Dr. Baugh currently serves as the Chair of the American College of Emergency Physicians Observation Medicine Section and Director of Emergency Department Operations at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is also an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Source: Urgent…
POBScast from Boston with Dr. Chris Baugh from Harvard Medical School. Source: POBScast, November 28, 2015.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) probably had good intentions in redefining the difference between inpatient and observation, but the rule that went into effect on Oct. 1 may not have the intended results, according to experts. Source:…
As observation care continues to draw fire from critics who charge that the designation ends up costing hospitals money while also sticking patients with exorbitant fees, the medical directors of dedicated observation units counter that the kind of care delivered…
Along with growing demand, rising costs and lower payments have threatened the financial viability of many hospitals, resulting in ED and hospital closures and a mismatch of supply and demand for acute care services. Considering these recent trends, efforts to…
If you find yourself in the emergency department and the doctor says he wants to keep you at the hospital for “observation,” take heed. Depending on the hospital, observation can mean very different things for both your medical care and…
There’s a growing recognition by clinicians that some patients who arrive at the emergency department can benefit if they’re kept under observation for up to a day so that staff can run more tests and monitor their progress to see…
A growing number of hospitals are opting to move some people from the emergency room into observation units where they can undergo further monitoring or testing before doctors decide whether they should be released or admitted. More than a third…
Instead of admitting certain patients to the hospital, using dedicated observation units in hospitals can often be more efficient, result in shorter lengths-of-stay and lower costs, according to a recent study from Health Affairs. “The wider use of observation units…
A mathematical model suggests that having an observation unit in every appropriate U.S. hospital could save $3.1 billion per year. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is reimbursing hospitals for “observation status” in lieu of hospital admission for patient…