Emergency Medicine - Adult and Pediatric
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Good Documentation of ED Consult Makes It Clear EP Met Standard of Care
To avoid needless legal entanglements, experts say EPs should know when they’re in over their heads and remain firm about what they need from a consultant. Invariably, specialists testify that while the EP asked for their opinion, the EP never asked or insisted that the specialist come in — and that had the severity of the situation been explained, the specialist certainly would have come to the ED.
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Legal Exposure for ED and Hospital if Patients Refuse Discharge
Some patients may choose to remain in the ED against medical advice for several social reasons, including the fact the patient has no home, or views a hospital room as safer, more comfortable, or less lonely than going home.
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Survey: More Than Half of EPs Sued for Malpractice at Least Once
Fifty-one percent of EPs have been sued during their career, according to a recent report on medical liability claims frequency, the third highest percentage of all the specialties examined by the study’s authors.
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Many ED Visits Documented on Cellphones
Whether such recordings are admissible in court depends on many different factors.
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Sickle Cell Emergencies
This article provides an overview of the most frequently encountered complications associated with sickle cell disease seen in the emergency department. It will discuss recent guidelines and novel approaches to the treatment of entities such as acute chest syndrome, vaso-occlusive crisis, and stroke, as well as new treatments on the horizon.
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Chest Pain in Young Adults
Chest pain is one of the most common reasons that patients present to the emergency department. The underlying disease processes can range from benign to life-threatening. The purpose of this article is to discuss the diagnosis, treatment, and management of the common causes of chest pain that can present in a young adult.
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Infectious Meningitis: A Focused Review
The effectiveness of the current vaccine schedule has led to a significant decline in the incidence of bacterial meningitis. Delays in recognition and antibiotic administration result in increased morbidity and mortality; therefore, clinicians must maintain a high degree of vigilance for the subtle findings of meningitis, particularly in infants. Current standards for selective imaging, diagnostic testing, and empiric antibiotics are discussed.
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Disappointing Stroke Outcome? Patient ‘Likely to Blame EP’
A look at several common issues concerning ED malpractice claims involving stroke patients.
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Hospitals Face Liability if Impaired EP Becomes Malpractice Defendant
Experts discuss some ways plaintiff’s attorneys keep the hospital in the litigation against the EP and offer tips for reducing risks.
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Tissue Plasminogen Activator Decision Remains Legal Landmine for EDs
Most lawsuits involving tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) allege the EP failed to give the drug, or that the drug wasn’t given quickly enough. In reality, a minority of stroke patients receive tPA. Almost all are outside the treatment window or don’t meet the criteria for another reason.