Critical Access
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Facilities Require ‘Medical Clearance,’ But Evidence Suggests It Is Unnecessary
A patient may present with new delusions, but an otherwise normal physical exam. Why keep that person in a regular ED treatment space or hallway for hours while waiting for a CT scan? Instead, this patient can avoid exposure to radiation, be “cleared” for evaluation by an acute care psychiatrist or social worker, and receive access to treatment hours earlier.
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Is an EmPATH-Style Unit Right for Your ED?
When deliberating, remember the busy, noisy environment of the ED often makes symptoms worse for patients who have presented with psychiatric emergencies. Many EmPATH units consist of designated open spaces where patients are free to roam while under observation.
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Novel Unit Accelerates Psychiatric Care, Keeps Patients Flowing
Some departments have designated space where patients with psychiatric emergencies will be taken as soon as they are medically cleared in the ED. Here, they will be evaluated promptly and treated by psychiatric specialists. This model has prevented boarding, opened more beds, made transfers smoother, and produced better outcomes.
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Legal Landmines for Patients Referred to ED for Psychiatric Evaluation
These risks relate to information-sharing for care coordination and continuity of care.
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‘Medical Clearance’ of Psychiatric Patient Can be Legally Risky
What does "medical clearance" really mean? Does it indicate a patient has no acute issues, or that all the patient’s chronic issues are stable? Or is it both? The answer depends on who you ask.
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Trauma Patients at Risk for Developing Opioid Use Disorder
Better identification and referral of patients with opioid use disorder could enhance the quality and continuity of care these patients receive, while also reducing reliance on EDs and the crowding that ensues.
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During Patient Surges, Rapid Assessment Zone Reduces Risk for EDs
Using this approach, an ED reported declines in the rate of patients who leave without seeing clinicians, along with shorter median arrival-to-provider and length of stay times.
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Leverage Telemedicine to Speed Care for Lower-Acuity Patients
By leveraging telemedicine technology, the ED at Stanford Hospital established a Virtual Visit Track, a solution that accelerated care for lower-acuity patients and helped staff effectively manage at least some of its pandemic-related challenges. Furthermore, it is an approach that might even be more applicable for health systems that operate multiple EDs.
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Federal Council Aims to Cut U.S. Homeless Rate by 25% by 2025
This is part of a long-term plan to end homelessness.
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Working Collaboratively with Law Enforcement at Trauma Patient’s Bedside
Trauma patients and law enforcement might arrive together, raising multiple ethical issues — and a potential conflict with clinicians. While some clinicians say law enforcement should never be present on trauma units, others think law enforcement needs unfettered access. The answer likely is somewhere in the middle.