A study of 7.6 million trauma cases found that 3.7% of patients received emergency department endotracheal intubation, with a mortality rate of 10.2%. The 24-hour survival rate was 69.8% for intubated patients, compared with 97.5% for non-intubated patients. The study was published in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

The investigational drug zalunfiban was linked to fewer serious complications in patients with suspected ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and symptoms with a duration of four hours or less, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. A single injection at first medical contact was associated with a 21% reduction in serious outcomes within 30 days, without increasing severe bleeding, although mild-to-moderate bleeding was more common.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found no significant difference in mortality or major ischemic events between liberal and restrictive blood transfusion strategies for patients at high cardiac risk after vascular and general surgery. "Serious complications of the primary endpoint were similar between the groups, so we cannot claim that the liberal strategy was superior for the primary endpoint which was our original hypothesis," said researcher Dr. Panos Kougias. "However, the liberal strategy may provide a clinical benefit by reducing the risk of heart failure and arrhythmias."

A recent survey by HealthLink Dimensions reveals that while 40% of physicians are optimistic about the potential of AI in health care, 41% do not currently use any AI tools. The survey highlights that physicians view AI as an assistant rather than a replacement, with ChatGPT being the most popular tool among users. The findings suggest that AI tools that save time, reduce administrative burdens and maintain clinical autonomy are gaining traction among health care professionals.

Health systems are updating nurse career advancement programs to retain bedside nurses and build internal talent pipelines. DNP Mandy Richards, president of Intermountain Children's Health in Salt Lake City, said administrators worked with front-line nurses to create the iAspire program that promotes clinical excellence, professional growth and career advancement within direct patient care.

"Early results show stronger engagement and improved retention," Richards said. "This is proof that when we build programs with nurses, for nurses, everyone benefits, especially our patients."

The integration of AI in emergency departments is transforming patient care, raising questions about trust and transparency. While AI aids in triage and diagnosis, offering cost savings and efficiency, it lacks the human touch essential for patient trust. Tech giants like OpenAI and Microsoft are advancing AI tools in health care, but concerns arise over the potential erosion of clinicians' judgment. Patients often remain unaware of AI's role in their treatment, highlighting the need for transparency in medical decision-making, write emergency physicians Nicholas Cozzi and William Weber.

US hospitals are grappling with emergency department boarding, with 40% of admitted patients boarding for over four hours and 6% for more than 24 hours as of January 2022, according to data in the journal Health Affairs. The problem, exacerbated by nursing shortages and limited post-acute care facilities and other factors, leads to increased mortality, longer stays and higher readmission risks. Hospitals are addressing the issue through daily tracking and reporting, cross-department collaboration and transparency, but systemic changes are needed to improve patient flow and care quality.