Alcohol is metabolized by the liver. Long term consumption of alcohol in excessive amounts can cause irreversible damage to the liver. Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, is medically diagnosed as a disease which manifests itself in the frequent use of alcohol, despite the negative consequences it has on a personâs life.
The best safety precaution is a specialized caregiver known as a hospital sitter. Hospital sitters provide round-the-clock companionship and make observations of any problems the patient may be experiencing. Sitters monitor and keep the patient company, converse, read and/or even run errands for the patient. However, sitters cannot aid or participate in any patient care or physical contact and they must stay out of the way of hospital staff. Hospital sitters are under the direction of the patient registered nurse.
Observation status and transfers of care A hospitalist sees a patient admitted to observation for two days, but then decides to admit the patient to inpatient status. The hospitalist references the history and physical exam from his note for the initial observation visit to support billing initial hospital care. Is this OK? I know that Medicare guidelines specify that a previous review of systems (ROS) and past, family and social history (PFSH) can be referenced in a note by stating the date and location that those occurred in the medical record.