ED Management – January 1, 2023
January 1, 2023
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Unprecedented Strain on EDs Predates COVID-19 Pandemic
The American College of Emergency Physicians and other groups sent a letter to the White House in which they declared the ED boarding problem a “public health emergency.” The groups asked the Biden administration “to convene a summit of stakeholders from across the healthcare system to identify immediate and long-term solutions to this urgent problem.”
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Malpractice Outcome Hinges on ‘Reasonableness’ of Wait Time
To prevail in malpractice litigation involving a leave without being seen patient, the patient must prove the ED’s failure to treat him or her within the time frame of the visit violated the standard of care. Also, the attorney must prove his or her client suffered harm as a result of that violation.
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LWBS Patients Pose Risks for EDs Under EMTALA
Solid documentation is the best weapon against accusations a clinician violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act and a patient who left the ED without being seen who files a malpractice lawsuit.
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Leverage Rounding, Team-Based Interventions to Address Frontline Burnout
A Texas-based health system looks at employee well-being through a quality and safety lens, directly connecting worker well-being to the organization’s efforts to improve patient safety.
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Point Person Dedicated to Nurse, Support Staff Well-Being
Understanding the critical importance of nurse well-being, a Washington, DC-based health system created a new position dedicated to this work.
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Common Factors if Emergency Nurses Are Named in Malpractice Claim
In an analysis of more than 4,600 claims, researchers found 18% of nursing-related malpractice claims involved ED nurses. Treatment and transport delays were top complaints, underscoring the importance of teamwork and structured communication.
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Robust Data Collection, Careful Review Key to Preventing Disparities
A Boston health system has launched a multimillion dollar program aimed at eliminating disparities and promoting antiracist care.
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Confusion Over ED Instructions Remains Unaddressed Even After Discharge
There is an opportunity to make the ED a place where people feel heard and like they received what they needed, which is especially important because the ED is a crucial point of contact for some historically underserved populations.
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Incidental Findings for ED Patients Are Common, Staff Do Not Always Act
The search continues for an effective technique to identify and intervene on these findings in a way that works in the context of a busy ED workflow.