Emergency Medicine - Adult and Pediatric
RSSArticles
-
Attorneys Use EMTALA in False Claims Act Lawsuits — So Far, Unsuccessfully
The Department of Justice moved to dismiss several recent False Claims Act lawsuits based on alleged EMTALA violations. Future similar lawsuits are possible, but unlikely. Still, ED providers should watch the lawsuits closely, since FCA actions linked to EMTALA violations are theoretically possible.
-
Physician Health and Malpractice Risk: A Look at Holmes v. Lyons
If a state board licensing investigation is initiated, it is wise to immediately consult an attorney who is familiar with applicable law. Cases like these are a challenging factor in the tension between physician wellness and the shift to a culture of openness about physician wellness and medicolegal risk. Physician involvement in shaping how the states manage these issues has the potential to positively affect the health of both physicians and their patients.
-
Shocking Injuries: Knowing the Risks and Management for Electrical Injuries
Approximately 5,000 patients present to the emergency department each year for evaluation and treatment of electrical injuries. This article will discuss the different classifications of electrical exposures and describe the recommended initial evaluation, diagnostic workup, and treatment. In addition, the authors also discuss special situations, such as lightning exposures, pediatric exposures, and electrical exposures during pregnancy.
-
An Evidence-Based Review of Gastrointestinal Bleeding Evaluation and Management in the Emergency Department
Gastrointestinal bleeding is a common presentation to the ED, and patients can present at any age with varying complexity and severity.
-
Procedural Sedation and Analgesia in the Emergency Department
Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) is performed in the emergency department (ED) to alleviate anxiety, decrease pain, and provide amnesia to patients undergoing painful procedures or diagnostic imaging.This article will review guidelines for performing PSA in the ED, including suggested training, preprocedural assessment, and intraprocedural monitoring.
-
Sleep Tight, and Don’t Let the Ectoparasites Bite: Part 2
Providers in the pediatric emergency department frequently encounter ectoparasitic infestations. Infestations require early recognition and knowledge of effective treatment strategies. Last month, the author reviewed scabies, chiggers, and lice. This month, the bedbugs and ticks will come biting!
-
New EMTALA Data Show Decline in Settlements
EMTALA’s status as an unfunded mandate and efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act threaten the financial viability of safety-net hospitals, researchers warn, which could lead to more EMTALA violations.
-
Facial Trauma Lawsuits: Half of Cases Involve Delayed or Missed Diagnosis
Lawsuits stemmed from a variety of issues, but when EPs were sued, it was usually for failure to diagnose a fracture.
-
Legal Problems if ED Overlooks Critical Lab Finding
Critical lab results are missed because ED patients are discharged already. Other times, results are never communicated to the EP who is caring for the patient. Despite the importance of critical values in ED care and requirements that hospitals provide for the identification and timely communication of critical results, there is little standardization of procedures.
-
Policies Can Quickly Complicate Defense of ED Claim
Does an ED clinical policy state that all chest pain patients must undergo an ECG within 10 minutes of arrival, but it took somewhat longer? The slight delay might have had nothing to do with the plaintiff’s terrible outcome. But that does not matter; plaintiff attorneys can use it to paint a picture of substandard care.