Emergency Room Miscommunication Essay
Communication is a crucial component for many professions in the workforce, but in the case of the medical profession, it is even more significant. Common medical emergencies are often reversible and treatable if the patient is given the correct treatment. "Also, in many visits to the ER, time is of the essence and being refused immediate treatment can be life-threatening (Woloch)". The most common mistakes that take place in the ER are the miscommunication with patients, misinterpretation of information, and lack of communication can all contribute to medical errors and fatalities; whether they are errors in treatment or diagnoses; they can lead to many complications. In the medical profession, communication is one of the principal skills
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Perhaps the patient has been diagnosed by a doctor, but now the patient has been put on the wrong treatment plan due to a lack of communication between the doctor and staff. This mistake could happen because of the emergency room staff negligence in running the appropriate tests needed to diagnose the condition, getting the lab results mixed up with another patient’s, or sometimes it’s simply the failure to follow the doctor’s orders. Misinterpretation of information is one of the common mistakes that happen in the emergency department (Woloch). The Joint Commission performed a study to find root causes for all reported sentinel events between 1995 and 2005 (McKinley). Its findings indicate poor communication was the most common cause of negative events in the United States (68%)(McKinley). Meanwhile, lack of technical competence was responsible for only 20% of events (McKinley). Healthcare staff tries their best to maintain a high-quality care with patients as soon as they step into the building. “Patients should come prepared when they’re going to their doctor’s or the emergency department,” says Dr. Roneet Lev, an emergency medicine physician, and director of operations for the emergency department at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego (Schroeder). When being discharged, Mell says know with whom and when patients should follow up, and what symptoms indicate the patient must return to the ER. And don't be shy, he says. “If the patient does not know these things, the patient has the need to speak up and ask the doctor on call"(Schroeder). Misinterpretation in the emergency department can be
Perhaps the patient has been diagnosed by a doctor, but now the patient has been put on the wrong treatment plan due to a lack of communication between the doctor and staff. This mistake could happen because of the emergency room staff negligence in running the appropriate tests needed to diagnose the condition, getting the lab results mixed up with another patient’s, or sometimes it’s simply the failure to follow the doctor’s orders. Misinterpretation of information is one of the common mistakes that happen in the emergency department (Woloch). The Joint Commission performed a study to find root causes for all reported sentinel events between 1995 and 2005 (McKinley). Its findings indicate poor communication was the most common cause of negative events in the United States (68%)(McKinley). Meanwhile, lack of technical competence was responsible for only 20% of events (McKinley). Healthcare staff tries their best to maintain a high-quality care with patients as soon as they step into the building. “Patients should come prepared when they’re going to their doctor’s or the emergency department,” says Dr. Roneet Lev, an emergency medicine physician, and director of operations for the emergency department at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego (Schroeder). When being discharged, Mell says know with whom and when patients should follow up, and what symptoms indicate the patient must return to the ER. And don't be shy, he says. “If the patient does not know these things, the patient has the need to speak up and ask the doctor on call"(Schroeder). Misinterpretation in the emergency department can be