ED management : the monthly update on emergency department management
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Hypothermia is proving to be an effective therapy for cardiac arrest patients at Providence (CA) Tarzana Medical Center, where the first three patients treated with this modality showed remarkable neurologic recovery. Here are some reasons why the program has been successful: A multidisciplined team developed the protocol, to help ensure chain of survival. ICU staff were trained along with ED staff, to ensure that the protocols for cooling down and rewarming patients were followed closely. Preprinted order sheets, order sets, inclusion and exclusion criteria are hanging off every one of the cooling units, along with the cooling wraps.
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Even if you're fortunate enough to have a new state-of-the-art ED, that doesn't guarantee optimal results in smoother patient flow. As the team at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC, found out, it also requires processes that make the most of the space you have. ⋯ Creation of a "pivot nurse" position, staffed 24/7 by RNs trained in advanced cardiac life support, trauma nursing, and emergency pediatrics. Establishment of a three-bed intake area using a team approach of a doctor, two RNs, and a CEN.