10 Secrets About Bites and Stings
July 4, 2016
The majority of animal and insect bites and stings are harmless and can be managed at home. However, there are many that can cause a medical concern, some more acute than others. Read these 10 secrets to brush up on your approach to the patient who presents with a bite or sting this summer. Most…Read More
5 Low Back Pain Diagnoses You Don’t Want to Miss
June 12, 2016
Only the common cold prompts more people to see a practitioner than acute low back pain. Most people will suffer with low back pain at least once in their lives, and it is estimated that 2% to 3% of all ED visits are for acute non-traumatic back pain. With costs exceeding $90 billion per year,…Read More
Violence in Healthcare Part 1: Risk Factors & Warning Signs
June 6, 2016
Pinched, pushed, punched, or even stabbed, shot or killed. Nearly every healthcare worker has been a victim or knows a coworker who has been a victim of workplace violence. Workplace violence represents a serious health and safety concern for all employees, but healthcare workers in particular face significant risk. Health and social service industries account for…Read More
Case: Atypical Presentation of Acute Ischemic Heart Disease in Women
May 13, 2016
A 35-year-old female presents at 0321 by ambulance with a complaint of chest pain. The records show EMS arriving at her house and finding the patient on the couch. Download Audio Case Review Download as PDF EMT Notes Patient appears to be anxious and hyperventilating. Encouraged patient to slow breathing down. VS obtained: Pulse 120;…Read More
The Diagnostic Process: Rediscovering the Basic Steps
May 2, 2016
Arriving at the correct diagnosis sometimes follows a short and simple journey. Consider the classic case of shingles, for example, where the one-step process consists of recognizing the tell-tale pattern of vesicular lesions. Contrast the rash of shingles with the more elusive symptoms of chest pain, headache, or weakness, which usually require a multi-step approach…Read More
Case of Diagnostic Error
March 28, 2016
A 78-year-old man, Mr. S, came to the emergency department with the chief complaint of abdominal pain. He was an active person, residing in the independent living section of a retirement complex. He described the pain as an ache in the mid and lower abdomen that had been present for several days. The pain did not radiate….Read More
Acute Appendicitis: Surgery vs. Conservative Antibiotic Approach
March 21, 2016
There is a new risk and safety issue in the world of appendicitis. In this issue of TSG Quarterly, we explore the issue of conservative, antibiotic-first management of acute appendicitis with appendectomy reserved for treatment failures. Is it the new standard? Have you proactively addressed this issue with your emergency medicine and surgical practitioners? It…Read More
An Overview of Pediatric Malpractice
March 7, 2016
The practice of pediatrics is relatively unique from a risk management perspective. One study placed the risks associated with the practice of pediatrics relative to other specialties as 25th out of 26 specialties with regard to the risk of being sued. However, although the risk of being sued is relatively low, another study found that…Read More
Thoracic Aortic Dissection: The Great Masquerader
February 29, 2016
Not all chest pain is a heart attack. While acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may be the most common serious cause of chest pain, clinicians must keep other dangerous conditions in the differential diagnosis and eliminate the possibilities based on the patient’s history, risk stratification, physical exam and diagnostic testing. One of the most dramatic and…Read More
7 Strategies to Reduce Hospital Readmissions
February 16, 2016
Preventable hospital readmissions cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year. As we move further into the age of healthcare reform, practitioners will feel rising pressure to reduce costs and decrease unnecessary and preventable re-hospitalizations. Providers cannot and should not avoid the readmission of patients when medical or surgical situations require inpatient care. However, a fair…Read More
