Clinical Conditions ◽  
Post Disaster ◽  
2015 Nepal Earthquake ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractObjectiveNatural disasters have a significant impact on the health sector. On April 25, 2015, Nepal was struck by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The aim of the study was to compare patient volumes and clinical conditions presenting to the emergency department pre- and post-earthquake.MethodsA retrospective study was done at Patan Hospital Emergency Department in Kathmandu, Nepal. Volume, demographics, and patient diagnoses were collected for 4 months post-disaster and compared with cases seen the same months the year before the disaster to control for seasonal variations.ResultsAfter the 2015 Nepal earthquake, 12,180 patients were seen in the emergency department. This was a significant decrease in patient volume compared with the 14,971 patients seen during the same months in 2014 (P=0.04). Of those, 5496 patients (4093 pre-disaster and 1433 post-disaster) had a chief complaint or diagnosis recorded for analysis. An increase in cardiovascular and respiratory cases was seen as well as an increase in psychiatric cases (mostly alcohol related) and cases of anemia. There was a decrease in the number of obstetrics/gynecology, infectious disease, and poisoning cases post-earthquake.ConclusionsUnderstanding emergency department utilization after the earthquake has the potential to give further insight into improving disaster preparedness plans for post-disaster health needs. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:211–216).

Ex-Post Coping Responses and Post-Disaster Resilience: a Case from the 2015 Nepal Earthquake

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veeshan Rayamajhee ◽  
Alok K. Bohara ◽  
Virgil Henry Storr
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Resilience ◽  
Coping Responses ◽  
Nepal Earthquake ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Post Disaster ◽  
2015 Nepal Earthquake

Post-disaster Waste Management: Lessons Learnt from 2015 Nepal Earthquake

2019 ◽  
pp. 465-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nivesh Dugar ◽  
Sailesh Karanjit ◽  
Nawa Raj Khatiwada ◽  
Surya Man Shakya ◽  
Anish Ghimire
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Nepal Earthquake ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Post Disaster ◽  
2015 Nepal Earthquake

scholarly journals First and Second Wave Dynamics of Emergency Department Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a retrospective study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robi Dijk ◽  
Patricia Plaum ◽  
Stan Tummers ◽  
Frits van Osch ◽  
Dennis Barten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Emergency Department Utilization ◽  
Reference Period ◽  
Wave Dynamics ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
High Urgency ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Insight Into

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a decrease in emergency department(ED) utilization. Although this has been thoroughly characterized for the first wave(FW), studies during the second wave(SW) are limited. We examined the changes in ED utilization between the FW and SW, compared to 2019 reference periods. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of ED utilization in 3 Dutch hospitals in 2020. The FW and SW (March until June and September until December, respectively) were compared to the reference periods in 2019. ED visits were labeled as (non)COVID suspected. Findings: During the FW and SW ED visits decreased by 20.3% and 15.3%, respectively, when compared to reference periods in 2019. During both waves high urgency visits significantly increased with 3.1% and 2.1%, and admission rates (ARs) increased with 5.0% and 10.4%. Trauma related visits decreased by 5.2% and 3.4%. During the SW we observed less COVID-related visits compared to the FW (4,407 vs 3,102 patients). COVID related visits were significantly more often in higher need of urgent care and ARs where at least 24.0% higher compared to non COVID visits. Interpretation: During both COVID-19 waves ED visits were significantly reduced, with the most distinct decline during the FW. ED patients were more often triaged as high urgent and the ARs were increased compared to the reference period in 2019, reflecting a high burden on ED resources. These findings indicate the need to gain more insight into motives of patients to delay or avoid emergency care during pandemics and prepare EDs for future pandemics.

scholarly journals The 2015 Nepal Earthquake Disaster: Is the Threat of Occurrence of Communicable Disease Epidemic Over?

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakiko Kanbara ◽  
Nlandu Roger Ngatu (Corresponding author) ◽  
Tara Pokhrel T ◽  
Apsara Pandey ◽  
Chandrakara Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Health Events ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Nepal Earthquake ◽  
Assessment And Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring And Surveillance ◽  
Post Disaster ◽  
2015 Nepal Earthquake

This opinion paper highlights the state of public health assessment in evacuation centers following the 2015 Nepal earthquake. It also suggests an approach to reinforce risk assessment and surveillance of communicable diseases (CD) in remote Nepalese districts. A short surveillance research was conducted on outbreaks of infectious diseases in Nepal in the post-2015 earthquake in evacuation centers in Kathmandu and Dhading districts. In collaboration with the Nursing Association of Nepal (NAN), the researchers have established a monitoring and surveillance system, named ‘EpiNurse’ program, in remote Nepalese districts. Periodic shelter to shelter visits, CD risk assessment and relief needs inventory in local communities are implemented, whereas health events with a potential to cause a CD outbreak are being reported to governmental agencies and health clusters involved in post-disaster relief in Nepal. Several cases of diarrheal diseases were identi fied in Nepalese districts after the 2015 earthquake, suggesting the existence of potential risk for the occurrence of new CD epidemics. Onsite risk assessment and monitoring of the effectiveness of actions and interventions implemented, as well as improvement of risk communication between relief agencies should be expanded to less resourced districts to reduce the risk of CD outbreak occurrence.

Post-disaster mental health and psychosocial support: Experience from the 2015 Nepal earthquake

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kedar Marahatta ◽  
Surendra Sherchan ◽  
Reuben Samuel ◽  
Nazneen Anwar ◽  
MarkHumphrey Van Ommeren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Disaster Mental Health ◽  
Nepal Earthquake ◽  
Post Disaster ◽  
2015 Nepal Earthquake

scholarly journals Beyond building damage: estimating and understanding non-recovery following disasters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Loos ◽  
David Lallemant ◽  
Feroz Khan ◽  
Jamie McCaughey ◽  
Robert Banick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Building Damage ◽  
Nepal Earthquake ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Damage Data ◽  
Recovery Resources ◽  
Post Disaster ◽  
2015 Nepal Earthquake

Abstract Following a disaster, crucial decisions about recovery resources often focus on immediate impact, partly due to a lack of detailed information on who will struggle to recover. Here we perform an analysis of surveyed data on reconstruction and secondary data commonly available after a disaster to estimate a metric of non-recovery or the probability that a household could not fully reconstruct within five years after an earthquake. Analyzing data from the 2015 Nepal earthquake, we find that non-recovery is associated with a wide range of factors beyond building damage, such as ongoing risks, population density, and remoteness. If such information were available after the 2015 earthquake, it would have highlighted that many damaged areas have differential abilities to reconstruct due to these factors. More generally, moving beyond damage data to evaluate and quantify non-recovery will support effective post-disaster decisions that consider pre-existing differences in the ability to recover.

Management of Pleural Effusions in the Emergency Department.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
MT Congedo ◽  
GM Ferretti ◽  
D Nachira ◽  
MA Pennisi
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Acute Chest Pain ◽  
Pleural Effusions ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Massive Pleural Effusion ◽  
Emergency Department Setting ◽  
Clinical Conditions ◽  
Definitive Management

Background: In symptomatic patients, admitted in emergency department for acute chest pain and dyspnea, who require an urgent treatment, a rapid diagnosis and prompt management of massive pleural effusion or hemothorax can be lifesaving. The aim of this review was to summarize the current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the management of the main types of pleural effusions that physicians can have in an emergency department setting. Methods: Current literature about the topic was reviewed and critically reported, adding the experience of the authors in the management of pleural effusions in emergency settings. Results: The paper analyzed the main types of pleural effusions that physicians can have to treat. It illustrated the diagnostic steps by the principal radiological instruments, with a particular emphasis to the role of ultrasonography, in facilitating diagnosis and guiding invasive procedures. Then, the principal procedures, like thoracentesis and insertion of small and large bore chest drains, are indicated and illustrated according to the characteristics and the amount of the effusion and patient clinical conditions. Conclusion: The emergency physician must have a systematic approach that allows rapid recognition, clinical cause identification and definitive management of potential urgent pleural effusions.

Assessment of a multi-center tele-urgent care program to decrease emergency department referral rates in the Veterans Health Administration

2021 ◽  
pp. 1357633X2110248
Author(s):  
Charlie M Wray ◽  
Myla Junge ◽  
Salomeh Keyhani ◽  
Janeen E Smith
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Emergency Department Visit ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Emergency Department Utilization ◽  
Emergency Department Care ◽  
Referral Rates ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Care Evaluation

The use of emergency departments for non-emergent issues has led to overcrowding and decreased the quality of care. Telemedicine may be a mechanism to decrease overutilization of this expensive resource. From April to September 2020, we assessed (a) the impact of a multi-center tele-urgent care program on emergency department referral rates and (b) the proportion of individuals who had a subsequent emergency department visit within 72 h of tele-urgent care evaluation when they were not referred to the emergency department. We then performed a chart review to assess whether patients presented to the emergency department for the same reason as was stated for their tele-urgent care evaluation, whether subsequent hospitalization was needed during that emergency department visit, and whether death occurred. Among the 2510 patients who would have been referred to in-person emergency department care, but instead received tele-urgent care assessment, one in five (21%; n = 533) were subsequently referred to the emergency department. Among those not referred following tele-urgent care, 1 in 10 (11%; n = 162) visited the emergency department within 72 h. Among these 162 individuals, most (91%) returned with the same or similar complaint as what was assessed during their tele-urgent care visit, with one in five requiring hospitalization (19%, n = 31) with one individual (0.01%) dying. In conclusion, tele-urgent care may safely decrease emergency department utilization.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document