A Case of Murder and EHRs -- Chapter Ten
A Case of Murder and EHRs
Copyright 2007 by Peter J. Groen and Jaime Nasuti.
Published with permission of the co-authors.
CHAPTER TEN
As Dr. Douglas was recovering from the unbelievable events that had unfolded just days before, he made a final detailed pass through Congressman Martin's electronic medical record as he prepared to discharge him. He wanted to make sure only his orders had been entered in the electronic chart, that everything was clearly documented, and that no mistakes had been made.
He carefully looked through the clinical images from the CT scan and other radiology tests he had ordered. The radiologist had read this scan in record time, he remembered. Apparently having a high-priority presidential candidate makes everyone move a bit faster. Congressman Martin had presented with basic symptoms of a heart attack, but that was ruled out due to his normal EKG. An anxiety attack was the final diagnosis, which was no wonder considering the pressures of running for office. But the slightly slurred speech and extreme headache had forced Dr. Douglas to order the CT scan of Martin's head. Was it possible something was missed?
As he double-checked the images, Dr. Douglas noticed a slight irregularity in the scan that caused him to jump up from his chair and run down the hall.
They had missed something!