In this Issue: 
  • Workforce
  • Best Practices: The Use of Scribes in the Emergency Department
  • Innovations: An Underutilized Resource: Nurse Practitioners in the ED
  • Perspectives: Silent No More: Ending Violence Against Nurses in the ED
  • Focus on Urgent Matters Learning Network II: St. Francis Hospital

Workforce

The healthcare workforce serves as the backbone of the nation’s healthcare system.  The right mix of health professionals increases the quality of care provided and promotes greater efficiency in emergency department operations.  Healthcare providers are continually adapting to new technology, care delivery models, and changes in demand.  This issue of the Urgent Matters E-Newsletter examines three topics related to emergency department workforce: the use of scribes; the role of nurse practitioners; and violence against emergency department nurses.

Best Practices

The Use of Scribes in the ED
As medical director of San Gabriel Valley Medical Center’s Emergency Department in San Gabriel, California, Rick Bukata, MD, employs a simple rule of thumb: quality, safety, revenue, efficiency, and morale increase whenever clinicians are doing work that’s “worthy of their degree.” read more>>
 
Innovations

 An Underutilized Resource: Nurse Practitioners in the ED
The reality of today’s health care delivery system is that an increasing amount of care administered in the nation’s emergency departments (ED) is not urgent or emergent. More and more, ED patient populations are comprised of individuals — some without insurance who have nowhere else to go and some with insurance who do not have a primary care doctor — are presenting with conditions that don’t require the expertise of physicians. read more>>
Perspectives
 
Silent No More: Ending Violence Against Nurses in the ED
The kick came suddenly and without warning. Late one evening in the emergency department (ED) of a large, level I trauma hospital in Dallas, my best friend, and fellow nurse, was alone with a recently arrived psychiatric patient when she felt the blow. Like a wrecking ball to the gut, the force of the patient’s foot sent her flying across the room and into a wall. Luckily, she came away relatively unscathed and only a little shaken up, but I remember the story like it happened yesterday, and still cringe when telling it. read more>>
Focus on Urgent Matters Learning Network II
 
St. Francis Hospital
St. Francis is a community hospital located in Indianapolis, Indiana.  It is the newest general hospital in the area and features the only full-service cardiac and vascular care program on the City's south side.  The desire to shorten emergency department (ED) length of stay and improve patient satisfaction prompted the organization to become involved with Urgent Matters Learning Network II.  “We represent community hospitals and the unique issues they face,” said Patty Heffner, RN, Manager, Emergency Services-Indianapolis Campus, and Project Director for Urgent Matters. read more>>