Evidence based practice 3 (proposal) - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages Individual care varies significantly based on patient case. One of the cases often requiring emergency intervention are pelvic fractures. The St John Ambulance Western Australia (2012) seeks to ensure the quality of emergency health services, ensuring first aid services to the general public utilising available resources to the fullest. The application of evidence-based practice helps ensure the fulfilment of the above goal. Evidence-based practice allows for the efficient and effective application of resources ensuring standard practice in emergency services (Freshwater and Rolfe, 2012). The St. John Ambulance Western Australia is applying various measures in order to effectively ensure prehospital management of pelvic fractures. This evaluation seeks to guarantee that the interventions being considered are supported by evidence-based practice. The aspect being assessed includes accidents, elderly falls, and pelvic fractures. After adequate evaluation of these aspects, the focus was later specified to pelvic fractures, mostly on the role of the compression splints, including the Stuart pelvic harness, the Dallas pelvic binder, the Sam Sling, or the T-POD pelvic stabilizer in the management of pelvic fractures in the pre-hospital setting. ...
These fractures can also be used to determine the energy transfer and impact of injury which would indicate appropriate triage for the patient. Mortality rates for these patients who eventually reach the hospital setting are at 7.6 to 19% (Lee and Porter, 2006). Even as exsanguinating haemorrhage during pelvic fractures are a major concern, studies indicate that the other abdominal and pelvic injuries seen through the fracture from the energy transfer can cause death among these patients. Deaths due to open pelvic fractures are much higher, close to 50% (Lee and Porter, 2006). Prehospital management of pelvic fractures include various interventions, including prehospital assessment. Pelvic fractures are often caused by road traffic collisions, especially where the patient is seated at the front of the vehicle during a head-on collision, or is hit at the side (Lee and Porter, 2007). These fractures are also seen in pedestrian and motorcycle collisions (Lee and Porter, 2007). Falls among elderly patients, especially those with osteoporosis is also implicated for pelvic fractures. These fractures are often identified through the circulatory assessment using CAcBCDE after resuscitation of significant bleeding, airway, and breathing issues (Lee and Porter, 2007). General health teachings support the use of springing the pelvis in order to detect tenderness or instability and determine pelvic fracture and possible internal haemorrhage (American College of Surgeons Advanced trauma life support, 2004). Different types of springing have been suggested, with usual methods including compression or distraction of the fractured area (Lee and Porter, 2006). However, the current practice is that springing can be an ...Download file to see next pagesRead More