Emergency
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Liability for Hospitals if Security Removes Disruptive Person from Waiting Room
The safest approach is to presume that anyone in the ED waiting area is presenting for evaluation and medical care, unless they indicate otherwise.
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Texts Can Hurt Defendant EP, Even if Messages Were Sent Off Shift
If a bad outcome happens during a shift, a plaintiff attorney can obtain phone records. This attorney may accuse a healthcare worker of talking on the phone to his or her lawyer instead of seeing patients.
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ED’s Claim of Unusually Large Patient Volume Could Backfire on Defense
Defense claims that unusually high volumes led to delayed care can result in expanded discovery, including census reports. If admissible, the plaintiff can use staffing data to demonstrate a pervasive pattern of understaffing, among other possibly damaging accusations.
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Analysis Reveals Slight Decrease in Frequency of ED Claims
ED malpractice claims decreased slightly in frequency over a 10-year period, comprising 8% of total claims, according to the authors of a recent analysis. What follows is a closer look at issues that arise often in these claims.
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EP Failed to Obtain Consult? ED Malpractice Claims Can Include This Allegation
It turns out that a significant number of ED claims involve this scenario — about one in five, according to an analysis of closed malpractice claims. These are some relevant case examples.
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Uncommon Diagnoses That Cannot Be Missed
Pediatric patients present to the emergency department (ED) with a variety of issues ranging from benign upper respiratory infections to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Many emergent conditions may mimic the common and nonthreatening ailments of normal childhood. Emergency physicians must be able to recognize and treat uncommon but emergent illnesses quickly and accurately. In addition, providers must be aware of those illnesses that look serious but warrant only supportive care. This article will focus on the assessment, evaluation, differential, and treatment of uncommon but can’t-miss diagnoses that clinicians should consider in the emergency setting.
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CDC: Naloxone Prescribing Has Increased, Still Room for Improvement
While prescriptions for naloxone have increased markedly in recent years, researchers at the CDC report that the overdose reversal drug is not prescribed enough in many areas of the country that need it most. Further, the agency reports that too few physicians are prescribing naloxone in accordance with the CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.
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Study: Nurses at Higher Risk of Suicide Than General Population
Investigators reported that nurses are at significantly higher risk of suicide than the general population. Many issues common to nursing contribute to symptomatic stress, including conflict in the workplace, lateral violence, a hefty workload, blame for a negative outcome, and witnessing death repeatedly.
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CMS Aims to Slash Inappropriate Use of Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
Beginning in January 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will require healthcare providers to consult appropriate use criteria through a qualified decision support mechanism before ordering advanced diagnostic imaging tests for Medicare patients.
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Michigan EDs Collaborate to Reduce Excess Use of Certain Imaging Tests
The Michigan Emergency Department Improvement Collaborative has identified low-value imaging as one area that is ripe for improvement across many of its sites. The group is developing and implementing interventions that will improve practice in this area.