ED Management – July 1, 2022
July 1, 2022
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Unusual Hepatitis Ailment Puzzles Investigators, Frontline Providers
Emergency clinicians have another novel illness to be concerned about. Investigators are uncovering a small, but growing number of unusual cases of hepatitis in young children that is putting many of these patients at risk for bad outcomes.
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Experts Urge ED Leaders to Refocus Efforts on Antimicrobial Stewardship
Early advocates of antimicrobial stewardship tended to focus on prescribing in outpatient settings. In recent years, attention has shifted toward the ED — and there are many good reasons for this shift.
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To Bolster Antibiotic Stewardship, Refine Culture Follow-Up Process
Appoint a dedicated person who sifts through culture reports, reviews old culture data, and follows up with patients. Ideally, this person would be an expert around the antibiotic spectrum who could tailor therapy to culture results.
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Educators Hope Emergency Nurse Residency Program Can Improve Retention, Prevent Burnout
What is the best way to prepare a new nurse for the challenges and requirements of an ED? The answer might be a comprehensive emergency nurse residency program capable of providing graduates and nurses new to the emergency environment with the judgment, skills, and resilience to launch long and successful careers.
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Simulated Deposition Teaches Emergency Clinicians About Malpractice Claims
ED providers often worry about lawsuits, yet many lack basic knowledge of malpractice litigation. A simulation tool that teaches curricular objectives and reinforces medical knowledge on resuscitation, communication, procedural skills, and other topics could help fills the gaps.
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Properly Used Decision Aids Can Help Defend Malpractice Claims
Researchers recently concluded there is a high risk of EDs overlooking serious coronary artery disease in women. Using validated diagnostic tools can help alleviate this.
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Recurring Fact Patterns in Triage-Related Med/Mal Claims
Some malpractice lawsuits stem from what happens when the patient arrived at the ED — the triage nurse misses an emergency medical condition. If the triage process failed to identify a high-acuity patient requiring expedited care, then a plaintiff could allege the triage nurse breached the standard of care.
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Legalities if Law Enforcement Responds to ED Violence
The presence of law enforcement can agitate some patients, or cause others to withhold information over fears the information will be disclosed to police. It creates a situation where state or federal privacy laws can be violated. Emergency clinicians should consult hospital security, risk management, legal counsel, or leadership for guidance on policies and applicable laws.
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EPs Motivated to Learn What Happened to Patients
Emergency physicians must follow up with patients on any test results pending that were ordered in the ED, especially if said test reveals something troubling, like a lung nodule via X-ray.
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Prosecution for Excessive Painkillers Tough Case to Make
A recent case may have generated a fresh conversation about medical aid in dying and physician-assisted suicide.