Question

The course in general is Healthcare Administration Capstone, and my project I have been working on is Sentara Norfolk General Hospital: Expansion of the emergency Department

As with any project, it is important to look at the finished product and think about what you have learned and ways to improve.

Think about your experiences in the program and the final project process for this course. In the discussion, consider the following:

• What are the key takeaways that you can apply to the real-world experience of completing future projects in the field? How does your experience in this course help you apply for jobs in the field?

Answer 1

The emergency department is an important or a priority part in every hospital. Most of the patient who is in the emergency will come to the emergency department for emergency care While expanding the emergency department one of the important parts is the triage zone.

Understanding the Triage Zone

The word triage comes from the French verb “trier” which means “to sort”. The role of the triage nurse or triage nurses (more than one often in larger facilities) is to determine:

• Sick versus not sick
• How long the patient can wait for medical care
• What area of the department is most appropriate for the patient (trauma room, emergency department bed, FastTrack etc…)

Triage is often referred to as the area out near the waiting room. What is important to understand is that triage can happen anywhere at any time, even in the ambulance bay. Triage is a process, not a place. Larger facilities often have an internal triage area as well, that ambulance crews and their patients may pass through to obtain an initial evaluation that determines the best destination within the emergency department.

The emergency department is a high liability area so documentation is key as well as understanding the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Every dedicated emergency department that receives Medicare funding is held to EMTALA standards. An EMTALA violation results in a $50,000 fine.

EMTALA states the following:

• Every patient that presents to the ED receive a Medical Screening Exam (MSE) to rule out an Emergency Medical Condition (EMC); this includes a woman in active labour.
• Necessary and stabilizing medical treatment is provided.
• Transfer to a facility with a higher level of care if deemed necessary.
• Care is provided regardless of the ability to pay.

The extent of undressing patients in the ED varies among facilities, nursing staff, and which physician is on duty. Judgment needs to be used on a case by case basis. A simple laceration to a finger certainly does not need to be fully undressed, yet a patient with diabetes regardless of their complaint would likely benefit from you looking at their skin. Sometimes the septic leg is found under the socks, or the evidence of child abuse, elder abuse, or intimate partner violence is under the shirt. If you don’t look for clues, chances are you will never find them. Follow your instincts and follow your facility policies and procedures. Follow your instincts as well as your facility policies and procedures. Most importantly, always aim to do the right thing.

Lots of waiting takes place in the emergency department which can be highly frustrating for patients and their visitors. While some waiting is within your control, other waiting is not. For example, often in trauma facilities, when a trauma rolls through the door, most if not all other patients requiring CT scans and X-rays experience new delays. The trauma patient always takes precedence.

• The best way to keep on good terms (hopefully) with your patient and their visitors is to keep them updated on what you’re waiting for. You can let them know “All tests are back but one last result that tends to take a bit longer to run” or “As soon as the trauma patient is out of CT scan you should be next.”

Communicate with your patient and their visitors so they know you are working for them, that you are doing your best to get them the answers they are looking for, and that you are continuing to monitor for their results. Assure them you will follow up with their ED physician (NP or PA) as soon as the results are all back. Keeping patients updated on timeframes, even if you don’t have all the results or answers, can change the entire experience for both you and the patient.

* Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Some employers prefer job candidates who have a bachelor's degree, and several colleges offer programs specifically in emergency management and homeland security. Coursework in these programs often covers types of disasters, steps in disaster preparedness, response and recovery, global politics and psychology, as well as national and local programs and policies. Other degree programs that may lead to careers in emergency management include public policy and urban planning.

Develop strong skills in related areas :

A large part of an emergency management specialist's job is communicating with a variety of people, whether in government agencies, media or members of the public. Another component of this position is tracking information in databases and online, which can require developing strong technical skills in this area.

Step 2: Gain Experience

Employers typically look for emergency management specialists with at least three years of experience. Training in firefighting, law enforcement and emergency medical response are common entry points for careers in emergency management. Other career options for gaining experience include working in a program coordination or management position with a government agency. These positions can help workers learn how to develop response plans, prepare status reports or work efficiently with other workers in the event of an emergency.

Step 3: Get Certified

The National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) offers a voluntary certification program that awards the designation of Specialist in Emergency Management (SEM). Candidates take a series of courses covering emergency preparation, program management, command systems, terrorism response and disaster assistance before taking an online exam to earn certification. Emergency management specialists often deal with dangerous and multifaceted situations and this certification provides proof of competency to potential employers.

Step 4: Complete Continuing Education

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has established national guidelines for disaster planning, operates an Emergency Management Institute that offers free courses to both public and private sectors online and through their training facilities.

Knowledge of FEMA's National Incident Management System (NIMS) may be preferred or required for positions in this field. The NIMS is a set of guidelines used to help multiple organizations, including the government and private companies, work together to respond to incidents at the local and national level; the system was created to clarify roles, eliminate redundancy and decrease recovery times for emergencies, disasters and other events.

Continuing education shows potential employers that emergency management specialists are staying abreast of current trends and changes in the field and may help candidates gain promotions.