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.” It is well known that NOMI usually has a normal ECG or nonspecific ECG.

EKG/ECG 120

EKG/ECG Documentation/Coding Patient Safety Outcomes 120

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

JULY 6, 2024

Case: A 71-year-old patient with a history of hypertension and well-controlled diabetes mellitus without organ involvement presents with left lower abdominal pain, afebrile, blood pressure 138/70 mm Hg, heart rate 82 beats per minute, and oxygen saturation on room air 99%. These conflicts can ultimately lead to moral injury [1,2,3].

Teamwork 94

Teamwork Leadership Research Patient Safety 94

EMDocs

DECEMBER 20, 2023

The goal of MMI-LFL is to improve patient safety, educate physicians and reduce the cost and stress of medical malpractice lawsuits. But your suspicion alone warrants closer followup than the usual back pain patient. To opt in to the free subscriber list, click here. Stories of med mal lawsuits can save lives.

Patient Safety 95

Patient Safety Wellness 95

American Medical Compliance

AUGUST 7, 2024

Ensuring your team is well-equipped with the right knowledge and training is crucial. These infection data can help identify trends and prevent future occurrences. Conclusion Infection control is a vital component of patient safety and healthcare quality. Access the course here.

PPE 105

PPE Best Practices Patient Safety Urgent Care 105

Emergency Medicine Journal

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Aims and Objectives Emergency Department (ED) crowding has dominated discourse around Emergency Medicine (EM) in recent years and is now well recognised as contributing towards patient harm. Recent EM research priorities have advocated identifying means to optimise trainee well-being, retention and recruitment.

Emergency Department 40

Emergency Department Wellness EMS Patient Safety 40

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 Infectious Diseases 105

Emergency Medicine Journal

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

We organised a public participation workshop to explore perspectives on the sonic environment of an emergency department as well as their perceptions and experiences of the deep listening methodology. Method and Design We recruited six participants (5 female, 1 male) who had pre-existing interests in sonic environments or healthcare.

Emergency Department 74

Emergency Department Patient Safety Hospitals Research 74

EMDocs

DECEMBER 14, 2023

The goal of MMI-LFL is to improve patient safety, educate physicians and reduce the cost and stress of medical malpractice lawsuits. If a physician is allowed to be on call for more than one hospital – or to be in the OR when on call – define the procedure for simultaneous calls as well as when a surgeon is operating.

Hospitals 92

Hospitals Patient Safety Operations Wellness 92

EMDocs

AUGUST 22, 2024

This is commonly seen with Deaf patients who communicate using American Sign Language and require an ASL interpreter. Well-meaning providers who are not highly fluent may contribute to miscommunication and diagnostic errors. Certified interpreter use can improve communication and patient outcomes. Lion KC, et al. 45:446-458.

Documentation/Coding 100

Documentation/Coding Emergency Department Federal Emergency Management Agency Best Practices 100

Medagadget

JUNE 8, 2023

Researchers at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have developed a medical device that is intended to improve patient safety during cardiac ablation procedures to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib). However, the esophagus lies pretty close as well, often just a couple of millimeters away.

Research 73

Research Patient Safety Ultrasounds Wellness 73

RebelEM

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Cryoprecipitate Group: 25.3% OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.75 to 1.23; p = 0.74 vs 10%; OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.20

Administration 125

Administration Blood Transfusions Outcomes Hospitals 125

American Medical Compliance

JULY 2, 2024

Instances of Unprofessional Behavior Instances of unprofessional conduct in healthcare can undermine patient safety, cause distrust, and negatively impact team dynamics. Labor laws, such as those covering working hours and conditions, protect employees’ rights and well-being.

Patient Safety 97

Patient Safety Documentation/Coding Outcomes Wellness 97

Don't Forget the Bubbles

JUNE 17, 2024

Loss of psychological safety and mental well-being persist long after the episode and can impact future episodes of care. staff wellbeing/turnover and patient safety) can boost engagement. Civility is more than just a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s a fundamental human right and a priority for patient safety.

Leadership 105

Leadership Resuscitation Teamwork Patient Safety 105

American Medical Compliance

JULY 31, 2023

Additionally, instruction on the “five rights” or “five R’s” of drug administration—a guide to clinical medication administration and maintaining patient safety—is a requirement during nursing education. Medication administration to patients is done in a variety of ways.

Administration 52

Administration Patient Safety Wellness Hospitals 52

Ziqitza HealthCare Ltd

OCTOBER 28, 2023

Patient Safety During Transportation At Ziqitza Healthcare ltd ­, ensuring the safety and we­ll-being of patients during ambulance transportation is the top priority. Wellne­ss Programs – Ambulance staff benefit from re­gular wellness programs designe­d to promote their overall he­alth and well-being.

Ambulance Services 52

Ambulance Services PPE Patient Safety Best Practices 52

EMDocs

FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Unionization of healthcare providers can create opportunities to improve staff’s financial and general well-being, but may also facilitate future strikes. Trainees and attending providers should be informed about both the opportunities that come with unionization, as well as the challenges that come with managing strikes.

Hospitals 95

Hospitals Research Patient Safety Wellness 95

American Medical Compliance

JULY 3, 2023

Ensuring safe working conditions for healthcare workers is paramount not only for their own health and well-being but also for the quality of patient care. An increase in provider well-being correlates to improved patient care.

Patient Safety 52

Patient Safety Wellness Outcomes 52

EMDocs

JULY 25, 2024

The goal of MMI-LFL is to improve patient safety, educate physicians and reduce the cost and stress of medical malpractice lawsuits. Assure and document the patient’s resources and safety net if discharged. If PA-C’s are allowed to care for suicidal patients, their privileges should so specify.

Documentation/Coding 100

Documentation/Coding Hospitals Patient Safety Emergency Department 100

Ziqitza HealthCare Ltd

JULY 23, 2023

A common example is dengue patients who severely suffer due to a pause in the provision of life support. Though neighbourhood vans may arrive quicker, their equipment deficiency poses a big threat to patient safety and may be more hazardous to their lives compared to the late arrival of the ACLS, ALS or BLS vehicles.

Ambulance Services 52

Ambulance Services Basic Life Support Blood Transfusions Patient Safety 52

Total Medical ComplianceHIPAA

JANUARY 11, 2024

Patient Safety: Patients deserve care from credible and trustworthy healthcare providers. Sanction screening helps maintain this by preventing unauthorized or shady entities from accessing patient information or delivering healthcare services.

Patient Safety 52

Patient Safety Wellness 52

Taming the SRU

FEBRUARY 24, 2024

Early recognition and prompt treatment is key. non-invasive positive pressure ventilation and IV nitroglycerin infusion have been shown to reduce morbidity (intubation rates, ICU admission) & mortality.

Leadership 94

Leadership EMS Pediatrics Stroke 94

American Medical Compliance

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

A unit strategy for consistently assessing the risk of hemorrhage upon admission to antepartum or L&D units can identify high-risk patients and ensure a prepared healthcare team. Languages: American English Key features: Audio narration, learning activity, and post-assessment.

Patient Safety 52

Patient Safety Hospitals Wellness 52

American Medical Compliance

MAY 13, 2024

As a dental professional, your role in managing pain and prescribing medications is crucial, not only for the immediate comfort of your patients but also for their long-term health and well-being. These drugs are often prescribed for acute pain following surgeries or injuries, as well as for chronic pain conditions.

Evidence-Based Practice 52

Evidence-Based Practice Best Practices Patient Safety Wellness 52

EMDocs

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Some institutions developed a tier-based system for outpatient imaging as well which was updated in real-time. 6,9 Patient Safety Considerations Few studies have evaluated the impact of the contrast shortage on patient care or patient-centered outcomes due to deferment of imaging or changing protocols leading to delayed or missed diagnosis.

Radiology 92

Radiology Radiology Emergency Department Hospitals 92

Mind The Bleep

JULY 26, 2023

Effective communication skills will help you establish rapport with patients and build trust, making it easier to discuss potentially sensitive issues. To avoid making the situation worse, get advice and support as soon as a patient safety incident occurs.

Documentation/Coding 52

Documentation/Coding Patient Safety Wellness Hospitals 52

ACEP Now

JUNE 13, 2024

ACEP will continue pushing these groups to work harder to solve boarding issues, to improve patient safety, and to protect emergency physicians.

Hospitals 52

Hospitals Emergency Department Administration Psychiatric 52

ACEP Now

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

For the safety of staff as well as patients, interventions that interrupt escalations before they blossom into violence deserve further study. Our group from Highland Hospital has set out to understand the impact on workplace violence and patient safety of initiating a BERT in a busy, county hospital ED.

Emergency Department 52

Emergency Department Documentation/Coding Psychiatric Best Practices 52

ACEP Now

MAY 9, 2024

It has been well over a year since the controversial publication of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) report on diagnostic errors in the emergency department (ED). Similarly elevated rates of error, and related harms, are associated with other serious vascular, infectious disease, and cancer-related diagnoses, as well.

Emergency Department 52

Emergency Department Research Infectious Diseases Hospitals 52

ACEP Now

MARCH 13, 2024

Emergency departments (EDs) provide the essential service of evaluating patients with unscheduled, acute, undifferentiated, and decompensated conditions. Consequences of this are well documented and include delayed treatment, exposure to error, increased length of stay, and increased mortality. ED crowding impairs this mission.

Ethical Issues 52

Ethical Issues Emergency Department Operations Hospitals 52

EMDocs

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

They increase the risks of hypoxia and acidosis during the apneic period as well as hypotension and hypoperfusion caused by the abrupt transition from negative-pressure to positive-pressure ventilation (10). Case Resolution: The patient was placed on NIPPV.

Emergency Department 84

Emergency Department Soft Tissue Injuries Airway Management Operations 84

ACEP Now

JANUARY 13, 2024

Previously established mechanisms for staff and patient safety did not work and were not designed for this. 4 Anyone complaining of mental health struggles, violent tendencies and warning signs must be taken as seriously as any high-risk chest pain patient stating that their chest pain feels just like their last heart attack!

Emergency Department 52

Emergency Department Resuscitation Patient Safety Hospitals 52

Taming the SRU

MAY 5, 2023

RESULTS A total of 1,563 patients were enrolled with 782 assigned to the restrictive and 781 assigned to the liberal fluid groups. There were similar baseline characteristics and the groups were well-matched.

Sepsis 52

Sepsis Shock Administration Resuscitation 52

EB Medicine

JULY 8, 2019

Another study found a 1-year post Roux-en-y ED visit rate of 31% and yet another found that 25% of these patients will require admission within 2 years of surgery. Jeff: Well that’s kind worrisome. Which again reiterates why this is such an important topic for us as EM clinicians to be well-versed in.

Emergency Department 40

Emergency Department Sepsis Operations Dehydration 40

EB Medicine

MAY 3, 2019

The PSS-3 assesses for depression/hopelessness and suicidal ideations in the past 2 weeks as well as lifetime history of suicide attempt. Nachi: With the staff notified and the patient searched, the patient should be placed in a room without potentially dangerous items, like tubing or needles. Let’s move on to the physical.

Emergency Department 40

Emergency Department Psychiatric Documentation/Coding Outcomes 40

ACEP Now

AUGUST 1, 2023

The weighting must strongly be on patient safety and on expanding the opportunities for board certified emergency physicians. We do not fund rural fire departments solely based on the number of fires they respond to per year, and we should not pay rural emergency physicians based solely on the number of patients they see.

Emergency Department 98

Emergency Department EMS Critical Access Hospitals 98

Sensible Medicine

OCTOBER 1, 2024

If someone hesitated to let me set up my tent next to the parish hall, I could take out the letter and all would be well. I’m embarrassed to tell you that when I was a student, I used to bake my team muffins for breakfast, and I’m not well known for being particularly attuned to what people think of me.

Wellness 118

Wellness Patient Safety Academics 118

EMDocs

JULY 20, 2023

. – Inclusion criteria: Included patients aged 18 or above, who had a baseline NIHSS 10 or greater (obtained within one hour before measuring infarct volume) across 26 hospitals in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Patient had to be able to be randomized between 6-24 hours after last known well.

Stroke 92

Stroke Outcomes Head Injuries Psychiatric 92