Literature Review

Michigan HHS to pay $13M after unannounced shooter drill at psych hospital Becker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 10/18/24The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services agreed to pay $13 million to settle allegations that it caused psychological damage after conducting a surprise active shooter drill at a children's psychiatric hospital, The Washington Post reported Oct. 17. The Hawthorn Center, based in Northville Township, Mich., is a state-run psychiatric hospital for children with emotional, mood and thought disorders. On Dec. 21, two laborers were instructed by their supervisor to act as armed intruders in an unannounced drill. The two were told to walk around the facility and ensure every room was locked and the people inside were hidden. The receptionist was instructed to announce that there were active shooters in the building and that shots were fired. Neither the staff nor the police were notified a drill was occurring. 911 calls reported the active shooter and 22 police officers rushed to the scene. The two laborers exited the building and were detained while the police sorted out the situation. Employees filed a class action lawsuit in April 2023 against the health department-run facility alleging that the unannounced drill gave them post-traumatic stress and emotional harm. According to the lawsuit, patients acted aggressively toward themselves and others in the subsequent weeks, and staff members experienced increased anxiety and sleep struggles, and some quit their jobs.

Stranded in the ER, seniors await hospital care and suffer avoidable harm KFF Health News; by Judith Graham; 5/6/24 Every day, the scene plays out in hospitals across America: Older men and women lie on gurneys in emergency room corridors moaning or suffering silently as harried medical staff attend to crises. Even when physicians determine these patients need to be admitted to the hospital, they often wait for hours — sometimes more than a day — in the ER in pain and discomfort, not getting enough food or water, not moving around, not being helped to the bathroom, and not getting the kind of care doctors deem necessary.

The value of hospice-emergency department collaboration Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/29/24 Fostering greater collaboration between hospices and hospice emergency departments can help reduce health care costs, generate revenue and improve patient outcomes. Reducing hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits are key goals for many health care stakeholders, particularly those that operate within a value-based environment. ... Nearly 40 million seniors visit the ED annually, according to the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan. For patients, however, the ED may not always be the best option, Rebeka Malloy, director of clinical engagement for Compassion and Choices, said at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s (NHPCO) Virtual Interdisciplinary Conference. ...