Objective Limited data exist describing possible delays in patient transfer from the emergency department (ED) as a result of language barriers and the effects of interpretation services. We described the differences in ED length of stay (LOS) before intensive care unit (ICU) arrival and mortality based on availability of telephone or in‐person interpretation services. Methods Using an ICU database from an urban academic tertiary care hospital, ED patients entering the ICU were divided into groups based on primary language and available interpretation services (in‐person vs telephone). Non‐parametric tests were used to compare ED LOS and mortality between groups. Results Among 22,422 included encounters, English was recorded as the primary language for 51% of patients (11,427), and 9% of patients (2042) had a primary language other than English. Language was not documented for 40% of patients (8953). Among encounters with patients with non‐English primary languages, in‐person interpretation was available for 63% (1278) and telephone interpretation was available for 37% (764). In the English‐language group, median ED LOS was 292 minutes (interquartile range [IQR], 205–412) compared with 309 minutes (IQR, 214–453) for patients speaking languages with in‐person interpretation available and 327 minutes (IQR, 225–463) for patients speaking languages with telephone interpretation available. Mortality was higher among patients with telephone (15%) or in‐person (11%) interpretation available compared with patients who primarily spoke English (9%). Conclusions Patients with primary languages other than English who were critically ill spent a median of 17 to 35 more minutes in the ED before ICU arrival and experienced higher mortality rates compared with patients who spoke English as a primary language.

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This paper reports on an ongoing study of the potential human health impacts of coal seam gas (CSG) development at a study site in the Surat Basin in Queensland. This study follows the methodology established in GISERA’s human health effects of CSG activity study design project and focuses on potential physical (dust, noise, light) and chemical stressors. The study will focus on an area bounded by the Warrego Highway to north, between Chinchilla and Miles, extending south towards Tara. This area contains a diverse range of CSG activities involving two operators, over 2300 wells, 70 water storage ponds, four water treatment plants and over 20 gas treatment or compression stations. The area has a range of land uses with low to moderate population densities. These activities have been characterised to determine the physical and chemical stressors present and an exposure pathway assessment is being conducted to determine whether any of the stressors identified have a complete exposure pathway to humans. This assessment considers controls and other strategies already in place to mitigate and alleviate the impacts of stressors. The project involves a high degree of engagement with stakeholders, including the local community, industry and government, with the aim of ensuring the research is independent and trustworthy. The results of this research will assist government and industry in the regulation and conduct of CSG activities by providing an evidence base on potential health impacts, allowing the development of risk mitigation actions to reduce the potential for human health impacts, should any be identified.

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For the safe and effective development of evolving autonomous medical robotic systems that traverse the surface of the body, like in breast ultrasound scans, developing phantoms that are durable and mechanically mimic human tissue is critical. In this work, a long lasting, inexpensive, and geometrically customizable phantom is described with mechanical and ultrasound acoustic properties that simulate human breast tissue. In comparison to prior work, a priority was designing a highly elastic phantom outer layer modulus  20 kPa and inner semi-liquid layer to mimic the difficulties of traversing human breast tissue with autonomous medical robotic systems. In addition, ultrasound images of the novel phantom with enclosed tumor are similar to in vivo image of human breast tissue with invasive ductal carcinoma, representing 80% of breast cancer cases. The performance of a force feedback controller on an autonomous ultrasound scanning system was compared for the novel phantom and a commercial phantom. Overall, the controller performed worse on the novel phantom — highlighting the importance of testing autonomous systems on realistic phantoms.