Emergency Department

Given the challenging levels of activity, workflow, and workload of the hospital emergency department (ED), it is not surprising that it is a care setting with a high risk of liability. Around the clock and on a daily basis, emergency physicians care for adults and children suffering traumatic injuries; treat and stabilize individuals experiencing acute, life-threatening conditions; and make decisions about whether to observe, admit, transfer, or discharge patients. Individuals come the ED for obstetrics problems and acute exacerbations of chronic and previously undiagnosed illnesses, substance abuse, behavioral health problems, poisonings, medication overdoses, as well as nonurgent conditions. EDs also provide care to individuals in police custody and must remain prepared to handle patients injured in mass casualties and other disasters.

This self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) is designed to help the risk manager assess how well the ED is meeting clinical and operational challenges and evaluate the adequacy of its policies and procedures. The findings can help the risk...