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Anaphylaxis-related Lawsuits Allege Exposures to Known Triggers
To reduce the likelihood of anaphylaxis-related litigation, researchers recommend additional anaphylaxis education, provision of epinephrine auto injectors or other alternatives to reduce dosing errors, and stronger safeguards to prevent administration of known allergens.
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Procedure-related Complication? Expect Supervising EP to Be Named
Lack of adequate supervision and procedure proficiency are the two most common allegations plaintiffs level in such cases.
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ED Protocols Might Add to Liability Exposure of Low-risk Chest Pain
Researchers set out to understand how EPs determine risk and decide to admit patients with low-risk chest pain. They surveyed dozens of emergency medicine residents and faculty about their perceived risk of various scenarios and an admission decision. Physicians used qualitative terms in ways that are different from how those terms are used in typical conversation. This can lead to miscommunication during shared decision-making processes. Investigators discovered that EPs considered any probability greater than 1% for acute coronary syndrome enough of a risk to warrant admission.
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In Missed Appendicitis Cases, Presentations Are Early, Atypical
The authors of a recent study discovered that a triage chief complaint that was less indicative of appendicitis correlated with a higher rate of missed appendicitis in one pediatric ED. The researchers concluded that their findings suggest the potential impact of anchoring bias by a triage chief complaint when trying to diagnose appendicitis. However, one analyst advises that the results should be interpreted with caution because the study authors did not look for the denominator of chief complaints.
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Analysis of Closed Malpractice Cases Reveals Lost Chances to Avoid Problems
A recent analysis of several dozen closed ED malpractice claims revealed failed opportunities to avert diagnostic errors and bad outcomes. Investigators analyzed 62 claims that closed between 2008 and 2015 at a large malpractice insurer, discovering some common final diagnoses in the cases in which errors were made.
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Physician Burnout in the Emergency Department
Researchers continue to quantify increasing physician burnout, tying well-being and work unit safety grades to major medical errors.
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Misconceptions Surround Mindfulness, but the Present Is a Gift
Though mindfulness is increasingly discussed as a tonic against stress and burnout in healthcare settings, there still is some confusion about the nature of the practice and how to set up a program.
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EMTs Exposed to Opioids via Mucous Membranes
There have been recurrent reports of first responders and EMTs treating opioid overdose cases and then falling ill due to an occupational exposure of an undefined nature.
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A Roadblock to Return to Work
While highly publicized drug diversion incidents are frequently in the news, less is said about the healthcare worker’s road to recovery.
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Key Components of a Drug Diversion Program
Although drug diversion may be considered a rare event, investigations reveal that the practice could be going undetected in facilities that do not have a proactive prevention program.