Emergency physicians (EP) can expect to be named in any malpractice lawsuit involving care provided by a physician assistant (PA), but the question then becomes “Will the EP get dropped from the case?”
How the use of cardiac biomarkers has changed.
Syncope is the sudden loss of consciousness and postural tone with spontaneous recovery precipitated by cerebral dysfunction.
(Editor's note: This is a two-part series on prevention of hospital-acquired infections in the ED. This month's issue provides information on avoiding infections when invasive procedures are performed, reducing the risk of infection with peripheral IV insertion, using alternatives to invasive procedures, giving central line education to ED nurses, and decreasing the use of central lines and urinary catheters. Next month, we'll cover how to determine if your patient has arrived at the ED with an infection, tips for cleaning the equipment you use, and strategies to improve compliance with hand hygiene.)
ED nurses gave 2 mg of intravenous (IV) hydromorphone to a 40-year-old man with severe throat pain. After two additional doses were given in an inpatient unit, the man suffered respiratory arrest. He was resuscitated, but sustained permanent central nervous system impairment and died.
