Healthcare Update Satellite — 12-30-2013

More updates on my other blog at DrWhiteCoat.com North Las Vegas VA Hospital emergency department repeatedly “disrespected and mistreated” a 78 year old diabetic volunteer with more than 5,000 hours of service at local VA facilities. A few weeks after two visits for a colon problem, the patient died in a hospice. When the patient’s friend went to get video of the events from the emergency department, the footage had been erased. What types of things do Australian emergency departments see on Christmas? Stonefish stings, jet ski accidents, inhaled foreign bodies … not that different from the US, although I had no idea what a stonefish was until I looked it up. Kind of reminds me of my sister. Back in the US, some emergency physicians are noting “desperate” behavior during the holidays from patients looking to cope with loneliness – manifesting itself in excess drug and alcohol use, excessive sleep, and angry moods. Other physicians see this behavior every day. And back to Australia again … Now Press Ganey is “global,” ranking emergency departments in Australia. Seems like the hospital in the article cut waiting times by doing a lot of things we already do in the US. One thing we aren’t doing, though is seeing patients in order of arrival instead of triaging patients first. Little uneasy with that concept. “Yes, Mr. Dwyer, you do seem to be having a heart attack, but there was a family of four patients registered ahead of you in the emergency departm...
Source: WhiteCoat's Call Room - Category: Emergency Medicine Doctors Authors: Tags: Healthcare Update Source Type: blogs