I often get asked to give presentations on what I think are the most important articles of the year. Clearly, one’s perspective regarding what is important varies from individual to individual, however, I tend to gravitate to articles that look at systems issues and those that I think can have a major impact on how we practice clinically.

I think that I have made my view of electronic health records very clear to anyone who’s cared to listen. I think they are great for monitoring the movement of patients in larger EDs (electronic tracking boards). I have concerns that CPOE (computerized provider order entry) through the use of order sets has the potential to result in over-ordering (and will result in higher bills, unnecessary tests and less thought by providers).

Several years ago, during the last Joint Commission survey of our hospital lab, we got dinged because we failed to routinely do a strep culture whenever a “quickie” strep screening test was negative. And we weren’t alone; I’ve heard from a colleague whose hospital got their wrist slapped for the same thing.

The successes and failures of physician in triage regarding waiting room hours, length of stay and consults. 

Why are we are still subjecting patients–particularly children–to dangerous doses of CT radiation when imaging for appendicitis?

Should the Joint Commission mandate all hospital employees get the flu shot?

The emergency department is undoubtedly the area of the hospital that most frequently requires the services of interpreters. As of January 1, 2011, the Joint Commission requires the use of “qualified translators” in the emergency department 24/7.

In this installment of "Rick's Picks" Rick Bukata discusses a couple law suits resulting from excessive emergency department wait times. Should the Joint Commission step in? 

In a follow-up to January’s analysis of COCPR, Rick Bukata, MD, reviews a new round of
abstracts and answers the question: Is compression-only CPR data too good to be true?

John Schedin was awarding of 1.8 million by Johnson & Johnson after suffering from bilateral ruptures of the achilles tendons after receiving Levaquin for bronchitis.