Emergency Medicine Topics
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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.
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Attorneys Will Scrutinize ED Preparedness for Pediatric Emergencies
Litigation will center on training, experience, and facility resources.
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More Support Needed for Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators
Considering professional organizations view the pediatric emergency care coordinator role as essential to pediatric readiness in U.S. EDs, there is concern about health system commitment to the role, based on the results of a survey of the physicians and nurses serving in those positions.
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Despite Some Progress, Pediatric Readiness Continues to Lag in Many EDs
EDs showed improvement on five of the six domains evaluated in the survey-based assessment, completed by the National Pediatric Readiness Project. However, there was a significant decline from the 2013 assessment regarding administration and coordination, a heavily weighted domain.
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Emergency Physicians Rarely Bill for Advance Care Planning
Clinicians should be aware of the opportunity to provide this important service to patients – while also receiving appropriate compensation.
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Advanced Practice Providers Are Seeing High-Acuity Patients in EDs
If advanced practice providers see high-acuity patients without direct supervision by a qualified emergency physician, patients may not receive appropriate comprehensive care.
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U.S. Public Health Officials Warn Frontline Providers to Watch for Malaria Cases
Clinicians should raise their suspicion levels for the mosquito-borne illness when patients present with fever with an unknown etiology, even if the patients have not traveled recently to a country where malaria is endemic.
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Vital Signs Are Unreported During Most EMS Handoffs
EMS holds a wealth of information about a very critical time in the patient’s treatment and evaluation for that episode. Physicians, EMS agencies, and hospital leaders should collaborate to figure out what gaps exist and develop specific tools to close those gaps.