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Despite the tremendous benefits of athletic participation, there are inherent risks to any athletic endeavor, whether the activity is organized or spontaneous. Additionally, because there are more children and adolescents participating in sports, there are, due to sheer numbers, more injuries.
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The Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET), an affiliate of the American Hospital Association, has released an online guide to help EDs plan and implement HIV testing programs.
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If you've never opened a freestanding ED before, there will be a number of lessons learned, and that was certainly the case for Michael Cetta, MD, medical director of the Shady Grove Adventist Emergency Center in Germantown, MD.
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They call them "medical tourists." They may be in the United States on a vacation, or they may be here for a specific procedure, but either way they can end up in your EDs. You and your staff must be prepared to deal with the incredible constellation of unique treatment issues they raise.
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Trauma patients frequently present to the emergency department for evaluation. Early identification of injuries, a thorough diagnostic evaluation, and timely management improve outcomes. Understandably, high-risk patients with the potential for decompensation on missed injuries mandate a thorough and comprehensive evaluation. This article identifies and reviews areas where diagnostic errors may occur.
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It is the duty of a physician or other health care provider dealing with a case in the ED to give the patient or, in certain circumstances (where the patient's competence is in question), the patient's family, attendants or caregivers, all necessary and proper instructions as to the care and attention to be given to the patient and the cautions to be observed following discharge from the ED.
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In what context would a court determine that a patient was not on equal footing with a provider or institution and, therefore, in a position of weakness regarding his/her ability to effectively bargain?
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If a patient is physically violent, your ED's process may involve the use of restraints and contacting security. But the appropriate action to take may be less clear if a patient seems flirtatious, exposes him or herself intentionally, or makes sexually provocative remarks.
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Imagine being held legally responsible for everything that goes wrong during your shift—whether you were involved or not. Under the "captain of the ship" legal doctrine, could this be a legal reality? Not likely, according to experts in emergency medicine litigation.
