Emergency Department Management & Law
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ED Peer Review Process IDs Trends Before Suits Occur
A new peer review and quality improvement process at the University of Michigan Hospital and Health Systems in Ann Arbor methodically samples patient safety indicators in the emergency department (ED) to spot trends that signal problems.Psych Patient Leaves AMA? Mental Capacity Will Be Issue
Malpractice litigation often arises from a psychiatric patient discharged from the ED against medical advice (AMA), according to Robert Berg, JD, an attorney at Epstein Becker Green in Atlanta, GA.New ED Protections Already Challenged
In Georgia, statutory protections for emergency physicians (EPs) have survived two constitutional challenges.One in Three ED Suits Involve Poor Communication
Can patients truthfully claim that ED staff ignored their complaints and communicated poorly with one another?ED-based screening programs for hepatitis C (HCV) highlight significant opportunity to identify patients, prevent downstream costs/complications
New data suggest there is a huge opportunity for EDs to identify patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and link them into care before downstream complications lead to higher medical costs and adverse outcomes.Any changes in ED utilization hinge on delivery system reform
As the prescribing practices of emergency providers come under enhanced scrutiny, watch for red flags of drug-seeking behavior
With deaths from opioid medication-related overdoses reaching epidemic proportions, researchers at two academic medical centers in Boston have identified key characteristics or red-flags that patients may be exhibiting drug-seeking behavior.Young male athletes at heightened risk for use, misuse of opioid medications
In review of ED utilization reduction strategies, data regarding impact on safety, outcomes in short supply
To gather insight on an array strategies used to curb ED utilization, investigators conducted a systematic review of five types of interventions.Ultrasound for Trauma
Traumatic injury remains one of the most important and persistent causes for morbidity and mortality in the United States. The establishment of a trauma team that is available to evaluate and manage trauma quickly and efficiently during the very critical first minutes after the injured patient arrives at the hospital has significantly improved survival and dramatically reduced sequelae from these injuries. An important component of this expedited evaluation has been the recognition of the utility of ultrasound to augment the imaging and triage of the injured patient. In this well-researched monograph, the authors describe this rapidly growing modality and its many applications. All members of the trauma team should be familiar with the indications and limitations of this important trauma tool.