The American journal of emergency medicine
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We evaluate physician productivity using electronic medical records in a community hospital emergency department. ⋯ Emergency department physicians spend significantly more time entering data into electronic medical records than on any other activity, including direct patient care. Improved efficiency in data entry would allow emergency physicians to devote more time to patient care, thus increasing hospital revenue.
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Digitized assessment of the degree of consciousness is a universal challenge in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). The middle latency auditory-evoked potential index (MLAEPi) monitor aepEX plus (Audiomex, Glasgow, Scotland, UK) is the first mobile middle latency auditory-evoked potential monitor. We speculated that the initial MLAEPi determined on arrival at EDs could indicate cerebral function and predict the degree of consciousness of comatose patients. ⋯ The MLAEPi (simple numerical value) may be used to evaluate the degree of consciousness in comatose patients while performing emergency care in EDs.