Emergency Medicine Topics
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Irritable Patient Behavior Affects Emergency Nursing Assessments
For encounters during which the patient exhibited irritable behavior, nurses reported more anger and unease. They also judged the patients as likely to exaggerate pain, as poorer historians, and less likely to cooperate and return to work and recover. In their documentation, nurses were more likely to use negative descriptions of patients and more likely to omit information, such as whether tests were ordered.
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Is ED Patient Rude or Insulting? Risk Mitigation Needed
Patients who behave in this manner could be at risk for a missed diagnosis caused by poor communication with the treatment team. They may be so difficult to tolerate that they receive less attention and nursing care than they would have otherwise. The best approach is to recognize the risks with these types of patients and mitigate them.
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Emergency Medicine Residents Should Be Aware of Legal Exposure
To alleviate malpractice risks involving residents, attendings should implement a reasonable and adequate plan for the patient along with the resident; review the patient’s lab and imaging results; and, ultimately, be the decision-maker as to the patient’s ultimate disposition.
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CDC Unveils Sepsis Core Elements Initiative to Address Gaps in Care
Agency leaders believe sepsis programs in every hospital — regardless of size, location, and resources — can strengthen the quality of care delivered to patients and ensure their survival.
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Paramedicine Program Chips Away at High ED Use, Links Patients to Appropriate Care
Chicago-based Medical Home Network is partnering with community paramedics at the Chicago Fire Department on a program aimed at helping patients manage their chronic conditions and appropriately navigate the health system. The program is focused on steering patients away from calling 911 or presenting to EDs with nonurgent care needs.
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Housing Instability Increases Likelihood of Discharge Against Medical Advice
It is important for emergency medicine providers to recognize that patients facing housing instability might be more inclined to self-discharge, even when dealing with severe medical conditions.
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EDs Can Make Discharges Against Medical Advice Safer
Recognizing a discharge as higher risk could encourage physicians and care providers to engage in risk assessment and risk reduction.
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Fracture-Related Complications
The goal of this review is to familiarize emergency physicians with the initial assessment of fractures as well as the identification and management of immediate, early, and late-stage fracture complications.
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Did Your Department Close Unexpectedly? Here’s How to Mitigate Risks
In the event of a diversion caused by a cyberattack, EDs need to mitigate any adverse effects on patient care. Maintaining paper order forms and manual backup plans for otherwise computer-dependent operations is essential. Leaders must immediately notify surrounding hospitals and ambulance agencies of the situation, along with the expected resolution time.
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More Patients Are Suing Hospitals for Data Breaches
Plaintiffs argue medical providers should be held accountable for ignoring security risks. Lawsuits allege hospitals are taking a lax approach to protecting highly sensitive and confidential patient information. Three factors could affect the outcome of these suits: the types of information compromised, allegations of injuries, and similar data breach jurisprudence in a given jurisdiction.