----- Original Message -----
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.
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