Articles Tagged With: transfer
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OB Emergencies Pose Patient Safety, Legal Risks
Patients with pregnancy complications presenting to EDs with little or no obstetric services may require transfer to another facility. This situation poses multiple risks for emergency physicians.
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Ransomware Attack Can Affect Hospitals Nearby, Create Havoc
If one’s response to a hospital in the community fighting a ransomware attack is only relief that it was not their facility, they could be in for a surprise. Even hospitals not hit by hackers can feel the ripple effect and suffer consequences.
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Obstacles to ED Admission Cause Legal Problems
When faced with this tricky situation, emergency physicians should carefully document discussions and remember they are responsible for clearly communicating about the patient’s condition, test results, and indication for admission.
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EMTALA Violations, Malpractice Claims Possible if ED Goes on Diversion Inappropriately
Diversion procedures should include community-based policies, created in agreement with EMS and other area hospitals, so everyone is handling the issue similarly. Create a formal activation procedure that specifies who must order diversion, acceptable reasons for diversion, how it is handled, and how the diversion is communicated to fire/EMS/police dispatch and other facilities.
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Few Hospitals Violating ‘Good Faith’ EMTALA Requirements for Admitted Patients
An ED patient is admitted, but then is transferred almost immediately. This kind of situation can call into question whether the admission was “good faith” or if the hospital was just trying to work around federal EMTALA requirements.
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Discharge of Psychiatric Patients Is Legal Landmine for EDs
If a patient with psychiatric symptoms experiences a poor outcome shortly after discharge from an ED, allegations of inadequate medical screening are possible. Good documentation is the best protection against these allegations.
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Transfer Is Issue in Intracranial Hemorrhage ED Claims
If a patient needs a CT scan, but the machine is unavailable, should the emergency physician wait for availability, or transfer the patient to another facility?
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Survey Identifies Ways to Improve Transfer of Stroke Patients
If any delays or glitches happen in transferring a stroke patient for time-sensitive treatment and the family sues, a plaintiff attorney is sure to make a huge issue of it.
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Discharging Elderly Patients Presents Challenges in the Age of COVID-19
COVID-19 has brought new challenges to discharge planning for elderly and seriously ill patients. Long-term care facilities still are accepting patients, but they will be in quarantine the first 14 days. The case manager should consider the patient’s needs before transfer to the facility.
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Providers have ‘one-stop shopping’ for transfers
San Francisco-based UCSF Medical Center recently implemented an Integrated Transfer Center. Patient access and clinical units work together to clinically and financially clear transfer patients.