ED Legal Letter – October 1, 2008
October 1, 2008
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Inpatient Transfers and Community On-Call Programs: New Rules Finalized
In August of this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published final rules revising the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS). These regulations also contain policy changes related to a hospital's obligations under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986 (EMTALA). -
MRSA: An evolving, high-risk area for the ED
This is a two-part series on liability risks regarding antibiotic choice in the emergency department. This month, we report on liability risks involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. -
Special Report: Common Mistakes in the ED
In an age of high patient volumes, overcrowding, and prolonged patient stays in emergency departments (EDs), the clinician is challenged to be both efficient and effective on a daily basis. -
When, if ever, can you divulge your ED patient's HIV status?
A man with chest pain tells you that he uses cocaine and is positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), then asks you to not tell his girlfriend who is about to enter the room. What are you most likely to be sued for: if you disclose the patient's status, or if you don't tell and his partner gets infected?