I know that various problematic aspects of holding ICU pts. in the ER due to a lack of unit beds has been discussed here before, but here's where I'm struggling ...
At my hospital, orders for a pt. that goes to the unit are written by a resident when they get to the unit. So when a pt. is held for hours in the ER ... I really have no orders. Our ER docs have "washed their hands" of these pts., so to speak, and yet these pts. have continuing needs for pain control, control of HR/BP, etc.
Along the same line, any suggestions for nursing home residents who are seen in the ER, discharged back to their home facility, but end up waiting hours for transportation back ... these people are technically discharged, but they get hungry, need their glucose checked, have pain, etc. etc. ...
Any suggestions? I did search through other "ICU hold" threads ...
