ED Management – September 1, 2006
September 1, 2006
View Issues
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Lawsuit over lack of call coverage raises new concerns about liability
It probably was inevitable, given the call coverage crisis in this country. Now that it has happened, emergency medicine experts are sitting up and taking notice... -
Is OPPS rule as good as it looks for EDs?
At first glance, the proposed outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) rule for Medicare payment for hospital and outpatient services in calendar year 2007 is great news for ED managers. -
EKG at triage slashes door-to-aspirin time
The ED staff at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) in Martinez, CA, has slashed its time to aspirin for chest pain patients from 67 minutes to about eight minutes by completely revamping its triage process. -
Positive feedback spurs process improvements
The traditional approach to process improvement -- where errors are identified and then corrections sought -- just doesn't work in the ED. -
Increasing ICU bed capacity cuts diversions
A new study published on-line in the Annals of Emergency Medicine finds that ambulance diversions can result in significant revenue losses for emergency departments. -
EMTALA Q&A: Applying EMTALA to behavioral emergencies
The police present at a busy ED seeking medical clearance for an individual they are holding with a suspected behavioral emergency. The hospital does not offer psychiatric services. -
CMS unveils planned changes to EMTALA
In its final inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) regulations for fiscal year 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has included some "modest" changes to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) regulations.