Cody Autrey

Cody Autrey was raised in Freeport, Florida. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. His passion for serving under-served populations has led him to volunteer with the American Red Cross, Crisis Text Line, and Shepherd\u27s Hope Health Clinic. Cody is currently researching ion-selective electrodes for the monitoring of ionic deficiencies in patient blood samples under the guidance of Dr. Karin Chumbimuni-Torres. He plans to obtain his M.D. and become a Trauma Surgeon.https://stars.library.ucf.edu/ramp_gallery/1092/thumbnail.jp

Severely Painful and Pruritic Forearm Rash: A Case of Caterpillar Envenomation in South Florida

Introduction: The asp caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis) is endemic to the southeastern United States, with most sightings in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. A few hundred caterpillar envenomations are reported annually with most cases occurring in July–November. Asp caterpillars have hollow spines along their backs that contain venom. Contact with these spines is what produces the characteristic “sting” resulting in contact dermatitis and a localized hypersensitivity reaction collectively referred to as lepidopterism. Symptoms of lepidopterism may include severe burning pain, pruritis, edema, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headache. Symptoms are often self limited, and treatment should focus on expedited removal of implanted spines and aggressive symptom management.Case Report: We present the case of a patient presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute-onset severe left forearm pain with associated pruritic rash incurred while working in a retail store. Initial therapeutic management included administration of analgesics, antihistamines, and steroids. After obtaining a comprehensive history and consulting with the Poison Control Center, we suspected an asp caterpillar envenomation. Following extraction of the caterpillar spines with silk tape, the patient’s symptoms improved. After a period of observation in the ED, the patient was discharged home without any known sequelae.Conclusion: Although asp caterpillars typically inhabit trees and foliage, human exposure to the caterpillar may occur in developed environments. Effective history-taking, prompt communication with toxicologic experts, and complete removal of intact spines are essential for early identification and effective clinical management of asp caterpillar envenomation

The Affordable Care Act and its Effects on Trauma Care Access, Short- and Long-term Outcomes and Financial Impact

Objective:. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the current evidence regarding the impact of the ACA on trauma outcomes and the financial impact on trauma patients and trauma systems. Background:. Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death and disability between the ages of 1 to 47 years. Uninsured status has been associated with worse outcomes and higher financial strain. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law with the aim of increasing health insurance coverage. Despite improvements in insured status, it is unclear how the ACA has affected trauma. Methods:. We conducted a literature search using PubMed and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed studies investigating the impact of the ACA on trauma published between January 2017 and April 2021. Results:. Our search identified 20 studies that evaluated the impact of ACA implementation on trauma. The evidence suggests ACA implementation has been associated with increased postacute care access but not significant changes in trauma mortality. ACA implementation has been associated with a decreased likelihood of catastrophic health expenditures for trauma patients. ACA was also associated with an increase in overall reimbursement and amount billed for trauma visits, but a decrease in Medicaid reimbursement. Conclusions:. Some improvements on the financial impact of ACA implementation on trauma patients and trauma systems have been shown, but studies are limited by methods of calculating costs and by inconsistent pre-/post-ACA timeframes. Further studies on cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis will need to be conducted to definitively determine the impact of ACA on trauma