Waiting to Be Seen: Where EM Policy Meets Practice is an EM Cases blog series, authored by Dr. Howard Ovens, a veteran Emergency Department Director, whose main purpose is to share ideas and generate discussion on the role that public policy and administrative practices play in creating the conditions that help front line emergency providers achieve better patient outcomes. You can contact Dr. Ovens at howard.ovens@utoronto.ca and follow him on Twitter at @HowardOvens.
WTBS 22 The End of The Beginning: What’s Next for EDs in the COVID-19 Pandemic?
In this month's Waiting to Be Seen blog Dr. Howard Ovens explores The End of The Beginning: What’s Next for EDs in the Pandemic? Many questions have arisen now that we are a few months into the pandemic in North America: How long will ED volumes remain low? What will happen as hospital services ramp up? Will staff get tired of precautions? Will PPE supplies be maintained? What will happen during flu season? What mitigation strategies are available to us? Dr. Ovens explains how we must maintain vigilance in our EDs and not let our guards down. COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon...
WTBS 21 The COVID-19 Outbreak Part 2: Emergency Medicine’s Coming of Age
Bjug Borgundvaag expands on "the mission" aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic for EM and explain why this might just be the best moment ever to be an emergency physician...
WTBS 20 The COVID-19 Outbreak, Part 1: A Character-Defining Period
COVID-19 is a character-defining moment for us as individuals, EDs, and communities, and even as a country and a species. How will you look back on this period?...
WTBS 19 Does Poor Access to Language Services Leave Emergency Departments Primed for Tragedy?
In this guest Waiting to Be Seen blog by Dr. Gaibrie Stephen, we discover the evidence supporting a more rigorous and professional approach to language translation services as well as some practical available options. If a lack of translation can have tragic consequences, the obligation of an ED to set a new and better standard of care for communicating with patients is now painfully clear...
WTBS 18 Zero-Tolerance Policies in the ED Part 2: Taking a Look in the Mirror
Are there things we can do in the ED to reduce the risk of violence? We focus on some of the high-risk populations that are often involved in situations that escalate and suffer the consequences of ED responses. Let's move beyond non-violent de-escalation, examine our underlying attitudes, and explore strategies to prevent escalation on this Waiting to Be Seen blog...
WTBS 17 Zero-Tolerance Policies in the ED, Part 1: The delicate balance of protecting staff while ensuring patient access
We often face violence in the ED. Yet the ED is a sanctuary for care and support. Many EDs have a zero-tolerance policy for violence. In this Waiting to Be Seen blog Dr. Howard Ovens examines the issues we face in Emergency Departments as we try to make staff feel safe and ensure patients can access the care they need. He reframes violence in the ED as a public health issue and offers strategies for a safe ED...
