ED Management – April 1, 2006
April 1, 2006
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EDs slash unnecessary visits using interfaced computers, common protocols
Three Lincoln, NE-based EDs have joined forces to tackle two of the most nagging problems facing emergency departments today: The use of EDs for primary care services, and the growing number of uninsured or underinsured patients seeking emergency care. -
New coma scale offers option to Glasgow
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, NY, have created a new coma scale they say is superior to the commonly used Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC). The new scale, called the FOUR (Full Outline of UnResponsiveness) Score, is detailed in a recent article in the Annals of Neurology.1 -
Diversions worsening, trend may continue
Two studies to be published in the April 2006 edition of Annals of Emergency Medicine1,2 indicate that the ambulance diversion problem in America has become even more serious and is growing steadily worse. -
Blood test may help ID more at-risk patients
According to a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine,1 ED managers may be able to predict with greater accuracy than ever before the risk of post-discharge mortality in patients presenting with shortness of breath whether they are diagnosed with heart failure. -
Study: Children may get antibiotics too often
Do ED physicians overprescribe antibiotics for children with sore throats? They do, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. -
Physician greeters? ED managers weigh pros, cons
A growing number of ED managers have begun using ED physicians as greeters placing them in triage as the first provider to see patients. With the creation of a door-to-doc time of virtually zero, the patient satisfaction benefits are obvious. Proponents also argue that this strategy can improve flow as well.