ED Management 2006-02-01

Emergency care in some states ‘in critical condition,’ warns ACEP’s report

This warning jumps off the page from the first-ever National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine, just released by the Dallas-based American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The report covered all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Pick a CPOE that’s right for your ED and hospital

If youre in the market for a CPOE, its important to play with a number of systems before making your choice to determine which is most user friendly and which is the best fit for your ED, advises Brian F. Keaton, MD, FACEP, attending physician/emergency medicine informatics director at Summa Health System, Akron, OH, and president-elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Guideline compliance improves pneumonia care

A study conducted by investigators from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs Healthcare System showed that more intense implementation strategies for care of pneumonia patients than typically found in most EDs safely increased the proportion of low-risk patients who were successfully treated as outpatients.

‘Psych ED’ helps speed throughput time by 9%

A new, separate area for psych patients within the ED has helped Forsyth Medical Center in Greensboro, NC, cut its average throughput time by 9% from 201 minutes to 189 minutes for all patients, according to departments manager.

Quality, equipment hold keys to infection control

While developing and maintaining effective infection control procedures involves a large range of issues in the ED, many of them fall within two major areas: quality control and equipment/facilities.

Implants will aid care of unconscious patients

The next generation in patient identification and electronic medical information is now unfolding in a growing group of EDs across the country. The ED managers who are using it are convinced it will prove invaluable in the not-too-distant future.

FY ’06 budget may have bad news for EDs

If the current federal budget package is approved by the House of Representatives without significant changes, it could lead to decreased revenue for EDs, says Molly Collins Offner, MHSA, senior associate director of public policy in the Washington, DC, office of the American Hospital Association.

ED Accreditation Update: Prepare for emergency management committee meeting as part of Joint Commission survey

Beginning this year, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization has added an emergency management committee meeting and a disaster tracer.

ED Accreditation Update: Form reconciles meds, but doctor buy-in difficult

To meet the National Patient Safety Goal to reconcile medications across the continuum of care, one ED is finding success with a medication reconciliation form that it developed.

ED Accreditation Update: Resources address unannounced surveys

To prepare for the new unannounced survey process, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is offering several new resources on its web site. Those resources include a computerized graphic presentation, questions and answers, and a video presentation.

ED Management – February 1, 2006

February 1, 2006