Comments on: Healthcare Update — 10-11-2012

By: WannabeRx

WannabeRx — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 04:09:10 +0000

Just a thought because I’m genuinely curious… Could it be possible to use a device similar to an Epipen to inject diazepam IM? I’m sure someone else has thought of it before, so is there anything available like that?

By: WhiteCoat

WhiteCoat — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:36:02 +0000

Often hospitals will use the threat of replacing a group as a means to get the group to accede to the hospitals’ wishes. In this case, the threat is to either improve satisfaction or your group is gone. Though it doesn’t make much sense that (1) the group staffs three hospitals (and the same docs likely rotate between more than one hospital in the same system) and (2) they wouldn’t just terminate the docs who are allegedly dragging down their satisfaction scores.
I think it’s just saber rattling.

By: Raf

Raf — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:13:20 +0000

IM valium cannot be given by a layperson, though, whereas diastat can, in an emergency – there’s no getting it wrong. Tube in, squeeze, done. Only one place to put it and no breakables or sharps involved.

Buccal midazolam might be a vastly better option than either, and is gaining popularity here in the UK.

By: freshly retired ER doc

freshly retired ER doc — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 06:28:29 +0000

St. Luke’s claims that a concern for quality is the reason for changing ER groups, but then the story says, “Although Southcoast is eyeing switching St. Luke’s ED provider, this wouldn’t oust the doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners themselves. Whichever group is awarded the contract must offer employment to any provider working through St. Luke’s Emergency Associates who wants to remain at St. Luke’s, according to a letter Bodenmann recently wrote to Southcoast medical staff.” That makes no sense, unless they are lying and there is something else going on.