Informed Consent Form Process & Documentation
March 19, 2018
Obtaining the informed consent of the patient is required in all states before an invasive procedure that carries a material risk of harm is performed. This is a non-delegable duty of the practitioner who is going to perform the procedure; this means that the practitioner is ultimately responsible for the validity of the consent and…Read More
5 Reasons to Use Retrospective Chart Review for Triage Competency Validation
March 12, 2018
Because every patient entering the emergency department needs to be triaged, it is imperative to ensure that every triage nurse maintains accurate clinical decision-making skills that support optimization of patient flow. While the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) has historically recommended ongoing competency validation to ensure safe practice in the ED, the organization updated itsTriage Qualifications…Read More
6 Common Errors in Fetal Heart Monitoring (FHM)
March 5, 2018
Have you ever wondered as an Labor and Delivery RN how many hours during your shift you spend staring at fetal heart tracings? I’ll bet you have never tried to tally such a figure, but I’d venture to guess it encompasses not only a large portion of your daily practice, but an enormous part of…Read More
CASE: Refusal of Care Based Upon Religious Beliefs
February 26, 2018
In today’s case presentation, we will navigate the difficult waters of patient refusal of life-saving care based upon religious beliefs. In this actual case, a woman’s life hung the balance. There was little time for formal mental status evaluation or communication with legal counsel or a local judge. It was around 8:30 pm during a…Read More
CASE: Suicide in the Emergency Department
February 19, 2018
Providing care to psychiatric patients in the emergency department is a challenge for many reasons. Emergency physicians often receive insufficient training in behavioral emergencies. ED personnel are uncomfortable evaluating and treating these patients. ED staff may harbor negative attitudes toward behavioral health patients. Resources such as consultants and inpatient beds are lacking. The hectic ED…Read More
Warfarin Complications
February 12, 2018
Clinicians issue tens of millions of warfarin prescriptions each year in the U.S., despite the increasing use of alternative anticoagulant medications. Practitioners will continue to encounter warfarin, known both for its irreplaceable value and potential for life-threatening complications. Due to the propensity for permanent disability and death from hemorrhagic complications, litigation is common and costly….Read More
Consequences & Patient Safety Implications of Disruptive Behavior in Healthcare
February 5, 2018
Surgery Is a Team Sport As a Vascular Surgeon, I have had the honor and privilege of serving not only as an Attending Surgeon, but as a Division Chief, Professor of Surgery, Surgical Residency Director and Chairman of Surgery. One’s perspective on incivility in the operating room (OR) depends on one’s position and responsibility. I…Read More
Incivility & Disruptive Behavior in the Healthcare Setting: Part 1
January 29, 2018
Many would contend that we currently live in a polarized society in the United States. Whether the issue is the environment, healthcare, taxes, religion, economic theory, immigration, globalization or politics, interaction between competing philosophies is often characterized by animosity, accusations, verbal abuse, and even physical harm. Make no mistake — this has been going on…Read More
Pediatric Abdominal Emergencies
January 22, 2018
Infants and children with acute abdominal pain present to emergency departments, urgent care centers and physician offices with a variety of signs and symptoms. Since infants can’t localize pain and pre-school children are often imprecise in their responses, the healthcare practitioner may find it difficult to ascertain the actual dilemma. Source: Hubspot
The Intoxicated Patient
January 15, 2018
Intoxication! Talk about a red flag! Let’s consider two “flavors,” if you will. First, the patient with an actual chief complaint AND who happens to be intoxicated. Next, the patient who presents with apparent intoxication and no other immediately obvious issues. And for those of you who have not had a busy shift in an…Read More
