Are You Vigilant for Signs Patients May Be Suicidal?

Are You Vigilant for Signs Patients May Be Suicidal?

Recent suicides by high-profile celebrities are a reminder that most of us never know what struggles someone is dealing with. While it may be especially surprising when the person is someone the public perceives to “have it all,” a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that suicide is far too common, and becoming more so. There was a 25% increase in suicide between 1999 and 2016 in the United States, …

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Treating the Self-Harming Patient in the Urgent Care

Treating the Self-Harming Patient in the Urgent Care

JOHN SHUFELDT, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP He watched her walk through the door at the end of a long, busy day. She was an attractive, well dressed, athletic-looking young lady with a warm smile, the kind of girl he’d want his teenage son to date someday. “Slam dunk,” he thought. “This will be a quick visit and I’ll still get out on time.” The front office team registered her quickly. He suspected that they, too, …

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