Emergency
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Missed Compartment Syndrome in the ED Often Leads to Litigation
Compartment syndrome is one of the few true orthopedic emergencies seen in the ED, and the consequences can be dire.
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Do State Damage Caps Apply to EMTALA?
A recent case is a good example of how a delay in implementing an order can expose EDs to EMTALA and medical malpractice claims.
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Expanded tPA Criteria Means Many More Potential Plaintiffs
Did a stroke patient experience a bad outcome in the ED? If tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) wasn’t administered in the ED, without a good reason documented in the chart, a malpractice lawsuit is likely.
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Informed Consent: Beyond Signing a Form
The informed discussion is critical to the informed consent process and meeting the applicable standard of care for obtaining informed consent. Thus, the content of that discussion is more important than a signature on a form, which frequently doesn’t include enough details about the information shared with the patient. The concept of shared decision-making adds complexity to the idea of informed consent.
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Evaluation of Bradycardia in the Emergency Department
In this article, the normal anatomy and pathophysiology of bradydysrhythmias in adults will be reviewed, followed by the latest recommendations in evaluation and management.
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Bundled Approach to Handoff Communication Delivers Significant Safety Dividends
Users note that the I-PASS handoff bundle offers structure for communications as well as guidance on implementation, feedback, and sustainability.
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Education, Training Needed to Combat Human Trafficking
Experts note there is plenty of crossover between the opioid epidemic and what healthcare providers see in terms of trafficking, further complicating rescue.
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Hospitals Use Aggressive Tactics to Combat Clostridium Difficile Infections
Although there is some evidence that the incidence of such infections finally may be leveling off nationally, one analysis shows that treatment-resistant forms of the infection have risen sharply.
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What U.S. Healthcare Workers Learned From the Ebola Crisis
With a global pandemic still posing a serious threat to American lives, frontline providers must prepare and drill constantly to protect themselves and the public health.
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The Great Mimicker: Thyroid Emergencies
Thyroid disease is relatively common, but most often is a benign disease with little clinical significance in the emergency setting. However, even a small insult can disrupt this system and throw the regulation out of control, resulting in the secretion of too much or too little thyroid hormone. Both of these situations can result in the thyroid emergencies thyroid storm and myxedema coma.