ED Legal Letter – August 1, 2018
August 1, 2018
View Issues
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More Than Half of ED Claims Diagnosis-related
It’s especially important in the ED setting that timing is documented throughout the entire duration of a patient’s visit.
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If Family Gets Only Silence After Bad Outcome, Plaintiff Attorney Likely Next Call
At one Ohio facility, a team communicates dire news to families. This team includes a risk manager, an ombudsman, and usually one clinician such as a director or another physician who is experienced in communicating bad news.
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Legal Implications for ED if Scribes Used for Documentation
By relying on scribes to document, EPs presumably can spend more time focusing on the patient and include more detailed documentation in the ED chart. On the other hand, scribes can potentially increase legal exposure for EPs.
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Beware Exposure if ‘Bouncebacks’ Don’t Return to Same ED
Most EDs track return visits — cases in which patients come back with new or worsening symptoms. But what if that patient goes to a different ED? Investigators recently examined this question.
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EP’s Independent Contractor Status Doesn’t Always Limit Hospital Malpractice Exposure
Often, hospitals and EPs are named jointly in malpractice litigation. The EP defendant’s status, as either a hospital employee or independent contractor, can determine whether the hospital is liable.
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Is Intoxicated Patient ‘Just Another Drunk,’ or Someone With Unsuspected Critical Illness?
About 1% of patients who arrived to the ED for uncomplicated alcohol intoxication required critical care resources during their encounter, according to a recent study.