Annals Q&A With Emergency Physician Joseph Kanter, Louisiana’s Top Doc

Introduction: Disk Battery Ingestion (DBI) is a cause of access to the emergency department (ED), especially in pediatric age. This problem, if not well managed, may lead to serious injuries, with several complications involving the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract. Objective: Aim of this review is to analyze the literature of the last 25 years to make a decisional flow-chart that may help the emergency physician. Methods: For this review 36 articles have been analyzed (8 articles and 28 case reports), from 1995 to 2019. Data considered from each study were: year of publication, type of study, population studied, type of battery, timing of ingestion, treatment, outcomes, complications. Results: A decisional flow-chart has been configured. X-ray should be performed as a first step in every stable patient, meanwhile CT scan should be performed in unstable patients. When the battery is still localized in the esophagus, endoscopy should be performed as soon as possible, meanwhile, when the battery is beyond the esophagus, it should be noted its diameter before taking a decision. Conclusion: The use of the flow-chart proposed may reduce the risk of consequences and severe injuries for the patients, helping the emergency physician in his decisional process.

Download Full-text

Patient Suggestions to Improve Emergency Physician Empathy and Communication

Journal of Patient Experience ◽

10.1177/2374373521996981 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 237437352199698

Author(s):

Sophia Aguirre ◽

Kristen M Jogerst ◽

Zachary Ginsberg ◽

Sandeep Voleti ◽

Puneet Bhullar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Emergency Physician ◽

Active Listening ◽

Patient Relationship ◽

Emergency Physicians ◽

Future Improvement ◽

Survey Responses ◽

Physician Empathy

Emergency physician empathy and communication is increasingly important and influences patient satisfaction. This study investigated if there is a need for improvement in provider empathy and communication in our emergency department and what areas could be targeted for future improvement. Patients cared for by emergency physicians with the lowest satisfaction scores were surveyed within 1 week of discharge. Patients rated their emergency provider’s empathy and communication and provided feedback on the patient–provider interaction. Compared to survey responses nationally, our providers fell between the 10th and 25th percentiles for all questions, except question 5 (making a plan of action with [the patient]) which was between the 5th and 10th percentile. Areas most frequently cited for improvement were “wanting to know why” (N = 30), “time is short” (N = 15), and “listen to the patient” (N = 13). Survey percentiles and open-ended suggestions demonstrate a need for providers to give thorough explanations, spend more time with the patient, and demonstrate active listening. These themes can be used to strengthen the provider–patient relationship.

Download Full-text