Emergency Departments: Avoid the Service Guarantee Trap

The most common complaint about a trip to the emergency room (ER) is usually that the wait time at the ER was far too long.

Some emergency departments (EDs) have jumped on the bandwagon of offering service guarantees: unless a patient receives care in a certain amount of time, it’s free.

While at first glance this can seem like a strategic business move and simple solution to the consumer’s problem, service guarantees can actually pose serious challenges to EDs that could end up hurting their reputation and credibility. Many emergency departments have found that they did get an increase in patients, but due to systemic challenges in serving those patients it was actually detrimental to the department as a whole. Read more to find out how. Continue Reading →

Share:
0

Patients with Autism and COVID-19 Present Unique Challenges for Healthcare Providers, Especially in the Emergency Room

The recent Coronavirus Pandemic has increased stress created uncertain times for all of us but let’s not forget the 1:44 children who are diagnosed with autism and other cognitive disorders every year.  Families of children with autism learn early how to anticipate and manage a crisis.  But when the crisis involves emergency medical services or a trip to a hospital emergency room, it often takes a well-informed treatment team and caregivers to keep the situation under control.  The sights, sounds, smells, and accelerated pace of hospital emergency services can overwhelm the senses of an individual with autism. The following suggestions are prepared for emergency treatment teams, hospital clinicians, and the families of individuals with autism. Continue Reading →

Share:
0