Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 14, 2024

The most recent study found a NPV of 100% of triage ECGs labeled ‘normal’ or ‘otherwise normal’ for final hospital diagnosis of ACS, and concluded that avoiding physician interruption would “alleviate interruptions in workflow and improve patient safety.”

EKG/ECG 119

EKG/ECG Documentation/Coding Patient Safety Outcomes 119

PDC Healthcare

MAY 1, 2023

For routine calls with individual patients, it’s feasible to track who transported the patient and where they ended up.

Mass Casualty Incidents 98

Mass Casualty Incidents EMS Hospitals Documentation/Coding 98

EMDocs

JUNE 28, 2023

The goal of MMI-LFL is to improve patient safety, educate physicians and reduce the cost and stress of medical malpractice lawsuits. EMS report includes concern for CVA, with variable documentation of face and extremity weakness. Nursing documentation includes the presence of a facial droop.

Documentation/Coding 95

Documentation/Coding EMS Stroke Patient Safety 95

EMDocs

APRIL 18, 2024

The goal of MMI-LFL is to improve patient safety, educate physicians and reduce the cost and stress of medical malpractice lawsuits. He arrives in the ED of his small community hospital about 30 minutes later. The admitting nurse documents an “OTJ injury” with a chief complaint of “My boss made me come.” Right now!”

Patient Safety 105

Patient Safety Hospitals Documentation/Coding EMS 105

EMDocs

MAY 9, 2024

The goal of MMI-LFL is to improve patient safety, educate physicians and reduce the cost and stress of medical malpractice lawsuits. Exam documents that he is alert and oriented but “tired appearing” and “not appearing post-ictal.” Defense : The EP did address the seizure when he documented “not post-ictal.”

Seizures 105

Seizures Dehydration Documentation/Coding Infectious Diseases 105

EMDocs

OCTOBER 10, 2024

The goal of MMI-LFL is to improve patient safety, educate physicians and reduce the cost and stress of medical malpractice lawsuits. Exam is normal except for tenderness as documented in the diagram. Hospital Inpatient : R thigh is indurated and blistered but abdomen is all but ignored. I just failed to document it.

Documentation/Coding 98

Documentation/Coding Hospitals Sepsis Infectious Diseases 98

PDC Healthcare

APRIL 2, 2024

Every year the ISBT 128 publishes labeling standards for essential items that hospital lab professionals use, including blood bags. The ISBT 128 is the “global standard for the terminology, identification, coding and labeling of medical products of human origin (including blood, cell, tissue, milk, and organ products).

Documentation/Coding 81

Documentation/Coding Hospitals Patient Safety 81

American Medical Compliance

AUGUST 7, 2024

Patient safety is a critical concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that 1 in 10 patients is harmed while receiving healthcare. Compliance with healthcare regulations is crucial not only for avoiding legal repercussions but also for ensuring high standards of patient care and safety.

Hazardous Materials 105

Hazardous Materials Documentation/Coding Legal Issues Patient Safety 105

EMDocs

JANUARY 25, 2024

The goal of MMI-LFL is to improve patient safety, educate physicians and reduce the cost and stress of medical malpractice lawsuits. An attorney is consulted and a lawsuit filed against the first two EP’s, the radiologist, and the hospital, claiming that the patient was negligently cared for during the first ED visit.

Poisoning 100

Poisoning Documentation/Coding Patient Safety Hospitals 100

PDC Healthcare

APRIL 2, 2024

Every year the ISBT 128 publishes labeling standards for essential items that hospital lab professionals use, including blood bags. The ISBT 128 is the “global standard for the terminology, identification, coding and labeling of medical products of human origin (including blood, cell, tissue, milk, and organ products).

Documentation/Coding 52

Documentation/Coding Hospitals Patient Safety 52

PDC Healthcare

OCTOBER 19, 2023

When a patient checks in to a hospital or a non-acute care facility, their personal and medical data needs to be recorded. Each patient has an EMR (Electronic Medical Record), which needs to be updated each time a patient needs care.

Hospitals 105

Hospitals Documentation/Coding Patient Safety 105

ACEP Now

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

The Story in Data Violence experienced in the ED is often due to agitated, confused, or delirious patients. A study done at the University of Kansas found that approximately 10 percent of the ED volume at a local county hospital was attributed to some type of behavioral emergency and that approximately one in eight ED visits in the U.S

Emergency Department 52

Emergency Department Documentation/Coding Psychiatric Best Practices 52

PDC Healthcare

OCTOBER 19, 2023

When a patient checks in to a hospital or a non-acute care facility, their personal and medical data needs to be recorded. Each patient has an EMR (Electronic Medical Record), which needs to be updated each time a patient needs care.

Hospitals 98

Hospitals Documentation/Coding Patient Safety 98

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

MARCH 22, 2019

She is a clinical researcher at Cabrini Hospital and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Monash University. You have ambulances ramping and patients queuing at triage. She is a clinical researcher at Cabrini Hospital and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Monash University.

Emergency Department 52

Emergency Department Dislocations Documentation/Coding Research 52

Mind The Bleep

JULY 26, 2023

Good Medical Practice is the GMC’s core guidance document (a new version is out this year) and there are supporting documents covering important areas like consent , confidentiality , prescribing and treating children. Take care to document these discussions in the records. Most employers will have a chaperones policy too.

Documentation/Coding 52

Documentation/Coding Patient Safety Wellness Hospitals 52

ACEP Now

AUGUST 1, 2023

Our Indiana ACEP colleagues have helped us all as emergency physicians in championing the passage of state legislation mandating a physician leading a hospital’s emergency department to be physically present in that hospital. We must always work against a balance.

Emergency Department 98

Emergency Department EMS Critical Access Hospitals 98

American Medical Compliance

DECEMBER 6, 2023

Elopement is defined by the VA National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) as when a patient knows they are not allowed to leave but yet chooses to do so consciously. Finding out that a patient has “gone missing” is a terrifying experience for both clinicians and patients’ families.

Patient Safety 52

Patient Safety Documentation/Coding Hospitals 52

ACEP Now

MARCH 13, 2024

Consequences of this are well documented and include delayed treatment, exposure to error, increased length of stay, and increased mortality. 1 Hospital boarding is the main driver of ED crowding, with patients nearly always awaiting transfer to inpatient beds and now more commonly, to other hospitals.

Ethical Issues 52

Ethical Issues Emergency Department Operations Hospitals 52

EB Medicine

MAY 3, 2019

Nachi: If feasible, map the chronology of depressive symptoms and their impact on the patient’s functional status. It’s also important to elicit any psychiatric history, including prior hospitalizations. Jeff: Screening for suicidality is critical in all patients with depressive symptoms given the elevated risk in this population.

Emergency Department 40

Emergency Department Psychiatric Documentation/Coding Outcomes 40

EMDocs

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

The goal of MMI-LFL is to improve patient safety, educate physicians and reduce the cost and stress of medical malpractice lawsuits. She tries to sleep but can’t and goes to the ED of their small rural hospital in the middle of the night. An attorney is consulted and a lawsuit filed against the EP and hospital.

Documentation/Coding 92

Documentation/Coding Radiology Radiology Patient Safety 92

American Medical Compliance

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

This course will cover essential techniques for measuring vital signs, interpreting readings, recognizing early warning signs of patient decline, and ensuring proper documentation. Patient safety depends on the early detection of clinical deterioration, whether in the emergency department or on the hospital floor.

Patient Safety 52

Patient Safety Best Practices Emergency Department Documentation/Coding 52

American Medical Compliance

MARCH 14, 2025

By mastering these techniques, healthcare workers can reduce infection risks, protect patient safety, and maintain professional standards in home care. Providers can learn to minimize agitation, bag soiled linens at the point of use, and avoid sorting or pre-rinsing in patient areas.

Best Practices 52

Best Practices Patient Safety CPR Wellness 52