ED Management articles from September 2006

ED Management archives from September 2006

Lawsuit over lack of call coverage raises new concerns about liability.
September 1, 2006... Lawsuit over lack of call coverage raises new concerns about liability Experts recommend a 'better-safe-than-sorry' approach It probably was inevitable, given the call coverage crisis in this country. Now that it has happened,...

Is OPPS rule as good as it looks for EDs?
September 1, 2006... Is OPPS rule as good as it looks for EDs? Experts divided about benefits At first glance, the proposed outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) rule for Medicare payment for hospital and outpatient services in calendar year 2007 is...

EKG at triage slashes door-to-aspirin time.
September 1, 2006... EKG at triage slashes door-to-aspirin time Chest pain process not without snags The ED staff at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) in Martinez, CA, has slashed its time to aspirin for chest pain patients from 67 minutes to...

Positive feedback spurs process improvements.
September 1, 2006... Positive feedback spurs process improvements Time to first antibiotic for pneumonia drops The traditional approach to process improvement — where errors are identified and then corrections sought — just doesn't work in the...

Increasing ICU bed capacity cuts diversions.
September 1, 2006... Increasing ICU bed capacity cuts diversions Study: As diversions drop, hospital revenues rise A new study published on-line in the Annals of Emergency Medicine finds that ambulance diversions can result in significant revenue losses...

EMTALA Q&A: Applying EMTALA to behavioral emergencies.(Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1985)(questions and answers)
September 1, 2006... Applying EMTALA to behavioral emergencies Question: The police present at a busy ED seeking medical clearance for an individual they are holding with a suspected behavioral emergency. The hospital does not offer psychiatric services. The...

CMS unveils planned changes to EMTALA.
September 1, 2006... CMS unveils planned changes to EMTALA In its final inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) regulations for fiscal year 2007, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has included some "modest" changes to the Emergency Medical...

CE/CME Objectives/Questions.
September 1, 2006... CE/CME Objectives 1. Apply new information about various approaches to ED management. 2. Explain how regulatory developments apply to the ED setting. 3. Implement managerial procedures suggested by your peers in the publication....