Whether you are a hospital worker or a patient who wants to know what to do in the event of a hospital emergency, the following information can help. The article discusses equipment, staffing, and triage. It also talks about the “29-Minute” initiative that is being implemented by the Detroit Medical Center.
Triage
Various research studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of triage in hospital emergency services. In fact, most research projects have concluded that triage is necessary.
Triage of emergency services is a medical process in which a doctor or nurse assigns priority to a patient based on severity of illness or injury. This is a medical decision making process that is usually performed by nurses in most hospitals. The term triage was first used in military medicine. Later, it was extended to emergency medicine and disaster medicine.
The concept of triage is important because it enables the emergency department to prioritize the treatment of patients. It also allows the hospital to reposition resources according to demand. It also helps in determining the patient’s life-threatening situation and the approximate time it will take to treat him.
Equipment
Defibrillators, electrocardiogram machines, and EKG machines are important pieces of hospital equipment. They are used to detect abnormal heart rhythms and prevent heart attacks.
Cardiac problems are one of the most common health problems in an emergency room. Cardiac patients require well-maintained equipment and a healthy body temperature. Improper body temperatures can lead to post-surgical complications and prolonged hospitalization.
A study analyzed equipment that was available in a hospital emergency room. The study identified the most important piece of equipment. A stretcher is one of the most important pieces of equipment in a hospital emergency room. It provides a sturdy frame for moving patients around the room. Other bed equipment included foldable stretchers and wheeled gurneys.
The study found that the most important item was not available in most of the hospital emergency rooms. The study also identified that the most important item in the emergency room was not in working order.
Staffing
During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses understaffed hospital emergency departments. This pandemic killed at least 25,250 people in New York and nearly overran the health care system.
Emergency department regulations require a registered nurse with emergency room training to supervise nursing care. The hospital is also required to have additional staffing reserves in the event of unusual circumstances. Some hospitals may choose to call on outside staffing agencies. These are more expensive and may not be familiar with the hospital’s culture.
Emergency departments can use a graded staffing model. The hospital may have more providers on a busy day and fewer providers during a slower day. However, this approach is not perfect. It may not be able to handle surges and interactions between departments.
Emergency department nurse managers must reconcile time scheduled with time actually worked. This process requires energy and accounting for politics.
Health plans must cover emergency care
Whether or not you have health insurance, you should understand the rules of your plan. These rules can help you control your costs and get the care you need.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that health plans provide coverage for emergency care in hospital emergency rooms. Most plans do cover some portion of the costs of these services. However, if your plan does not cover all or part of the costs of these services, you may have to pay more out-of-pocket.
You may also have to pay more if your plan covers care outside the network. In this case, you may be required to pay a higher copayment or coinsurance. These costs may also include deductibles.
The ACA also requires that health plans cover emergency services in hospital emergency rooms, including ambulance transport. However, this requirement does not apply to small group plans and self-insured plans.
Detroit Medical Center’s “29-Minute” initiative
Located in Midtown Detroit, the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) is an alliance of six hospitals that provides emergency care to a combined 80,000 patients a year. The organization boasts 2,000 licensed beds and more than 3,000 affiliated physicians.
As CEO of the DMC since 2004, Duggan has made a number of strides to improve the organization’s finances, including the implementation of electronic medical records at all eight hospitals. The company is also in the midst of building a $123 million 25-bed heart hospital within Harper University Hospital. Besides the new hospital, DMC is planning other cardiac care delivery systems for the future.
The organization is also in the midst of a major expansion to its Emergency Care Center, adding 26 new treatment rooms and emergency room physicians. The expansion was also accompanied by a 29-minute emergency guarantee to increase patient safety.
