Discontinuity between providers is a well-documented source of errors, as prior research has documented safety problems arising from handoffs and signouts in the hospital and at the time of hospital discharge. The need for accurate information transfer between providers is no less important for patients seen in the emergency department (ED), but this study found that most pediatricians were unaware that their asthma patients had required an ED visit. This occurred despite the existence of a structured system for communication between the ED and primary care physicians. Many patients also failed to follow up in clinic as instructed, perhaps corroborating prior research showing that many ED patients do not fully comprehend discharge instructions. This study adds another facet to the problem of patient safety in chronic disease management.

This study found that medical errors often occur in patients with bronchiolitis, even more so in the critically ill.

This study examined the utility of a multimedia kiosk to capture parents’ knowledge of their children’s asthma medication history. Investigators compared the parental information with that documented by emergency department providers. Results suggested greatest accuracy in medication name followed by route of delivery, form of medication, and dose. The authors conclude that patient-derived data can be effective in improving current deficits in medication documentation during emergency department visits.