Emergency Medicine - Adult and Pediatric
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Did ED Prescription Spark Opioid Addiction? Causation Tough to Prove
Plaintiff attorneys may try to link a patient’s addiction to an ED prescription, but linking causation to one specific EP is difficult. EPs can reduce legal risks by checking available registries to identify high-risk patients, posting clear guidelines on prescribing practices in ED waiting rooms, and using caution about referring screening to social workers or behavioral health specialists.
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ED Claims Involving High-dose Analgesics Carry Jury Appeal
Recent successful ED claims involving high-dose analgesics focused on failure to monitor patients and improper discharge. The malpractice lawsuits alleged that a patient was seriously injured because he or she was allowed to leave the ED while sedated, a patient went into respiratory arrest because of unsafe discharge, and the ED failed to monitor a patient adequately, resulting in the patient’s death.
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Emerging Infectious Disease and Emergency Medicine
There are many emerging infections for which the emergency physician must remain clinically vigilant. Although many infections may not represent true emergencies, it is important for ED providers to understand the epidemiology, presentation, and treatment of some of today’s common and life-threatening infections.
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Tachycardia
The recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of tachycardia is a cornerstone of emergency medicine practice. This article will cover the most commonly seen supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias encountered in the ED, with a focus on their electrocardiographic diagnoses and treatment options.
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Hypersensitivity Reactions in the Pediatric ED: The Tip of the Iceberg
Hypersensitivity reactions are very common. Understanding the different types, including serum sickness-like reactions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermolytic necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, is valuable both for an accurate and timely diagnosis as well as appropriate management.
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Liability Protections for EMTALA Care Elusive for EPs
Although several states have enacted liability reform legislation for ED care, efforts at the federal level have been less successful. Here is a summary of legislation under consideration in Congress.
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Visit Volume Linked to Being Named in Claim
One in 11 EPs was named in malpractice claims during a 4.5 year period, according to a recent study. Total number of years in practice and visit volume were the only factors associated with being named as a defendant.
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When Psychiatric Patient Comes to ED, Consider Entire Hospital’s Capabilities
An attorney who worked on the case provides detailed information about a recent record-breaking EMTALA settlement.
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Inspector General Sets Sights on ED Psychiatric Boarding Practices
Psychiatric patients are held routinely in EDs for hours, days, or even weeks due to lack of available facilities. Few would argue it’s a high-risk situation for the patient, EPs, and the hospital; yet, the dangerous practice continues.
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Non-prudent Limits on Patient Visits: Overcoming Barriers to Provide Necessary Care
Since EMTALA requires medical professionals to provide care to their patients, big insurance companies see no reason to provide payment for care they do not feel like covering. While some argue that on the surface this is their right to pay only for necessary services, the decision to retrospectively deny coverage is a fundamental assault on the rights of patients to seek emergency care and providers to bill for legitimate services rendered. Using the “retrospectoscope” to lecture patients and providers about care for serious health threats is a disservice to all medical professionals. It is unconscionable, immoral, illegal, and potentially unconstitutional.