-
Emergency practitioners must understand patients rights regarding informed consent. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can be lifesaving, and any delay in obtaining consent may have devastating consequences to the patient. Emergency physicians have an obligation to make decisive and rapid treatment decisions. In addition, they must know when patients can refuse treatment and when consent is not needed. Finally, patients can and do refuse treatments that may be lifesaving. The emergency physician must ensure that the patient is competent to make these decisions. A mistake will bring the wrath of disgruntled family members who undoubtedly will bring suit for negligence. This issue of
ED Legal Letter illustrates the issues that emergency physicians encounter regarding informed consent and the exceptions that may apply.
-
-
In an effort to persuade cash-strapped states not to reduce or eliminate their Medicaid hospice benefits, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization delivered a strong argument to state policy-makers: Cut hospice programs for the poor, and youll end up spending almost $300 million a year in additional hospital days, nursing home care, and drug costs.
-
The growth of palliative care and the development of palliative medicine consultation services are major end-of-life trends with huge implications for Americas hospice industry.
-
While virtually every hospice has a medical director, a surprising number of hospices are employing full-time medical directors, suggesting that hospices are placing a greater emphasis on the role of their top physicians.
-
-
Medicare has established the following rules to guide physicians in billing for care plan oversight.
-
While you still need to make sure you comply with the standards of both the Oakbrook Terrace, IL-based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and the New York City-based Community Health Accreditation Program, Joint Commission-accredited organizations will have to undergo some cultural changes in the way they prepare for a survey.
-
As hospitals continue their efforts to comply with the National Patient Safety Goals issued by the Oakbrook Terrace, IL-based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, some risk management and quality assurance experts are issuing a strong warning: Dont go overboard with your efforts to write new policies and procedures because they can create unnecessary liability risks.
-
Using a universal consent form for multiple procedures anticipated for a patient can nearly double the consent rate for most of the invasive procedures performed in an intensive care unit, according to researchers in Chicago. But observers say the tactic may violate the spirit of the informed consent process.
