Triage of the obstetrics patient in the emergency department: is there only one patient?
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Pennsylvania patient safety advisory
- Contributor(s):
- Pennsylvania. Patient Safety Authority. ECRI (Organization) Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
- Publication:
- [Harrisburg, Pa.] : Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, c2008
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Communication Emergency Medical Services Interdepartmental Relations Obstetrics Triage Fetal Monitoring Pregnancy -- physiology Risk Management Female Humans Pennsylvania United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- PA-PSRS has received a number of reports related to the management of pregnant patients in the emergency department. In many instances, reports submitted through PA-PSRS reflect a lack of effective communication between emergency and obstetrics department staff. When a pregnant patient arrives at the emergency department, there are really two patients. Optimal care of both patients can only be achieved through a systematic approach to care that involves open communication between emergency and obstetric services. Risk reduction strategies include having policy and procedures in place that ensure a systematic approach to the triage and initial assessment of the pregnant patient with consideration of the presenting complaint, gestational age, availability of testing and consultants, and fetal monitoring requirements.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-DC license. (More information)
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101570071 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101570071