ED management : the monthly update on emergency department management
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You can improve the efficiency of operations in your ED with careful attention to design, say ED managers. As a bonus, they say, you will improve communication among your staff members and boost patient safety. ⋯ If you have several units within your ED, design flexibility into the patient rooms so that rooms in units that are not full can be "borrowed" by units that are. Create as many computer stations as possible so your staff can readily access information about patients and department flow.
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There are many barriers to compliance with the National Patient Safety Goals, as a recent study shows. However, emergency medicine experts say there are several strategies you can adopt to help overcome those barriers. ⋯ Standardization will help ensure they are getting the correct information. Put standardized abbreviations on posters in your department, and list them on your medication reconciliation form.