Emergency Medicine - Adult and Pediatric
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Suicide Assessment and Disposition
During the past 20 years, suicide has become recognized as a major public health concern. Focused medical assessment and suicide risk assessment in the emergency department can help determine whether a mental health consultation is required and whether patients need hospitalization.
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Pediatric Cardiothoracic Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Part I
Ultrasound has emerged as a critical tool for use at the bedside to guide not only diagnosis but treatment strategies as well. The first part of this article focuses on the uses and limitations of cardiac ultrasound in the acute setting. Part II will include discussion of cardiac arrest, congenital abnormalities, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and pneumonia.
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High Altitude Medicine: A Review for the Practicing Emergency Physician
The recognition and treatment of high altitude illness is within the core content of emergency medicine practice. High altitude illness represents a spectrum of clinical entities, ranging from common and benign acute mountain sickness to life-threatening high altitude pulmonary edema and rare but potentially lethal high altitude cerebral edema.
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Patients Link Errors to Negative Physician Interactions: Important Risk Implications for EDs
In a recent study, researchers analyzed a largely unexplored data source: What patients and families had to say about errors. Diagnostic error literature has, so far, focused mainly on clinician decision-making and healthcare system design.
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Many EPs Lack Due Process Rights; Legislation Offers Possible Protection
Without due process rights, EPs lose the ability to advocate for patients without fear of termination. Typically, contract holders form arrangements with hospitals to staff EDs; the contract holder hires EPs to perform the actual work. The hospital tells the contract holder what it wants from the EPs. Those EPs who do not comply can be fired without recourse since due process rights are waived routinely as a condition of employment.
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High-low Agreement Can Reduce Risk for Both Plaintiff and Defense
Some malpractice lawsuits carry high potential for damages because the plaintiff is very sympathetic. Yet, the EP defense team and the insurance company still believe the case is defensible and want to proceed to trial. With a high-low agreement, both the plaintiff and defendant receive protection from an excessive verdict.
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A Bad Outcome Does Not Necessarily Mean ED Gave Poor Care
One expert offers several suggestions for ED providers seeking to mitigate legal risks in real time.
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Mitigate Legal Risks Before Angry Patient Calls Attorney
Effective communication practices can mitigate malpractice risk in ED settings. Keep patients updated on the ED course, ensure patients and family are well-informed prior to leaving the ED, and encourage patients and family to vent frustration and anger.
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Did ED Personnel Review EMS Findings? If Not, Expect Negligence Allegations
To avoid trouble, create and follow a clearly defined process for how EMS gives information to ED personnel. Ensure that ED personnel receive complete information from field EMS providers. Further, EPs should review any EMS records available and consult with others who received verbal reports.
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When Closed Claims for Pediatric ED Patients Resulted in Plaintiff Payout
Appendicitis, cardiac or cardiorespiratory arrest, and disorder of male genital organs were the most common medical conditions triggering malpractice lawsuits involving pediatric ED patients, according to the authors of a recent analysis.