Hospital Management
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EP Could Be Deposed if Patient Was Misdiagnosed at Another ED
Beware making well-meaning statements or criticizing other clinicians in front of patients.
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When ED Providers Overlook Information Conveyed by EMS
The emergency physician and ED nurse should take the report together when EMS arrives. Listen to what EMS found at the scene, what they did in terms of treatment, and what the response to that treatment was. Together, decide on the next steps.
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An ED-Friendly Screening Tool to Identify Potentially Violent Patients
Considering violence is a continuing concern in the emergency setting, there is high interest in new mechanisms that can identify potentially violent patients at the front end of their care encounters. This way, safeguards or preventive measures can be activated to keep providers and other patients safe. However, any such tool needs to be brief and easily integrated into the workflow of a busy ED.
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Who Is Legally Responsible for Patients in ED Waiting Room?
Addressing misconceptions about EMTALA and liability exposure for patients in ED waiting rooms.
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Reduce Risks for Patients in Observation Unit
Observation units provide additional time to stabilize, treat, and develop rapport with an ED patient with a potentially serious condition. On the other hand, if observation units are used as a way to avoid admission, EDs may be exposed to additional legal risks.
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EMTALA Misconceptions for ED Patients in Observation Status
Once an ED patient is in observation status, providers might assume their EMTALA obligations are over. This is not the case. Observation is an outpatient status, even if exactly the same care is provided as inpatient status. As such, observation is merely an extension of ED care.
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New National Agency Could Provide More Accountability When Medical Errors Occur
Patient advocates imagine a group like the National Transportation Safety Board, but for healthcare — an entity that provides another layer of accountability when medical errors occur.
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Medication Overrides Pose Much Higher Level of Risk
Automated dispensing cabinets allow ED medications to be stored and issued electronically at the point of care, leading to a reduction in time from prescribing to medication administration, which is particularly advantageous in the ED setting.
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Waning Pandemic May Mean Less Interest in Advance Care Planning
National Healthcare Decisions Day is a time for Americans to document wishes for end-of-life care.
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Informed Consent Considerations if Surgeon Delegates Portion of Operation
Surgeons should be clear there will be other providers in the OR, and that some elements of the operation — not the critical portion the attending has to manage, but other elements — can be delegated to a qualified member of the surgical team. However, the primary attending surgeon’s personal responsibility for the safety and the welfare of the patient cannot be delegated.