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Conflicts Over Decision-Making Frequent in ICUs
Consider psychological, biological, spiritual, and social factors, and the role they play in understanding illness and healthcare delivery. Using this model, clinical ethicists can encourage dialogue between healthcare professionals caring for seriously ill patients.
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Growing Movement Toward More Family Participation in ICUs
Family satisfaction scores increased after ICUs implemented family-centered care initiatives as part of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Family Engagement Collaborative.
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Unexpected Issues Hinder Ethics Committees’ Effectiveness
Conflicts of interests and bloated, unfocused panels can torpedo good intentions.
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Malpractice Risks of Telehealth Still Being Determined
Risk managers should be wary of the malpractice risks associated with telehealth, according to several experts who say the sudden increase in usage may have introduced insufficiencies that should be assessed now.
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Privacy Concerns with Telehealth Should Prompt Review
With the use of telehealth increasing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is growing concern the technology may pose risks to patient privacy. In particular, any telehealth services quickly established at the beginning of the pandemic may need a close review to ensure they do not result in data breaches.
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$50 Million Stark Settlement Shows Risk of Violation, Whistleblowers
The recent $50 million settlement by a West Virginia hospital shows the danger of violating or skating on the edge of federal laws regarding kickbacks. It also shows the vulnerability of healthcare organizations to current and former employees who are willing to allege wrongdoing to get a piece of the recovered funds.
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Controversy Surrounds Exception from Informed Consent Enrollment
The term “exception from informed consent” for some clinical trials has been around for decades, but most patients know nothing about it. Researchers set out to explore attitudes about enrolling subjects in studies without consent.
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When Hospitals Refuse to See Medicaid Patients
Serving the best interests of patients while remaining financially solvent is a high-wire act. Ethicists can help clarify a hospital’s obligations to Medicaid patients, including policies relating to admission criteria, such as for patients with inadequate funding. These policies also can clear up confusion over ethical and legal obligations to Medicaid patients who present with emergencies.
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Ethical Concerns When Calling Security Is Top Tactic to Handle Agitated Patients
Police officers are not mental healthcare professionals, but often are the ones called to help a person in crisis, even if that person is in the hospital at the time. Instead, police should be teamed with a mental health professional to help de-escalate volatile situations.
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U.S. Readmission Rates for TAVR
An analysis of the Nationwide Readmission Database revealed one-fifth of transcatheter aortic valve replacement patients are readmitted a median of 31 days after discharge. Medical comorbidities are the most common reason.