ED management : the monthly update on emergency department management
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Dealing with a mass casualty event involving a high number of burn victims requires strategic use of ED resources. The ED at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, GA, was praised by the receiving burn center for the care it gave victims of a recent plant disaster. ⋯ Be certain burn victims are placed in warm rooms and are covered with blankets. Have a pre-plan with a regional burn center, then establish contact with that center in multiple-burn patient incidents.
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One viable option for reducing the stress on an overburdened ED is the leasing of a mobile unit. For a relatively modest cost, it can be used as a fast-track department, as the ED at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Ranson, WV, is doing. ⋯ The mobile care unit has four beds and also is equipped with computers, a medication dispensing system, and monitors to view digital X-rays. The triage nurse determines whether a patient goes to the mobile unit or the main ED.
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While a new study indicates there may be twice as many elderly patients visiting your ED in 2013 as there were in 2003, there are steps to minimize the amount of time they spend in your department. Develop a list of outpatient links to home health agencies, visiting nurse organizations, care centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. ⋯ Make sure your staff are aware of the unique presentations seen in the elderly. This will help speed diagnosis and care.
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In a hospital ED in Rhode Island, a 96-year-old patient was robbed of her jewelry while she rested in her room. The thief was dressed in scrubs. ⋯ If your staff see a strangely dressed person or someone who looks lost or like they don't fit in, they should question them about their identity. Create protocols for the removal and safekeeping of patients' jewelry that cover several different scenarios.