University of Chicago Medical Center emergency room plans come under new fire

The American Academy of Emergency Medicine is questioning the reorganization plans for the emergency room at the University of Chicago Medical Center. The Academy says the U. of C. is not including its own emergency-room physicians in the planning, and said the U. of C. should "re-evaluate its triage and screening examination policies." The University's initiative is aimed at clearing its ER of patients with non-urgent injuries and illnesses by redirecting them to community hospitals and clinics. The American College of Emergency Physicians has already called for a Congressional investigation into the initiative and whether it violates federal "patient dumping" laws.