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By Emerson Posadas MD MBA PGY-2
This is the first of a series of blog posts about administrative and management aspects of the Emergency Department. The first blog in this series describes the transition from one electronic medical record (EMR) system to a new one in our own Emergency Department and all the challenges we faced. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, all pubic and private healthcare providers were required to adopt electronic medical records in 2014. There have been multiple articles on the transition from paper charting to EMR. However, not much has been discussed regarding the transition from one EMR system to another one. With an ever-increasing amount of electronic platforms available, EMR transitions are a common challenge faced by many hospital systems. At University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (UMC) we recently transitioned from McKesson software to EPIC software as our primary EMR system. With this, there were multiple opportunities to improve our workflow and operations in the emergency department. However, as with all transitions this was not as seamless as envisioned.
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By M. Subramanian, MD and J. Haber, MD
With Punxsutawney Phil predicting another 6 weeks of winter, it’s time for a review of literature on resuscitation of the hypothermic patient. Hypothermia can be a source of anxiety for the emergency physician. The risk of malignant arrest or arrhythmia is very high (and should be expected to occur) in any patient with a core body temperature under 32 degrees Celsius, despite rewarming and resuscitation; this is due to a phenomenon called Rescue Collapse or Afterdrop. Morbidity and mortality are very high in these patients, with less than 50-60% of patients survive neurologically intact after experiencing hypothermic arrest. While there are very few studies on hypothermia resuscitation, there exists some interesting opinions on protocols. Let’s start at the beginning…. By Schon Roberts MD PGY-3
61yo M with h/o of metastatic adenocarcinoma p/w numbness, tingling, and weakness in B/L UE and LE X 3 weeks. This has worsened in the past 3 days. He is now unable to walk or feed himself. He denies bowel/bladder incontinence, HA, fevers, chills, N/V/D, abdominal pain. He denies any IVD. He was 3 weeks ago able to work full time as an electrician. He complains also of chronic neck and back pain. Vital Signs are unremarkable. Back is normal appearance. Pt has 4/5 strength in B/L UE and LE. He has rigidity of R arm with spasm. Decreased sensation B/L UE and LE R>L. What is the best treatment option for this pt? A. Discharge home. This is chronic back pain. B. Refer patient to both pain management and a spinal surgeon to evaluate for disc herniation C. Obtain consults from nuclear medicine, spinal surgery, and admit pt. Give steroids D. Place pt in a TLSO brace and admit to the hospital E. Start broad spectrum antibiotics: pt has an epidural abscess By Schon Roberts MD PGY-3
14 mo F, seen 3 days ago in ED with fever and possible UTI p/w new onset rash. She was placed on Omnicef and followed up with her regular doctor today. He sent her for evaluation. Parents state that she has had swelling of her hands and feet. Mother states that she has had a fever for 5 days. Fever was TMax 103 F. She has had adequate PO intake with good urine output and stooling. Parents deny URI Symptoms, N/V/D, or recent travel. Vital Signs show a pulse of 179, RR of 28, Temperature of 102.1 F, and patient has a spO2 of 99% on RA. Physical exam is remarkable for injected sclera, swelling of her hands and the dorsum of her feet. She has an erythematous rash on her trunk and extremities that blanches. It spares the palms and soles. Lungs are CTABL and cardiac exam is unremarkable. What is the best treatment option for this child? A. Broaden antibiotic coverage for meningitis to include listeria coverage, LP, and admit to the hospital B. Discharge home; Pt has a URI C. PO Tylenol, wait for defervescence, and D/C if improved D. Obtain an echocardiogram, start on high dose ASA, IVIG, and admit E. Start on steroids and admit with nephrology consult |
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