Posted on Jan 4, 2023
Many ERs offer minimal care for miscarriage. One group wants that to change
771
46
6
15
15
0
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/01/04/ [login to see] /many-ers-offer-minimal-care-for-miscarriage-one-group-wants-that-to-change
By the time she completed her residency in emergency medicine, Dr. Andreia Alexander had seen all manner of injuries and complications — everything from kidney stones and broken bones to stab wounds and seizures. She was prepared, as an ER saying goes, for "anyone, anything, anytime."
But until recently, neither Alexander nor any of her colleagues in the emergency department at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis had ever performed one of the most common procedures for women of reproductive age — a uterine aspiration (also commonly known as a D&C) or the removal of tissue from the uterus via suction.
The procedure is a standard method for treatment of miscarriage and can be a life-saving intervention if a woman is hemorrhaging. But uterine aspiration is also routinely used to perform early abortions, and that's one reason many emergency departments have historically resisted efforts to make the option available to patients who come in for miscarriage-related care.
That care already accounts for more than 900,000 emergency room visits every year, according to the most recent estimates. Now, as states move to restrict access to abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in June to overturn Roe v. Wade, experts say that number is likely to surge even higher.
By the time she completed her residency in emergency medicine, Dr. Andreia Alexander had seen all manner of injuries and complications — everything from kidney stones and broken bones to stab wounds and seizures. She was prepared, as an ER saying goes, for "anyone, anything, anytime."
But until recently, neither Alexander nor any of her colleagues in the emergency department at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis had ever performed one of the most common procedures for women of reproductive age — a uterine aspiration (also commonly known as a D&C) or the removal of tissue from the uterus via suction.
The procedure is a standard method for treatment of miscarriage and can be a life-saving intervention if a woman is hemorrhaging. But uterine aspiration is also routinely used to perform early abortions, and that's one reason many emergency departments have historically resisted efforts to make the option available to patients who come in for miscarriage-related care.
That care already accounts for more than 900,000 emergency room visits every year, according to the most recent estimates. Now, as states move to restrict access to abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in June to overturn Roe v. Wade, experts say that number is likely to surge even higher.
Many ERs offer minimal care for miscarriage. One group wants that to change
Posted from npr.org
Medical
Health
Indianapolis
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
11
11
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
(11)
(0)
10
10
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."All of which points to more patients in the emergency room — "either because they don't have an OB-GYN or because their OB-GYN is too busy with other patients," said Alexander, the emergency physician in Indiana, which passed new legislation to ban abortion with limited exceptions in August.
In 2019, Alexander invited TEAMM to do a training for her emergency department at the IU School of Medicine to help remedy what she felt was "subpar care for patients with miscarriage." If the patient is bleeding heavily, "she can get really sick, really fast." That's when an MVA becomes a time-sensitive, life-saving procedure, she said, "and something I think we all should know how to do."
Quinley acknowledges that not everyone in emergency medicine is convinced that miscarriage care should be the responsibility of the emergency provider. "But emergency medicine has been in flux since its inception," she says. "We have continuously expanded our skill set and added to our toolkit. I think it's time we consider offering our patients more options for miscarriage care."
..."All of which points to more patients in the emergency room — "either because they don't have an OB-GYN or because their OB-GYN is too busy with other patients," said Alexander, the emergency physician in Indiana, which passed new legislation to ban abortion with limited exceptions in August.
In 2019, Alexander invited TEAMM to do a training for her emergency department at the IU School of Medicine to help remedy what she felt was "subpar care for patients with miscarriage." If the patient is bleeding heavily, "she can get really sick, really fast." That's when an MVA becomes a time-sensitive, life-saving procedure, she said, "and something I think we all should know how to do."
Quinley acknowledges that not everyone in emergency medicine is convinced that miscarriage care should be the responsibility of the emergency provider. "But emergency medicine has been in flux since its inception," she says. "We have continuously expanded our skill set and added to our toolkit. I think it's time we consider offering our patients more options for miscarriage care."
(10)
(0)
2
2
0
I’ve never worked in a hospital, Military or civilian, that this was a problem. The OR/Anesthesia folks were called and a D&C would be accomplished.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google