Nursefriendly.com: Emergency Department Visits

Showing posts with label Emergency Department Visits. Show all posts

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Danger of multiple emergency room visits to different hospitals

If you are one of the more than 100 million Americans who visit emergency rooms (ER) at least once a year, you’re not alone.
Americans, insured and not, make ample use of hospital emergency rooms. One out of every five visited an ER at least once in 2007, the latest year for which the National Center for Health Statistics has data. Among the uninsured, 7.4 percent made two or more visits to an ER, but so did 5.1 percent of people with private insurance.
Well if you want to stay safe and receive quality medical care while you’re in the ER, it’s best if you visit the same ER each time.

via kevinmd.com

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Medical News: Arizona Mulls Checking Hospital Patients' Citizenship - in Public Health & Policy, Health Policy from MedPage Today

Arizona's state government is considering new legislation that would prevent hospitals from giving nonemergency treatment to suspected illegal immigrants.

Under Arizona Senate Bill 1405, nonemergency patients would have to show proof of citizenship or legal immigrant status before they could be admitted to hospitals in the state.

Patients without adequate documentation who need emergency care could still be treated, but hospital officials would be required to notify federal immigration officials after treatment was provided.

Hospitals would also have to notify the federal authorities about nonemergency patients denied care because of their lack of documentation.

The bill would stiffen what is already the nation's toughest -- and most controversial -- state law on illegal immigration. Last year, Arizona enacted legislation requiring police officers to check citizenship and immigration status of anyone they may suspect of being in the country illegally.

The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association condemned the bill, calling it "an undue burden" on hospitals as well as patients.

In a statement provided to MedPage Today, the group said the legislation "would result in a delayed hospital admissions process for all patients, including U.S. citizens."

Moreover, the group said, "all hospital patients would be required to carry documentation acceptable for citizenship verification, placing an undue burden on patients and possibly jeopardizing their care."

It's unclear whether the bill is popular enough to win passage.

It had appeared on the state Senate Judiciary Committee agenda for Monday. But according to the website Politico, it was pulled at the last minute when the bill's backers -- including Senate President Russell Pearce, who was among its co-sponsors -- decided they weren't going to win a vote.

But, the website reported, supporters may seek to bring it before other committees.

via medpagetoday.com

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Monday, February 21, 2011

Emergency Nurses Launch Workplace Violence Toolkit on ADVANCE for Nurses

A recent ENA study found more than half of emergency nurses surveyed reported experiencing such verbal or physical abuse within the previous 7 days. Of more concern, according to ENA, was the finding that in almost half of the cases of physical violence, nurses said no action was taken against the perpetrator; and in three out of four cases, hospitals did not respond to nurses' reports of violence.

"Research has shown hospitals that have policies and plans for addressing workplace violence have lower rates of violence than hospitals that don't," said ENA President Ann Marie Papa, DNP, RN, CEN, NE-BC, FAEN. "Hospitals with policies are far safer for the healthcare professionals working in them and for the patients they care for. We have a responsibility to our colleagues and our patients to make our hospitals - and our emergency departments - as safe as possible. I strongly urge all [ED] managers and hospital administrators to download and use this invaluable, important and free resource."

via nursing.advanceweb.com

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B.C. nurses to train in gang awareness - British Columbia - CBC News

The health authority in Prince George, B.C., plans to teach nurses how to deal with gang members who arrive at a hospital's emergency ward.

Northern Health Authority spokeswoman Eryn Collins said RCMP members will be invited to speak to staff about gang awareness and other safety issues.

"I couldn't definitively say whether the gang perspective on it has ever been raised before," said Collins. "It would be logical in terms of being aware of who you're dealing with."

via cbc.ca

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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Patient test follow-up often lacking, medcitynews.com

As discussed recently (Let’s not forget patient safety in med mal reform) I don’t buy the idea that excessive testing is mainly attributable to ’defensive medicine,’ i.e., doctors doing too much for fear of frivolous lawsuits. Rather, there are other reasons for ordering unneeded tests, such as profit motive on the part of the doctor or hospital, a desire for more information for decision making, habit, lack of familiarity with low-tech techniques, patient preference, and diagnostic company sales efforts. If med mal reform happened tomorrow, I’d be willing to bet plenty of excessive testing would still occur and that some other excuse would be given to explain it. Only payment reform, provider education and changes in patient demand are likely to make a big difference.
An article out today (Follow up lacking on a majority of hospital tests) in FierceHealthcare adds credence to my assertion.
Follow up on patient tests is often poor, according to a review of international studies, an article published in BMJ Quality and Safety reports. Up to 61 percent of inpatient test results and 75 percent of tests on ER patients saw no follow up after discharge, the researchers found.
Poor or inadequate care of patients after discharge can have serious implications for patients, among them missed or delayed diagnoses, or even death. For hospitals, when a patient’s transition to outpatient care features poor test follow-up, a readmission down the road is possible.
Providers that order tests and don’t follow them up open themselves up to charges of negligence. If they really ordered the tests as a defensive practice to reduce liability, wouldn’t they make sure someone followed up on the results rather than leave themselves vulnerable to lawsuits?
It’s unreasonable to expect all tests to be followed up. After all, sometimes the information is irrelevant by the time it’s received. And communications across settings are notoriously poor. Still, the percentage not followed up seems awfully high.

via medcitynews.com

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Many Emergency Department Visits Could Be Managed At Urgent Care Centers And Retail Clinics — Health Aff

Americans seek a large amount of nonemergency care in emergency departments, where they often encounter long waits to be seen. Urgent care centers and retail clinics have emerged as alternatives to the emergency department for nonemergency care. We estimate that 13.7–27.1 percent of all emergency department visits could take place at one of these alternative sites, with a potential cost savings of approximately $4.4 billion annually. The primary conditions that could be treated at these sites include minor acute illnesses, strains, and fractures. There is some evidence that patients can safely direct themselves to these alternative sites. However, more research is needed to ensure that care of equivalent quality is provided at urgent care centers and retail clinics compared to emergency departments.

via content.healthaffairs.org

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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Danger of multiple emergency room visits to different hospitals

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Medical News: Arizona Mulls Checking Hospital Patients' Citizenship - in Public Health & Policy, Health Policy from MedPage Today

Monday, February 21, 2011

Emergency Nurses Launch Workplace Violence Toolkit on ADVANCE for Nurses

B.C. nurses to train in gang awareness - British Columbia - CBC News

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Patient test follow-up often lacking, medcitynews.com

Many Emergency Department Visits Could Be Managed At Urgent Care Centers And Retail Clinics — Health Aff

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