Observational study and estimate of cost savings from use of a health information exchange in an academic emergency department.

Background: Federal initiatives to improve health care information sharing have led to the development of a new type of regional electronic medical record known as a health information exchange (HIE).

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the ability of an HIE to decrease health services use for emergency department (ED) patients.

Methods: We performed an observational, prospective study using a voluntary, anonymous survey among clinicians at an urban academic ED.

Does targeted education of emergency physicians improve their comfort level in treating psychiatric patients?

Introduction: We determined if targeted education of emergency physicians (EPs) regarding the treatment of mental illness will improve their comfort level in treating psychiatric patients boarding in the emergency department (ED) awaiting admission.

Methods: We performed a pilot study examining whether an educational intervention would change an EP's comfort level in treating psychiatric boarder patients (PBPs). We identified a set of psychiatric emergencies that typically require admission or treatment beyond the scope of practice of emergency medicine.