Diversion is NOT an ER Issue:
May 21, 2007 In the April Edition of Academic Emergency Medicine, a study compared the results of doubling the size of the emergency department on diversion and delay.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
Delay In Appendectomies Raises EMTALA and Medical Risk:
Jan 22, 2007 While the study concedes the length of delay is often caused by the failure of the patient to seek care, it argues that in-hospital avoidable delays for standard surgery cannot be justified and emergency surgery is indicated.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
Philadelphia Area Hospitals Sue CMS Over ED Visit Rule:
Jan 22, 2007 New regs slash reimbursements for Medicaid coverage.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
ED Killer Gets Death Sentence:
Dec 4, 2006 A gunman who killed one police officer and wounded a police officer and emergency department technician should be sentenced to death according to the verdict of a Pennsylvania jury.
Hospital discharge instructions for mild brain injury faulty:
Dec 4, 2006 In a study published in a recent issue of Brain Injury, researchers at the University at Buffalo found that discharge sheets from 14 of 15 hospitals that were reviewed lacked at least one important sign of a possible hemorrhage.
Wisconsin Nurse Sentenced For Sexual Assault of ED Patient:
Nov 20, 2006 A Wisconsin nurse was sentenced to 8 years in prison for sexually assaulting and exposing himself to a patient in the emergency department in June of this year.
$100.1 Million Malpractice Award May Go To Charity:
Nov 9, 2006 More than $100 million in punitive damages award last month in a record $217 million Florida malpractice verdict will go to charities helping patients with spinal cord and brain damages, according to an announcement of from the plaintiff's family and attorneys for the plaintiff, according to reports from the Brevard Lawyer blog.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
Institute of Medicine Report on Emergency Medicine:
Jul 1, 2006 Recommendations for saving national EMS and Emergency Department services from impending collapse.
Misidentification Of Dead Girl Shows Need For Better Procedures:
Jun 6, 2006 One family buried their daughter, but she turned out to be alive. A second family kept a vigil over their daughter, who was actually laying in another person's grave. One can only imagine the sheer agony each family went through only to discover the truth weeks later.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
ED Physician Wins $200,000 Retaliation Claim Against Kaiser:
Jun 6, 2006 A Los Angeles County jury awarded an Emergency Physician $200,000 in damages against healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente on Friday, June 3, 2006, on findings that Kaiser retaliated against the doctor
Minor Complaints Don't Cause ED Over-Crowding:
Apr 3, 2006 Research shows the real gridlock in emergency department crowding is a "throughput" problem, caused by the lack of inpatient bed capacity in hospitals, not by too many nonurgent patients
ACEP Study Shows Most ED Patients Are Insured And Have Doctors:
Mar 30, 2006 The new study has found that the vast majority of adults who turn up there have health insurance and regular doctors,
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
Large Metro Area Slashes Diversion By 74%:
Mar 19, 2006 Study shows Sacramento regional approach shows immediate improvement for all participants.
High Tech Tools To Aid Interpreter Demand In Hospital:
Feb 25, 2006 By the end of the month, patients and families at three California hospitals will have few language barriers to health when the San Mateo Medical Center becomes one of the first in the state to take a high-tech approach to interpretation.
