BACKGROUND: Increasing demand for healthcare services worldwide has led to unprecedented challenges in managing patient flow and delivering timely care in emergency care settings. Overcrowding, prolonged waiting times, reduced patient satisfaction and increased mortality are some of the consequences of this increased demand. To address this issue, some healthcare providers have turned to digital systems, such as self-check-in kiosks, for efficient patient triage and prioritisation. While digital triage systems hold promise for efficient patient prioritisation, reduced data duplication, shorter waiting times, improved patient satisfaction, the impact on workflow, the accuracy of triage and staff workload require further exploration for successful implementation in emergency care settings. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of digital check-in and triage kiosk implementation within emergency departments.
METHODS: A systematic review will be conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct and will include quantitative and mixed method studies with a significant quantitative component, related to self-service kiosk implementation in emergency departments. The outcomes of interest will focus on the efficacy and safety of digital triage, including triage time, workflow, the diagnostic accuracy of triage and adverse events. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. A narrative synthesis will be used to summarise the findings of the included studies.
BACKGROUND: This review is exempt from ethical approval because it will be analysing published studies containing non-identifiable data. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.
UNASSIGNED: CRD42024481506.

UNASSIGNED: Mechanical thrombectomy is a time-sensitive treatment, with rapid initiation and reduced delays being associated with better patient outcomes. Several systematic reviews reported on various interventions to address delays. Hence, we performed an umbrella review of systematic reviews to summarise the current evidence.
UNASSIGNED: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and JBI were searched for published systematic reviews. Systematic Reviews that detailed outcomes related to time-to-thrombectomy or functional independence were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tool by two independent reviewers.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 17 systematic reviews were included in the review. These were all assessed as high-quality reviews. A total of 13 reviews reported on functional outcomes, and 12 reviews reported on time-to-thrombectomy outcomes. Various interventions were identified as beneficial. The most frequently reported beneficial interventions that improved functional and time-related outcomes included: direct-to-angio-suite and using a mothership model (compared to drip-and-ship). Only a few studies investigated other strategies including other pre-hospital and teamwork strategies.
UNASSIGNED: Overall, there were various strategies that can be used to reduce delays in the delivery of mechanical thrombectomy with different effectiveness. The mothership model appears to be superior to the drip-and-ship model in reducing delays and improving functional outcomes. Additionally, the direct-to-angiosuite approach appears to be beneficial, but further research is required for broader implementation of this approach and to determine which groups of patients would benefit the most.

OBJECTIVE: To review recent advances of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the efficiency and throughput of the MRI acquisition workflow in neuroimaging, including planning, sequence design, and correction of acquisition artifacts.
METHODS: A comprehensive analysis was conducted on recent AI-based methods in neuro MRI acquisition. The study focused on key technological advances, their impact on clinical practice, and potential risks associated with these methods.
RESULTS: The findings indicate that AI-based algorithms have a substantial positive impact on the MRI acquisition process, improving both efficiency and throughput. Specific algorithms were identified as particularly effective in optimizing acquisition steps, with reported improvements in workflow efficiency.
CONCLUSIONS: The review highlights the transformative potential of AI in neuro MRI acquisition, emphasizing the technological advances and clinical benefits. However, it also discusses potential risks and challenges, suggesting areas for future research to mitigate these concerns and further enhance AI integration in MRI acquisition.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the current evidence of digital workflow feasibility based on the data acquisition methods and the software tools used to fabricate intraoral prostheses for patients with partial or total maxillary and mandibular defects.
METHODS: An electronic search was performed in PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science using a combination of relevant keywords: digital workflow, digital designing, computer-assisted design-computer aided manufacturing, 3D printing, maxillectomy, and mandibulectomy. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of evidence in the studies reviewed.
RESULTS: From a total of 542 references, 33 articles were selected, including 25 on maxillary prostheses and 8 on mandibular prostheses. The use of digital workflows was limited to one or two steps of the fabrication of the prostheses, and only four studies described a complete digital workflow. The most preferred method for data acquisition was intraoral scanning with or without a cone beam computed tomography combination.
CONCLUSIONS: Currently, the fabrication process of maxillofacial prostheses requires combining digital and conventional methods. Simplifying the data acquisition methods and providing user-friendly and affordable software may encourage clinicians to use the digital workflow more frequently for patients requiring maxillofacial prostheses.

Over the past decade, healthcare systems have started to establish control centres to manage patient flow, with a view to removing delays and increasing the quality of care. Such centres-here dubbed Healthcare Capacity Command/Coordination Centres (HCCCs)-are a challenge to design and operate. Broad-ranging surveys of HCCCs have been lacking, and design for their human users is only starting to be addressed. In this review we identified 73 papers describing different kinds of HCCCs, classifying them according to whether they describe virtual or physical control centres, the kinds of situations they handle, and the different levels of Rasmussen\'s [1] risk management framework that they integrate. Most of the papers (71%) describe physical HCCCs established as control centres, whereas 29% of the papers describe virtual HCCCs staffed by stakeholders in separate locations. Principal functions of the HCCCs described are categorised as business as usual (BAU) (48%), surge management (15%), emergency response (18%), and mass casualty management (19%). The organisation layers that the HCCCs incorporate are classified according to the risk management framework; HCCCs managing BAU involve lower levels of the framework, whereas HCCCs handling the more emergent functions involve all levels. Major challenges confronting HCCCs include the dissemination of information about healthcare system status, and the management of perspectives and goals from different parts of the healthcare system. HCCCs that take the form of physical control centres are just starting to be analysed using human factors principles that will make staff more effective and productive at managing patient flow.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to map the literature on the utilization of intraoral scanners (IOS) in fabricating post and core restorations.
METHODS: The study protocol is available at https://osf.io/ja9xh/. This scoping review followed Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, and reporting was based on the checklist proposed by PRISMA-ScR.
METHODS: Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and grey literature up to August 2023.
RESULTS: A total of 455 studies were identified. After screening, 16 studies were deemed suitable for scoping review. Of these, 13 were in vitro studies, two were case reports, and one was a clinical study. Different IOS systems for scanning post spaces were evaluated, with Trios being most prevalent, followed by Prismescan. While most studies did not use any intraoral scanning devices, five studies reported the use of scan posts. Results regarding retention favored fully digital workflows. However, results about the adaptation and accuracy varied between included studies, highlighting the importance of standardized approaches. Future clinical studies should encompass variations in IOS systems, post space depths, scanner depth of field, light conditions, scan post utilization, operator experience, scanning time and strategy, and direct comparison with conventional techniques.
CONCLUSIONS: IOS is increasingly important in capturing digital impressions for post spaces and provides valuable insights for clinicians and researchers. Although included studies, primarily in vitro, demonstrated promising results for the utilization of IOS systems in fully digital workflows for post and core restorations, further well-conducted studies, particularly clinical trials, are recommended due to data heterogeneity and limitations.
CONCLUSIONS: This mapping highlights the potential of modern IOS in fully digital workflows for post and core restorations. Despite promising results, challenges related to different variables associated with IOS require careful consideration. Standardization and additional clinical validation are essential for optimize IOS benefits in post and core restorations.

Breast Cancer (BC) has evolved from traditional morphological analysis to molecular profiling, identifying new subtypes. Ki-67, a prognostic biomarker, helps classify subtypes and guide chemotherapy decisions. This review explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can optimize Ki-67 assessment, improving precision and workflow efficiency in BC management. The study presents a critical analysis of the current state of AI-powered Ki-67 assessment. Results demonstrate high agreement between AI and standard Ki-67 assessment methods highlighting AI\'s potential as an auxiliary tool for pathologists. Despite these advancements, the review acknowledges limitations such as the restricted timeframe and diverse study designs, emphasizing the need for further research to address these concerns. In conclusion, AI holds promise in enhancing Ki-67 assessment\'s precision and workflow efficiency in BC diagnosis. While challenges persist, the integration of AI can revolutionize BC care, making it more accessible and precise, even in resource-limited settings.

Despite substantial efforts to reduce operating room (OR) turnover time (TOT), delays remain a frustration to physicians, staff, and hospital leadership. These efforts have employed many systems and human factor-based approaches with variable results. A deeper dive into methodologies and their applicability could lead to successful and sustained change. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to evaluate relevant research focused on improving OR TOT and clearly defining measures of successful intervention.
A systematic review of OR TOT interventions implemented between 1980 through October 2022 was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. Research databases included: 1) PubMed; 2) Web of Science; and 3) OVID Medline.
A total of 38 articles were appropriate for analysis. Most employed a pre/post intervention approach (29, 76.3%), the remaining utilized a control/intervention approach. Nine intervention methods were identified: the majority included a process redesign bundle (24, 63%), followed by overlapping induction, dedicated unit/team/space feedback, financial incentives, team training, education, practice guidelines, and redefinition of roles/responsibilities. Studies were further categorized into one of two groups: (1) those that utilized predetermined interventions based on anecdotal experience or prior literature (18, 47.4%) and (2) those that conducted a prospective analysis on baseline data to inform intervention development (20, 52.6%).
There are significant variability in the methodologies utilized to improve OR TOT; however, the most effective solutions involved process redesign bundles developed from a prospective investigation of the clinical work-system.

Visual simultaneous localization and mapping (V-SLAM) plays a crucial role in the field of robotic systems, especially for interactive and collaborative mobile robots. The growing reliance on robotics has increased complexity in task execution in real-world applications. Consequently, several types of V-SLAM methods have been revealed to facilitate and streamline the functions of robots. This work aims to showcase the latest V-SLAM methodologies, offering clear selection criteria for researchers and developers to choose the right approach for their robotic applications. It chronologically presents the evolution of SLAM methods, highlighting key principles and providing comparative analyses between them. The paper focuses on the integration of the robotic ecosystem with a robot operating system (ROS) as Middleware, explores essential V-SLAM benchmark datasets, and presents demonstrative figures for each method\'s workflow.

BACKGROUND: This study utilizes interviews of clinical medical physicists to investigate self-reported shortcomings of the current weekly chart check workflow and opportunities for improvement.
METHODS: Nineteen medical physicists were recruited for a 30-minute semi-structured interview, with a particular focus placed on image review and the use of automated tools for image review in weekly checks. Survey-type questions were used to gather quantitative information about chart check practices and importance placed on reducing chart check workloads versus increasing chart check effectiveness. Open-ended questions were used to probe respondents about their current weekly chart check workflow, opinions of the value of weekly chart checks and perceived shortcomings, and barriers and facilitators to the implementation of automated chart check tools. Thematic analysis was used to develop common themes across the interviews.
RESULTS: Physicists ranked highly the value of reducing the time spent on weekly chart checks (average 6.3 on a scale from 1 to 10), but placed more value on increasing the effectiveness of checks with an average of 9.2 on a 1-10 scale. Four major themes were identified: (1) weekly chart checks need to adapt to an electronic record-and-verify chart environment, (2) physicists could add value to patient care by analyzing images without duplicating the work done by physicians, (3) greater support for trending analysis is needed in weekly checks, and (4) automation has the potential to increase the value of physics checks.
CONCLUSIONS: This study identified several key shortcomings of the current weekly chart check process from the perspective of the clinical medical physicist. Our results show strong support for automating components of the weekly check workflow in order to allow for more effective checks that emphasize follow-up, trending, failure modes and effects analysis, and allow time to be spent on other higher value tasks that improve patient safety.