EC - Unrecognized severe Peanut Alergy by triage clerk in MAJOR EC

[Janei D. Brockhausen]

HI Dr Mattox,
    I am disappointed there has not been more discussion, and no real
thoughts on how to best approach this with the hospital. I can't say I'm
surprised, but I am disappointed. It's disheartening to think I am on staff
there and this may just be swept under the carpet. No one to teach the right
way. I think the ( this is janei speaking only) that the head nurse (call
was to the Head nurse of the ED)should carry some of the responsibility as
she knew the situation and did not act to secure the patient in the ED and
make sure treatment was ensured.
   Yes, sometimes the enemy is ourselves.
I appreciate all you have tried to do, maybe I can find a way to teach
triage in a more reliable manner. I may have to do a super job of selling an
information board on peanut allergies/all allergies/anaphylaxis and the
potential severity/immediacy.
Again, appreciated.
 janei



On 5/23/07, KMATTOX at aol.com <KMATTOX at aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> In a message dated 5/23/2007 12:07:34 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
> tch at sun.ac.za writes:
>
>
> 6)  As to the DUTY to the persons involved: none unless the law of the USA
> allows  otherwise or unless you are the patient's usual treating
> physician. The
> most  you can do is forward this information to the patient or their
> lawyer.
> However, I would suggest they get a local Emergency Physician and an
> Allergologist as expert witness rather than (an esteemed) trauma
> surgeon.  :)
>
>
> I am not sure that the solution should be a legal one, although there are
> some JCAHO and regulatory system issues here.    One reason that  I choose
> to
> air this publicly is that this hospital is one known to everyone on  this
> list
> server, and may be one that is a major hospital for members of this  list
> server.   A patient who had come to this hospital before with  peanut
> allergy, who
> was in severe trouble was brought by an appropriately  identified health
> care
> worker with an in-route phone call made to the  registration desk of the
> emergency department of a hospital with a trauma center  designation.
> When the
> patient arrived they were put into a long  line, put through a long
> interview
> and eligibility screen and made to wait,  while having strider and looking
> bad.
> When questioned the  hospital (administration and registration) tried to
> cover up, tried to change  the story, and tried to indemnify the hospital
> and its
> staff.   We  each have a responsibility to assure that such system
> problems
> are  addressed.    Who knows, this might be my own hospital or your  own
> hospital.   I do have its name.   I did some calling  around and this kind
> of
> activity is more common than most of us would not like  to admit.
> DESPITE EMTALA.
>
>
> I am almost ashamed that I gave my impassioned post about access to health
> care last week.   Now I am embarrassed to find that we have met the  enemy
> and
> it is us.
>
> k
>
>
>
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