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Letter from the Director of Research

Here at Maricopa Medical Center, we perform primarily clinical research in areas related to emergency medicine. While our emphasis is on projects initiated by our faculty and residents, we also participate in several multicenter trials.

Throughout their residency, residents are taught research methodology and statistics. This allows efficient evaluation of the current literature and an understanding of the basis of current standards of care.

Participation in research projects during the residency is encouraged. We welcome new ideas and have a great deal of experience in putting those ideas into concrete protocols. In addition to institutional research funds, our residents typically receive more than 2-3 monetary grants per year to fund numerous emergency medicine projects.

Our close affiliations with the Good Samaritan Regional Poison Control Center, the Department of Health, the Arizona Burn Center, and the Pediatric Emergency Department has leant itself to numerous projects.

Project enrollment is facilitated by our full-time research RN and two full-time research assistants. We have full access to the statistician in the institution.

A "snapshot" of our current studies is representative of our longstanding research activities, and includes:

National Institute of Health Grants

  1. 2007-2012
    Title: Strategies using Off Patent antibiotics for Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (“STOP MRSA”) – A multi-center, Phase III, randomized, double-blind clinical trial: Contract #: HHSN272200700032C
    Role: Site PI: Frank LoVecchio, DO /Mary Mulrow, RN/
    Funding Amount: Total $ 8.9 Million
    Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH) /National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID)
  2. Broncholitis NIH (Further information pending) 2007-11
    Role: Site PI Frank LoVecchio, DO /Mary Mulrow, RN/
    Funding Amount: ~ 16,000 per year
    Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  3. Sepsis Progress: (Further information pending) 2007-10
    Role: Site PI Frank LoVecchio, DO /Mary Mulrow, RN/
    Funding Amount: ~ 22,000 per year
    Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Departmental Studies

  1. A Pilot Study in the Use of B-Type Natiuretic Peptide as a Marker of Adequate Initial Fluid Resuscitation in High-risk Trauma and Burn Patients
  2. Accuracy of Bedside Ultrasound for the Measurement of the Abdominal Aorta Emergency Department Pilot Study
  3. Derivation and Validation of Decision Instrument to Limit Pelvic Radiography in Blunt Trauma
  4. Seatbelt Use Among Trauma Victims Presenting From On-Reservation vs. Off-Reservation Sites
  5. Haldol vs. Morphine for the Treatment of Benign Headache
  6. Impact of Language Barriers in Emergency Medicine With Regards to Chronological Parameters and Patient Satisfaction
  7. Difficulty Breathing Clinical Decision Rules for Congestive Heart Failure: The Effects on Pre-Hospital Diagnostic Accuracy
  8. Patient Controlled Analgesia vs. Intermittent IV Injection of Morphine in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Abdominal Pain

Multicenter Studies

  1. CLEAR: Central Line Emergency Access Registry A Multi-Center Study to Determine Resident Competency in Placement of Central Venous Catheters
  2. CRUSADE: Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines: The CRUSADE National Quality Improvement Initiative
  3. NEXUS III: Selective Radiography in Acute Low Back Pain
  4. NEAR III: National Emergency Airway Registry
  5. Pyelo (ID NET): Surveillance for Uropathogen Antimicrobial Resistance Among Emergency Department Patients with Acute Pyelonephritis: Identification of Associated Risk Factors and Outcomes
  6. MARC 14
  7. HEDGE (ID NET): Host Transcription Profiles for the Diagnostic Evaluation of Infectious Disease

Recent Publications

  • LoVecchio F, Nourani C, Watts DJ, Wallance KL, Wax PM.Acute renal failure, neuropathy, and myopathy after ingestion of dipropylene glycol fog solution.Am J Emerg Med. 2008 Jun;26(5):635.e1-2.
  • Banerji A, Clark S, Blanda M, LoVecchio F, Snyder B, Camargo CA Jr.Multicenter study of patients with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema who present to the emergency department.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Apr;100(4):327-32.
  • Mansbach JM, Clark S, Christopher NC, LoVecchio F, Kunz S, Acholonu U, Camargo CA Jr.Prospective multicenter study of bronchiolitis: predicting safe discharges from the emergency department.Pediatrics. 2008 Apr;121(4):680-8.
  • Gresham C, LoVecchio F.The effects of organophosphate pesticide exposure on Hispanic children's cognitive and behavioral functioning.J Pediatr Psychol. 2008 May;33(4):446; author reply 447-8.
  • Pizon AF, Lovecchio F.Reversible cardiomyopathy complicating intrathecal baclofen withdrawal: a case report.J Med Toxicol. 2007 Dec;3(4):187-9.
  • LoVecchio F, Riley B, Pizon A, Brown M.Outcomes after isolated mirtazapine (Remeron) supratherapeutic ingestions.J Emerg Med. 2008 Jan;34(1):77-8.

If you have questions or need further information, please contact us by telephone or e-mail.

Sincerely,

Frank Lovecchio

Frank Lovecchio, DO, MPH

Director of Research
Medical Director, Good Samaritan Regional Poison Control Center
EM Residency: Mt. Sinai Hospital
Fellowship: Toxicology, Good Samaritan Hospital