Emergency
RSSArticles
-
Does Reassessment Before Discharge Reveal Abnormal Vitals? Documentation Is Key
Dozens of times each shift, EPs determine the appropriate disposition for patients. A well-documented, appropriate reassessment can reduce legal risks and should include proof that the EP spoke to and examined the patient, as well as repetition of pertinent portions of the physical exam.
-
Can Rarely Used ‘Empty Chair’ Strategy Help ED Defense?
The “empty chair” strategy comes into play when there is a potential unnamed defendant with possible exposure. Using the empty chair defense, a named defendant would argue the liability of the unnamed defendant.
-
‘Patient Dumping’ Still Happens 30 Years After EMTALA; EDs Face Significant Exposure
Have you ever heard the question, “What would you do if an ED patient behaved in an unruly manner?” If an investigator from CMS asked one of your ED’s security guards this question, would the response reveal non-compliance with federal law?
-
Center Addresses Needs of Acutely Intoxicated Patients, Links Them to Treatment
Soon, EDs in Baltimore may feel some relief from the crushing volume of patients with substance use problems, thanks to the creation of a new type of facility designed for patients who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and need a place where they can safely recover while receiving short-term medical care.
-
Emergency Clinicians Steer Patients With Substance Use Problems Into Effective Treatment
To address an increasing volume of ED patients with substance use issues, leaders at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore decided to integrate peer recovery coaches into the emergency medicine team. The peer recovery coaches are people in long-term recovery from their own addictions who have received training on how to counsel other addicts toward positive change and facilitate their transition into appropriate treatment programs. The approach has been in effect for two years, and administrators say it is affecting patients and emergency staff positively.
-
The Case for Educating At-risk Patients About Firearms Violence
Investigators from the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis have unveiled a new resource for clinicians to guide them in their discussions with patients about firearms violence. Called the “What You Can Do” initiative, developers are encouraging frontline clinicians to familiarize themselves with the risk factors for gun violence, provide counseling to appropriate patients on safe firearms practices, and to intervene when there is an imminent threat of harm.
-
New Concepts of Ultrasound in the Emergency Department: Focused Cardiac Ultrasound in Cardiac Arrest
Ultrasound is an integral aspect of caring for patients in the emergency department, and real-time use of this imaging modality at the bedside allows practitioners a hands-on approach to the clinical evaluation of patients. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has particular benefit in the critically ill patient for whom rapid information for decision-making is essential. Given this benefit, there is clear application for POCUS in the patient in cardiac arrest.
-
The Evaluation of the Dizzy Patient
Dizziness is a common complaint among emergency department patients. Emergency providers need to differentiate benign from serious causes.
-
Does This Older Patient Have a Spinal Fracture? Evaluation and Management of Spinal Fractures in Older Adults
Older adults present unique challenges for the clinician. Missing a spinal fracture can have devastating consequences for this more fragile population. The authors review the clinical presentation, injury patterns, and unique considerations for imaging and management of spinal fractures in older adults.
-
An International Survey of Ventilator Weaning Practices
A cross-sectional, multinational survey of adult intensivists revealed significant regional variation in several weaning practices, including screening, weaning modes, techniques to conduct spontaneous breathing trials, the use of written directives, and use of non-invasive ventilation in the peri-extubation period.