Emergency Medicine Topics
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Paramedicine Program Chips Away at High ED Use, Links Patients to Appropriate Care
Chicago-based Medical Home Network is partnering with community paramedics at the Chicago Fire Department on a program aimed at helping patients manage their chronic conditions and appropriately navigate the health system. The program is focused on steering patients away from calling 911 or presenting to EDs with nonurgent care needs.
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CDC Unveils Sepsis Core Elements Initiative to Address Gaps in Care
Agency leaders believe sepsis programs in every hospital — regardless of size, location, and resources — can strengthen the quality of care delivered to patients and ensure their survival.
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Fracture-Related Complications
The goal of this review is to familiarize emergency physicians with the initial assessment of fractures as well as the identification and management of immediate, early, and late-stage fracture complications.
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Lawsuits Allege Delays, Failure to Treat with Mechanical Thrombectomy
Malpractice claims involving intravenous thrombolytic therapy to treat acute ischemic stroke patients are more likely to allege failure to treat than to allege complications related to therapy. A group of researchers wanted to know if the same was true regarding mechanical thrombectomy.
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Plaintiff Attorney May Decline to Pursue Claim if Patient Was Noncompliant
If a patient does not follow discharge instructions, and a bad outcome happens, the patient or family may decide to sue the emergency care provider. However, it may be difficult finding a lawyer to take the case.
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Beware of Risks Regarding Medication Noncompliance
The key lies in ensuring the discharge plan is complete, understandable, and achievable.
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An Admissions Unit Accelerates ED Flow, Helping Upper Floors Better Manage Incoming Patients
Administrators at a Wisconsin hospital created a separate unit where ED patients destined for admission could be placed while waiting for an inpatient bed upstairs. The new unit is staffed by float pool nurses who initiate care while the patients are waiting and help ensure they are directed to the right unit and the right level of care.
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More Patients Are Suing Hospitals for Data Breaches
Plaintiffs argue medical providers should be held accountable for ignoring security risks. Lawsuits allege hospitals are taking a lax approach to protecting highly sensitive and confidential patient information. Three factors could affect the outcome of these suits: the types of information compromised, allegations of injuries, and similar data breach jurisprudence in a given jurisdiction.
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Did Your Department Close Unexpectedly? Here’s How to Mitigate Risks
In the event of a diversion caused by a cyberattack, EDs need to mitigate any adverse effects on patient care. Maintaining paper order forms and manual backup plans for otherwise computer-dependent operations is essential. Leaders must immediately notify surrounding hospitals and ambulance agencies of the situation, along with the expected resolution time.
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Legal, Safety, and Regulatory Risks if Cyberattack Forces ED to Shut Down
Experts offer early warning signs of a possible attack, along with mitigation tactics and tips for leaders on how to properly train staff in security principles.