The Impact of Medical Student Participation in Emergency Medicine Patient Care on Departmental Press Ganey Scores.

Introduction: Press Ganey (PG) scores are used by public entities to gauge the quality of patient care from medical facilities in the United States. Academic health centers (AHCs) are charged with educating the new generation of doctors, but rely heavily on PG scores for their business operation. AHCs need to know what impact medical student involvement has on patient care and their PG scores.

Emergency department observation units and the older patient.

An increasing number of emergency departments (EDs) are providing extended care and monitoring of patients in ED observation units (EDOUs). EDOUs can be useful for older adults as an alternative to hospitalization and as a means of risk stratification for older adults with unclear presentations. They can also provide a period of therapeutic intervention and reassessment for older patients in whom the appropriateness and safety of immediate outpatient care are unclear.

Effect of advanced age and vital signs on admission from an ED observation unit.

Objectives: The primary objective was to determine the relationship between advanced age and need for admission from an emergency department (ED) observation unit. The secondary objective was to determine the relationship between initial ED vital signs and admission.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study of ED patients placed in an ED-based observation unit.

Observation unit economics.

With an aging population, the United States health care delivery system is struggling to handle an onslaught of chronic disease burden. The current process of regulatory oversight and pay-for-performance reimbursement is a reality in today's health care delivery system. To maintain profitability, facilities must be willing to implement new strategies that marry operational redesign, quality care, and cost-effective treatment.