[traumanurses] Re: ED Physician Coverage

["Vicgray" <vicgray@woh.rr.com>]

We are a Level II and also had this problem. Our trauma surgeons are not in house, but anesthesia is in-house and in addition we employee " hospitalists" who are available to respond to codes in=house and to our unstable trauma patients. We although had to credential them for trauma, since they responded to our ICU cases. but it was very clear that the trauma surgeon is immediately called and the hospitalist only covered until the arrival of the surgeon. This process allowed our ED physician to remain in the ED at all times. This response was tracked on a call log kept on the patients chart in the ICU. I'd be glad to talk with you further about this.

 

Vickie Graymire RN, MS

Trauma Program Manager

St. Rita's Medical Center

Lima, Ohio

419-226-9150

----- Original Message -----

From: Snow Morrison

To: Trauma Nurses (E-mail)

Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 7:16 PM

Subject: [traumanurses] ED Physician Coverage

Hi all

Our last review, 2002, the reviewer noted we had only one ED physician on at night from 2am to 5am.  He also noted this ED physician responded to patients who coded in the hospital during those hours leaving the ED uncovered for the duration of the code.  His question to us was "What happens when a Level 1 trauma comes in and the ED MD is somewhere else in the hospital?" 

This time period in the morning doesn't warrant 2 ED physician coverage.  Our trauma surgeon is in house, but doesn't sleep in the ED.  He sleeps about 5 min away.  We are the only trauma center around and see 2200 to 2500 trauma patients a year.  We also do not have residents, all our Doc's are private practice who take trauma call. If you are a similar center could you let me know how you handle this.

1. Do you have 2 ED docs on at all times?

2. Does someone else respond to codes in your hospital?

Any help with this topic would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

This message may contain confidential information and is intended only
for the individual(s) named. If you are not the named addressee(s) you
should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify
the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by
mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. Washoe Health System,
77 Pringle Way, Reno, Nevada, USA, www.washoehealth.com