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Thin Evidence Supporting the Obesity Paradox in STEMI
This largest-to-date analysis of six randomized studies of ST-elevation myocardial infarction revealed no association between body mass index and infarct size, one-year mortality, or heart failure hospitalization.
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Benefits of Exercise in Established Atrial Fibrillation
A large, long-term, prospective, Norwegian population study of patients with established atrial fibrillation revealed physical activity at or above recommended levels reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality vs. atrial fibrillation patients who are inactive.
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Warfarin vs. DOAC for Left Ventricular Thrombi
A large, multicenter, observational study of the relative efficacy of warfarin vs. direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for left ventricular thrombi has shown that DOAC use is associated with a higher risk of embolic events than warfarin. Investigators advised caution with off-label use of DOACs.
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Does Anticoagulant Therapy Affect Outcomes in Left Ventricular Mural Thrombus Patients?
Left ventricular thrombus is an uncommon finding but one associated with a high incidence of all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac and embolic events. Total regression of left ventricular thrombus on anticoagulant therapy reduced mortality.
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Liability Protection Not Absolute for ED Volunteers
Volunteer emergency department providers should verify their malpractice insurance covers voluntary service. Hospitals should check that volunteer providers are covered under the hospital’s malpractice insurance. Additionally, leaders should look to relevant state law to determine the extent of liability protections related to volunteers.
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Psychiatric Patients Pose Unique Legal Risks During Pandemic
If an emergency department is packed with respiratory patients, psychiatric patients could end up boarded for hours or days. This is not good for patients, and creates liability exposure.
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Delayed Care, Misdiagnoses Still Happening, Regardless of COVID-19 Surges
Just because there are surges of respiratory patients in the emergency department does not mean there are any fewer stroke, heart attack, or septic patients. There will not be fewer lawsuits, either, if any of these patients receive delayed care or are misdiagnosed.
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No ICU Bed? ED Patients ‘Fall into Black Hole’
In terms of malpractice, the main question is going to be: Did the emergency department (ED) patient receive treatment as fast as he or she should have, given the relevant circumstances? EDs in known COVID-19 hotspots with long waits for intensive care unit beds probably will be treated somewhat differently than smaller community EDs, where it was mostly business as usual.
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Enforcement Action Likely if Hospital Retaliates Against ED Staff
Some emergency department doctors and nurses allege they were disciplined or fired after complaining about inadequate personal protective equipment, or for refusing to treat COVID-19 patients without N95 masks.
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Hospitals Bracing for Litigation from Infected ED Providers
Hospitals expect plenty of litigation from emergency department (ED) providers who have contracted COVID-19, often while working without adequate personal protective equipment. Read on to see some claims that ED nurses, ED staff, or emergency physicians may bring against hospitals.