Emergency Publication
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Prying Eyes Put EDs at High Risk for HIPAA Violations
Ensure policies are in place to protect the privacy of patients’ identifiable health information, train staff on those policies, implement measures to maximize compliance with the policies, and provide supplemental training if there are any incidents of non-compliance by an individual or group.
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Did Emergency Provider Discuss Sensitive Topics with Adolescent?
Protecting confidentiality is the primary consideration for emergency care providers discussing sensitive topics with adolescent patients, including documentation in the medical record, discharge papers, lab results, and billing. Confidential conversations can be protected in the medical record several ways, including using confidential notes that are not visible to all.
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EHR Flaws Contribute to Diagnostic Errors
Many, if not most, emergency care providers would agree there are some significant downsides to electronic health records, including usability, interoperability, and malfunctions, to name a few. But are these issues merely annoying, or do they actually contribute to diagnostic errors?
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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.
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Delivering an Evidence-Based Intervention to Latino Patients with Alcohol Use Disorders
Automated tools offer a viable approach for addressing alcohol-related healthcare disparities in busy emergency departments.
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Diagnosis and Management of Abscesses
Abscesses are a common complication of skin and soft tissue infections that frequently are encountered in the emergency department. The authors discuss current considerations in the diagnosis and management of abscesses, including recurrent abscesses and the role of ultrasound and antibiotics.
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Progress on Pediatric Readiness in EDs Continues
The pandemic slowed progress and not all emergency departments fully adhere to national guidelines, but continuous improvement is evident.
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AAP Advocates Placing Outpatient Pharmacies in Emergency Departments
The pediatrics group suggests this around-the-clock service would ensure more patients fill vital prescriptions.
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Virtual Nurses Alleviate Burdens on Frontline Staff, Critical Workforce Shortages
Across the United States, health systems are experimenting with programs that enable nurses, working remotely, to handle tasks that usually are handled by in-person, bedside nurses. These virtual nurses are managing everything from purposeful rounding to handling administrative tasks that often keep bedside nurses from spending more time on patient care.
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Whole-Hospital Approach Accelerates Patient Flow in ED, Slashes Wait Times and Walk-Outs
To prevent people from leaving an ED without seeing a provider, researchers identified bottlenecks, secured support from leadership, and engaged with all units that conduct business with the department to address throughput problems. Coordination and accountability helped solve flow issues at the source.