ED Legal Letter – July 1, 2008
July 1, 2008
View Issues
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Shortage of on-call specialists for your ED? Help may be on the way
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed changes to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) regulations that would allow "community call" programs to be established by groups of hospitals in self-designated referral areas to help address the shortage of ED on-call specialists. -
Is "the ED was just too crowded" ever a good defense?
Crowding is increasingly becoming a factor in litigation involving emergency department care, putting nurses and physicians at increased risk for being named in a lawsuit. -
Special Report: Holding Orders: Increased Risk for Emergency Physicians?
Controversy continues to swirl around the appropriateness of emergency physicians writing holding orders (or bridge orders, as they are sometimes called) for admitted patients. -
Could electronic medical records get your ED sued?
Increasing numbers of EDs are implementing electronic medical records (EMRs), including computerized physician order entry (CPOE), with the goal of improving patient safety. However, not much is known about the liability risks of these new tools.