Healthcare Traveler - September 2008 - (Page 6)

N E W S T R AV E L E R S C A N U S E In A Flash Mystery shoppers in the ED Mark Your Calendar September 24-27, 2008, is the P erhaps you’ve heard of mystery shoppers at car dealerships or department stores. But do you know about medical mystery shoppers in emergency departments (EDs)? Indeed, hospital administrators are increasingly hiring medical mystery shoppers to pose as uninsured patients with fake symptoms. During phone inquiries, admission, and treatment procedures, mystery shoppers take note of the quality of care provided. The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) recently released a statement— which was endorsed by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM)—denouncing the use of medical mystery shoppers in the ED. In addition to consuming scarce resources, such as medical equipment and nursing care, fake patients may delay care to truly sick or injured patients. Denise King, RN, MSN, CEN, 2008 ENA president, explains, “If mystery shoppers come to the emergency department faking stroke symptoms, they are likely to get a CT scan and blood tests. That takes the time of doctors, nurses, radiology technicians, and laboratory technicians.” Although both ENA and AAEM are committed to providing emergency care that is safe, effective, timely, and patientand family-centered, the organizations point out that better methods exist for gathering customer-service data. For instance, direct observation stuides and customer surveys completed after care are both safe and effective means for evaluating patient satisfaction. For more information on the use of mystery shoppers in EDs, go to www. ena.org/news/releases. Emergency Nurses Association Annual Conference. This year’s theme is “Pathways to Discovery.” October 5-11, 2008, is Emergency Nurses Week. October 8 marks Emergency Nurses Day. Did You Know… Outside Online voted the top 20 Best Towns in the U.S. as: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Washington, DC Chattanooga, TN New Orleans, LA Ogden, UT Portsmouth, NH Tacoma, WA Ithaca, NY Louisville, KY Eureka, CA Crested Butte, CO Columbia, MO Oxford, MS Oakland, CA Sacramento, CA Levittown, NY Corvallis, OR Wilmington, NC Seattle, WA Charlottesville, VA Brattleboro, VT Gear & Gadgets C L E V E R TO O L S T H AT SI M P L I F Y T H E T R AV E L L I F E S T Y L E In compliance with the Transportation Security Administration’s regulations, the travelsized 2-ounce aerosol can is the first aerosol spray travel starch. To keep your clothing neatly pressed while on the road, purchase yours today for $2.99, plus ground shipping, at www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID=8262. »AMINITIES TRAVEL STARCH Lexabean’s fitness program works on desktop computers, the Internet, and pocket or palm handheld devices. Targeted toward runners, business travelers, and fitness professionals, the software includes over 500 instructional exercise videos of certified personal trainers demonstrating techniques. Plus, you can track your progress through charts and graphs, and measure your levels in 16 fitness tests and compare them to population norms. Fifteen video workouts are included in the $19.95 price on www.mobilefitnesssoftware.com/BYOBDetails.htm. 6 Healthcare Traveler September 2008 » BUILD YOUR OWN BODY @HOME Source: Outside Online. (n.d.). Best towns 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2008, from http://outside.away.com/outside/ destinations/200808/best-towns.html www.healthcaretraveler.com http://www.ena.org/news/releases http://www.ena.org/news/releases http://www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID=8262 http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200808/best-towns.html http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200808/best-towns.html http://www.mobilefitnesssoftware.com/BYOBDetails.htm http://www.healthcaretraveler.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Traveler - September 2008

Healthcare Traveler - September 2008 Editor's Desk Contents In a Flash Paws for Thought Field Notes Regional Differences in the ED Joining Together Drug Update Clinical Tips Cityscape Advertiser's Index Name It Travel Tips Big Deals Tax Facts Dot.com Contest Rules Allied Corner Going the Distance Classifieds Tales from the Road

Healthcare Traveler - September 2008

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