Browse Emergency Articles by Topic

Beware Venting About Staffing Problems

Emergency providers should follow proper channels for making such complaints. There may be a patient safety organization to which staff are directed to submit complaints, or the hospital could view the situation as a human resources issue.

Inexperienced Nurses Placed in Unsafe Roles Due to Staffing Shortages

Because of staff shortages, inexperienced nurses are placed in roles that may be unsafe for patients — and for the nurses themselves.

ED Violence Pushes Out Top Employees

While multiple factors can figure into an emergency provider’s decision to leave his or her profession, receiving threats or winding up as assault victims while on the job easily can be the final straw. Those who work in the ED say the violence in this setting is only growing worse.

Staffing Shortages No. 1 Challenge in Healthcare

Short-staffed EDs mean patients have to wait longer for laboratory and diagnostic testing results, which could lead to delays in administering life-saving treatment.

‘Informed Assent’ for CPR Is Reasonable Approach for Some Hospitalized Patients

This concept was developed to satisfy the right of physicians to initiate DNR orders in futile situations and their duty to communicate to patients and lawful surrogates. Through informed assent, physicians state they will write a DNR order because it would be futile and harmful to the patient to attempt CPR in their current serious illness.

Reviewing Pediatric Arrhythmias

Although pediatric arrhythmias are uncommon, it is essential to recognize which ones require diagnostic evaluation and therapy and which ones do not. Frequently, there are normal variations on pediatric ECGs that do not require a significant evaluation, but recognizing critical arrhythmias in pediatric patients is a must-know for providers.

Repeat Visits Are Second Chances to Avoid Misdiagnosis

Conditions that start with subtle signs and evolve over time are traps for the practitioner who is too rushed to let the situation unfold.

Tracking Undertriage Can Help Prevent Medical Errors

Investigators found several issues were important to track using quality improvement methods, including discrepancy in exam or history between the triage and assessment nurses, along with discrepancy between the chief complaint and the physical exam. Also, they found failure to synthesize historic or objective information.

Legal Implications if Adolescents Seek Confidential Care

Generally, emergency clinicians are required to obtain parental consent for care provided to minors. However, there can be exceptions if the minor is seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections, mental health, substance use disorders, sexual assault, or pregnancy. Several federal and state laws apply. Healthcare professionals are advised to be aware of the laws where they practice.

Many Emergency Medicine Residents Struggle with Communication

Researchers studied how to objectively assess patient/physician interactions in the ED. They used an observational tool to assess emergency medicine residents’ non-technical skills in patient interactions. This tool allows educators to consistently measure several important interpersonal domains to pinpoint the reasons why interactions are poor.