----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Cartwright"
> > although precisely what one
> > means by "acceptable mortality level" intrigues
> > me...can mortality of a
> > discharged A&E patient ever be acceptable?
>
> You must have very sleepless nights if you believe
> that!? :-) Much better to get everyone in so they can
> catch MRSA or a dose of Norwalk (currently doing the
> rounds on our medical floor).
I know, a deliberately polemic and philosophical point. But some
cardiologists casually speak of a 1% 30-day mortality. They forget that we
see around a dozen chest pains a day, and some poor "cas officer" will have
to deal with the family of the patient they sent home last week who now
infarcts or dies! It's not easy, and I know we make calculated risks all the
time, although most do not result in mortality. Come to think of it, maybe
that's why they're called "cas officers", but they're getting less and less
effective with every new cohort and that's not going to get any better.
Adrian
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