Change the approach to triage to alleviate ER overcrowding

--------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the stories you missed on KevinMD. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors This [interactive eBook]( follows patient William Jones as he enters the ED with chest pains, weakness, and palpitations -- illustrating how a communication platform improves his experience and streamlines care team collaboration. [See how](. A [recent poll of nearly 9,500 health care providers]( shows they are very concerned about the recent U.S. measles outbreak. An infectious disease specialist discusses why there’s [significant reason]( for this concern. [We've talked to practices just like yours]( to learn how they leverage engagement solutions to increase revenue, empower and improve the relationships with their patients. [Learn what they had to say](. See how Vail Health has transformed clinical communication from manual, paper-based processes to [automated workflows](. The end result? Information at care team members’ fingertips, and real-time situational awareness of what’s going on with every patient on the floor. [Watch now](. A personal subscription to [ClinicalKey]( equips you with the latest and most in-depth clinical knowledge, because you want to deliver unparalleled patient care. [Discover the power of ClinicalKey today](. --------------------------------------------------------------- KevinMD Plus: Apr 18, 2019 [Change the approach to triage to alleviate ER overcrowding]( “Triage” is French for “to sort.” It developed as a concept on the battlefield as a way to address injured soldiers and ensure that care was provided to those most in need. In the emergency department, triage is usually the responsibility of a trained, experienced nurse. Patients present to the emergency department, the nurse obtains […] [How physicians and administrators can get to a place of greater trust]( Recently, I wrote about some key findings from a 2018 survey of U.S. physicians by The Physicians Foundation. It’s no surprise to anyone working in health care today that the survey found alarming levels of professional dissatisfaction, burnout, and pessimism about the future of medicine among respondent physicians. Sadly, it appears that much of that pessimism is directed […] [A physician’s first 100 days on Twitter]( Since finishing my medical training recently, many of my friends have embraced their newfound freedom as attendings in traditional ways: reviving long-neglected hobbies, finally exercising regularly, enjoying more time with loved ones. Me? I joined Twitter. It may seem like a strange step, but after years of caution regarding the perils of social media as […] [Chocolate for coughs? Look beyond the headlines.]( Everyone loves chocolate, and nobody likes to cough. So when headlines like these appeared, they made a big media splash: Apparently Chocolate Might Be Better for Treating Coughs than Honey and Lemon. Chocolate Fights Coughs Better Than Codeine, Says Science. Chocolate Is a Better Cough Suppressant than Medicine, Study Says. Looks good, huh? Chocolate for […] [Tucked in: an image that gives a sense of peace]( I need to see Justin before my workday commences. I’m a social worker at the outpatient cancer center where Justin has been treated for an aggressive colon cancer. Seeing him today means visiting him in the hospital, up the road from the center. It’s almost surreal. When I first met Justin, nearly two years ago, […] [It’s important to keep tight controls on benzodiazepines]( When I completed my residency training in 2017 I never imagined so much of my clinical efforts would be directed towards educating patients about controlled substances. As I stepped into clinical practice and took over patients who had long-term relationships with providers that had retired or moved to other positions I began to notice a […] [Telemedicine and access: Leave no patient behind]( Telehealth, using video to have an acute medical care visit, puts some of the power of choice back into our patient’s hands. To best frame telehealth and its use cases, the National Quality Forum published a report in 2017, outlining the following four buckets which I find especially useful with evaluating programs and interventions: access […] --------------------------------------------------------------- [Conference planners!]( Find vetted, handpicked physician speakers that shine on stage. Physician Speaking by KevinMD: [Your audience deserves the best](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Does running cause arthritis?]( In general, physical activity is important in maintaining your health. Many people falsely believe that running can cause arthritis but research show that this isn’t necessarily true. In reality, walking, running or strenuous exercise can significantly decrease risk of any knee osteoarthritis. Doctors are still trying to understand how running can improve knee arthritis, with […] [Medical education fails trainees interested in primary care]( “She is meant for more than just primary care,” mused an attending on my internal medicine rotation in medical school. He was referring to a particularly adept resident with whom we were working. This resident was planning on practicing clinic-based general internal medicine. I wasn’t sure why this attending disclosed his thoughts regarding this resident […] [In the era of team-based care: Some decisions have to be made alone]( There is a lot of talk about team-based care nowadays, and I had seen some shining examples of that, most recently when a patient at my clinic had a suicide in the family. But at the same time, there are so many decisions – judgment calls, really – that we make every single day where […] [Why this physician chose to specialize in infectious disease]( Forgive the autobiographical nature of this post, but here’s a recap on how I started down the path to becoming an infectious disease (ID) doctor. To begin, understand that my first year of medical school was rough going. In hindsight, this wasn’t surprising. After majoring in English during college (with a minor in the Harvard Lampoon to develop […] [Doctors shouldn’t have to find side gigs. Here’s why many do.]( Thanks to the internet, collaboration has never been so easy. If you need to learn about how to install a new irrigation system in your lawn, the resources are a few clicks away. You just need the time and motivation to make happen. On the medicine front, there has never been a time in the […] --------------------------------------------------------------- If a friend sent you this email and you want to subscribe, go to [KevinMD](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 345 Hudson Street New York NY 10014 USA [Unsubscribe]( | [Change Subscriber Options](