Articles Tagged With:
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Nurse Practitioners Working in ED Pose Unique Legal Risks
If a malpractice claim is filed, and a nurse practitioner was involved in the patient’s care, his or her liability exposure will depend on how closely the practitioner was involved in the care. Is the care the practitioner provides and submits bills for within the scope of practice? Does the care reflect what the providers are credentialed to do based on their competencies?
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Some Acute Chest Pain Patients Can Be Discharged Safely
Guideline authors recommend implementing high-sensitivity cardiac troponins and clinical decision pathways to safely discharge low-risk patients without additional testing. However, the decision pathway is not meant to replace the emergency physician's clinical judgment.
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In Med/Mal Cases for Missed Central Nervous Pathology, Dizziness Is Factor
After reviewing dozens of malpractice claims, researchers learned patients who reported dizziness often were discharged home or admitted without anyone diagnosing central nervous system pathology. Patients presented to an ED and were diagnosed with migraine or other conditions. The correct diagnoses only became clear later. The subsequent lawsuits revolved around the first emergency physician missing the diagnosis at the initial visit.
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Real-Time Capacity Data Help Cut LWBS Rates, Speed Care
Some adverse outcomes in ED patients could be prevented if actions had happened faster — if someone had been moved to the cardiac catheterization lab faster, secured an inpatient bed sooner, or undergone stroke treatment swiftly. If the patient or families sue for malpractice, plaintiff attorneys will scrutinize those time frames.
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Is Ethics Education Part of the Solution to the Nursing Shortage?
Armed with ethics expertise, nursing leaders can help frontline nurses avoid burnout and moral distress. Consider routinely hosting short meetings to discuss ethical problems that are arising before things reach a crisis level.
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Ethical Responses if Family Abandons Loved One at Hospital
By leveraging their mediation skills, ethicists can build trust between weary family caregivers and clinicians who are unsure about how to handle a delicate situation. This can help everyone identify patient needs and find possible solutions.
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Surrogates View Their Role Differently Than Clinicians
Surrogates view their role as speaking on behalf of the patient; clinicians view the surrogate’s role as speaking as if the patient was in the room advocating for themselves. The problem arises when the surrogate does not voice the opinions of the patient, instead voicing their own opinion of the situation.
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Clarity and Consistency Help Families Facing Serious Medical Decisions
Different clinicians use similar-sounding terms. Families may make decisions based on how the clinician presents a situation. It is critical for medical providers to choose their words carefully.
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Physician Autonomy at Issue if Patients Demand Ineffective Treatments
A controversial Wisconsin Supreme Court case centers on whether physicians can be legally required to provide ivermectin for COVID-19 if a patient or family requests it.
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Providing Ethical Neonatal Cardiac Care
The complexities associated with neonates with cardiac disease require a collaborative and cohesive strategy. Shared decision-making, research ethics, and outcomes reporting are important considerations.