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Verbal orders can put patients in danger for serious adverse outcomes resulting from medication errors, and the ED is at especially high risk for this, says Lisa DiMarco, RN, BSN, MBA, administrative director for emergency services at Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL. Unlike other departments, verbal orders are common in the ED out of both habit and necessity.
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Whats the most common mistake resulting in potential violations of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) made by emergency nurses? Most likely, it is confusing triage for a medical screening examination (MSE).
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Many ED nurses are wary of caring for sick or injured children, but these patients have unique needs that every nurse must be prepared for, says Nancy Blake, RN, MN, CCRN, CNAA, director of critical care services at Childrens Medical Center in Los Angeles. Adverse outcomes may occur if pediatric education is allowed to fall by the wayside, she warns.
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In 2003, the ED at Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis finished the year $327 over budget for supplies. As of August 2004, it was $725 under budget. What made the difference? Handing over the role of supply ordering to unit secretaries.
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Are you aware of the life-threatening risks of the antibiotic erythromycin for patients taking certain medications? Researchers found that patients given this antibiotic who were also taking calcium-channel blockers, antifungal drugs, or antidepressants had a five-times greater risk of sudden death from cardiac causes than patients who did not take these drugs.
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This is the second in a two-part series on the recent General Accounting Office report on the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Last month, we covered the reports controversial findings and the Joint Commissions response. This month, we cover new legislation that could affect your future surveys.
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Unless your organization is lucky enough to be found 100% compliant after your next survey by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or after completing the periodic performance review, youll have to address noncompliant areas for which you must set measures of success (MOS) and then gather data to evaluate improvement.
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Patient safety experts advocate elimination of fear in the workplace so staff members can more effectively identify and resolve safety concerns. The elimination of fear is necessary to create an environment of trust and cooperation, essential ingredients of initiating and sustaining patient safety improvements.
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The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has appointed an expert panel to assist in a study of hospitals efforts to address cultural and linguistic issues that affect patient care. The 2½-year study will attempt to identify best practices for providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care in hospitals, and could play a role in future JCAHO accreditation standards. The study will involve site visits to a sample of 60 hospitals starting in May 2005.
