SPOT TRACER WORKSHEET EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) TOPIC AND QUESTIONS

Tracer Team Member(s):

Subjects Interviewed:

Tracer Topic or Care Recipient:

Emergency Department

Data Record(s):

Unit(s) or Department(s):

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Assessment and Documentation

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

How do you document abuse and neglect screening?

What is the process for reassessment after pain medication administration?

How do you perform fall risk assessment and conduct interventions?

How do you conduct suicide risk assessment?

How do you perform risk assessment in the ED waiting area (triage and reassessment)?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Procedures and Sedation

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

How is airway assessment documented by practitioners performing moderate sedation?

How is time-out documented (for ALL procedures, including I & D, wound repair, and reductions)?

How is the physician involved in the informed consent process?

How is site marking by physicians (for appropriate procedures) documented?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Restraints

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

What is your understanding of the restraint policy?

Is your documentation of restraint consistent with the policy?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Patient Flow

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

How do you handle boarding in the ED?

How do you make decisions about triage for arrivals in the ED waiting room?

What security procedures are in place for the ED greeter?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Environment of Care

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

How do you maintain and communicate segregation of empty and full medical gas cylinders?

Are pill cutters and crushers clean?

How do you maintain emergency eye wash stations?

How are opened containers of scope cleaner labeled in the ED?

Are all needles/syringes in locked cabinets?

Who identifies and reports damaged mattresses?

What actions are taken for fluid and blanket warmers if the temperature is out of range, per the logs?

Are all fluids in the warmer dated for new expirations dates and are out-of-date fluids discarded?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Hand Hygiene

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

Do staff follow fingernail length and artificial nails policies?

Is before-and-after hand hygiene compliance met for every patient contact?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Medication Safety

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

How current is the pediatric emergency reference (Broeslow)?

Are you limiting concentrations in the pediatric crash cart?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Quality and Outcomes

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

What is the general staff knowledge of core measures results for which they are responsible (for example, is the ER nurse aware of the effectiveness of the department in administering aspirin [ASA] on arrival)?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Lab Issues

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

What is the process for handling of blood (unlabeled) drawn by emergency medical service (EMS)?

Are there reference ranges with point of care (POC) equipment, such as glucometers?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Handoff Communications

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

What is the process for documenting the name of an ED nurse reporting to an inpatient nurse?

How would you describe the critical value communication (for example, RN to licensed independent professional [LIP])?

Interview Subject(s): [Staff Member Names]

Subtopic: Pediatric Safety

Questions

Correct Answer

Incorrect Answer

Follow-up Needed

Comments or Notes

What is the pediatric department security policy for the ED?

Are your aware of the abduction code and response?