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Emergency

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  • ED staff conduct careful research

    The ED at Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland began considering a new policy for patients with minor ailments about two years ago, recalls Charles L.
  • ED's nonemergent patients must pay first or be referred

    Under a new policy instituted in May 2008, patients in the ED at Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland who have minor ailments must now pay part of their bill before being treated or be referred to one of MetroHealth's 16 clinics in the area. They are guaranteed an appointment within 72 hours.
  • Be proactive about improving communications

    Given the findings of a recent study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine,1 ED managers should take immediate steps to improve communications with patients, says Bruce Janiak, MD, FACEP, FAAP, professor of emergency medicine, Medical College of Georgia, and vice chair of the ED at MCG Health Medical Center, both in Augusta.
  • Special Report: Common Mistakes in the ED

    In an age of high patient volumes, overcrowding, and prolonged patient stays in emergency departments (EDs), the clinician is challenged to be both efficient and effective on a daily basis.
  • MRSA: An evolving, high-risk area for the ED

    This is a two-part series on liability risks regarding antibiotic choice in the emergency department. This month, we report on liability risks involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Inpatient Transfers and Community On-Call Programs: New Rules Finalized

    In August of this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published final rules revising the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS). These regulations also contain policy changes related to a hospital's obligations under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986 (EMTALA).
  • When, if ever, can you divulge your ED patient's HIV status?

    A man with chest pain tells you that he uses cocaine and is positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), then asks you to not tell his girlfriend who is about to enter the room. What are you most likely to be sued for: if you disclose the patient's status, or if you don't tell and his partner gets infected?
  • Robust IT systems pays big dividends

    As the effective response of the ED at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, IA, to the recent floods demonstrates, the extra dollars required to invest in top-notch communications systems are well worth it, according to Rich Head, director of information services.
  • Redundancy ensures smooth operations

    The ED at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, IA, had to be moved to another floor on July 13, as flood waters filled the hospital's lower levels. Despite having to uproot patients and equipment, the ED remained in constant contact with internal and external resources due to the presence of redundant communications options.
  • Flood fails to 'wash out' ED's ability to communicate

    The floods that ravaged Cedar Rapids, IA, in July caused several hospitals to evacuate their patients, including Mercy Medical Center, a 370-bed regional medical facility.