ED Management articles from May 2008

ED Management archives from May 2008

Can you force treatment on a patient? New York lawsuit addresses key issues.
May 1, 2008... Can you force treatment on a patient? New York lawsuit addresses key issues Case may hinge on whether plaintiff was of sound mind The New York State Supreme Court currently is hearing a case that addresses a dilemma many ED managers...

ED 'vending machine' sells patient meds 24/7.
May 1, 2008... ED 'vending machine' sells patient meds 24/7 Machine offers time savings, convenience When patients are discharged from the ED at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, MN, they never need to worry about how and where to obtain their...

ED adds 'safety room' in wake of fatal shooting.(emergency department)(Drug use investigation )
May 1, 2008... ED adds 'safety room' in wake of fatal shooting Machine saves time, conveniences patients On Sept. 29, 2005, the lives of the ED staff at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, PA, were affected dramatically when a man arrested for DUI...

What does a 'public safety room'look like?(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... What does a 'public safety room'look like? The public safety room at St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, PA, has several special features to help ensure the safety of staff and patients in the ED, according to Harry Myers, director of...

EMTALA Q & A: 'Selectively taking call' -- just what does it mean?
May 1, 2008... 'Selectively taking call' - just what does it mean? [Editor's note: This column addresses readers' questions about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). If you have a question you'd like answered, contact Steve Lewis,...

When exactly is a physician 'on call'?
May 1, 2008... When exactly is a physician 'on call'? In the preamble to the new Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) regulations of 2003, some commenters stated that some physicians may choose to come to a hospital to see private patients...

How can 'standard of care' affect a lawsuit?
May 1, 2008... How can 'standard of care' affect a lawsuit? The "standard of care" often has a significant impact on the outcome of ED malpractice lawsuits, but the way this term is defined can vary according to state law and other factors. "The suit...

Hospital might be liable for physician misconduct.
May 1, 2008... Hospital might be liable for physician misconduct If an emergency physician is arrested for assaulting a patient or for inappropriate sexual conduct, there is potential liability exposure for both the hospital where the ED is located and...

ACEP enumerates signs of suicidal behavior.
May 1, 2008... ACEP enumerates signs of suicidal behavior Any persistent thoughts of or conversations about wanting to die or committing suicide should be taken seriously, advises the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). While predicting...

ED Accreditation Update: CMS guidance, SIG response cast doubt about propriety of some standing orders.
May 1, 2008... ED Accreditation Update CMS guidance, SIG response cast doubt about propriety of some standing orders The world of emergency medicine was thrown into a state of turmoil on Feb. 10, 2008, when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...

ED Accreditation Update: Sentinel Event Alert: Use metric system for weighing children.
May 1, 2008... ED Accreditation Update Sentinel Event Alert: Use metric system for weighing children ED managers who treat pediatric patients should always have their staff weigh them in kilograms, since that method is the one used to arrived at...

ED Accreditation Update: TJC cites meds labeling for poor compliance.
May 1, 2008... ED Accreditation Update TJC cites meds labeling for poor compliance Every year The Joint Commission (TJC) identifies those standards and requirements that were most frequently identified as "not compliant" for the previous six-month...

CNE/CME objectives/questions.
May 1, 2008... CNE/CME objectives *Apply new information about various approaches to ED management. *Discuss how developments in the regulatory arena apply to the ED setting. *Implement managerial procedures suggested by your peers in the...