@article{ref1,
title="Availability of bedside and laboratory testing for carbon monoxide poisoning in the upper midwestern United States",
journal="Western journal of emergency medicine",
year="2019",
author="Masters, Thomas and Willenbring, Brian and Westgard, Bjorn and Cole, Jon and Hendriksen, Stephen and Walter, Joseph and Logue, Christopher and Olives, Travis",
volume="20",
number="3",
pages="506-511",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to assess the ability to test patients for carbon monoxide (CO) exposure in all hospitals in three United States (U.S.) Midwestern states. <br><br>METHODS: We surveyed hospitals in three states. Telephone queries assessed processes for measuring carboxyhemoglobin, including capacity for real-time vs send-out testing. Facilities were separated based on their location's population size for further analysis. Descriptive statistics are reported. <br><br>RESULTS: Of the 250 hospitals queried, we ultimately excluded 25. Nearly all (220, 97.8%) reported a process in place to test for CO exposure. Over 40% (n=92) lacked real-time testing. Testing ability was positively associated with increasing population size quartile (range 32.6% - 100%). Hospitals in the lowest-quartile population centers were more likely to report that they were unable to test in real time than those in the largest-quartile population centers (67.4% vs 0%). <br><br>CONCLUSION: In a large geographic region encompassing three states, hospital-based and real-time capacity to test for CO exposure is not universal. Hospitals in smaller population areas are more likely to lack real-time testing or any testing at all. This may have significant public health, triage, and referral implications for patients.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1936-900X",
doi="10.5811/westjem.2019.2.41428",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2019.2.41428"
}