Research Finds 23 Percent Of Hospitals Neglect Hand Sanitation
A new survey by the hospital watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group has found that 23 percent of hospitals across the country have not yet implemented safe hand sanitation practices. The study found that almost one-quarter of hospitals surveyed had not implemented policies capable of stopping the spread of potentially fatal bacteria. The policies used as… Read more »
Tags: MedicalNegligence
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Infant Surgery Deaths Leads To Calls For Better Regulations
Earlier in May, there were reports from national and local media outlets that nine children died in heart surgery at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Florida. Now, doctors and other health care professionals are calling for more oversight into hospitals with high-risk surgery programs. According to a criticized CNN report, the mortality rate for open-heart… Read more »
Tags: SurgeryMistakes
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Florida Court Rules Against Medical Malpractice Caps In Personal Injury Cases
A recent Florida court ruling gives injured victims of medical malpractice an opportunity to receive more compensation than previously available. This decision overturns a law from more than a decade ago. Back in 2003, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed into law caps on the amount of non-economic damages victims of medical malpractice could receive…. Read more »
Tags: MedicalNegligence
Posted in Medical Malpractice
High School Students Invent Machine To Help Hospitals Avoid Medical Errors
Students with Concord High School in Delaware believe they have found a solution for a common hospital mistake made by inattentive workers. Hospital employees wash thousands of pounds of laundry every day, and dangerous objects such as scalpels or needles can sometimes be caught in blankets or hospital gowns. The team of students recently unveiled… Read more »
Posted in Medical Negligence
Researchers Find Health Care Professionals Skip Sick Days
New research suggests that doctors refuse to take sick days, and the implications could be catastrophic for patient safety. When doctors get sick, they are at much higher risk for infecting patients or committing medical mistakes. Researchers found doctors are not alone when it comes to skipping sick days, and nurses, midwives and assistants have… Read more »
Tags: SickDays
Posted in Medical Malpractice
New Software Can Prevent Medical Mistakes
Software capable of catching medical errors is being used by hospitals in the Dakotas. The software knows the details of a patient’s history, including allergies, prior and current health conditions and genetics. Using advanced data analytics, the software is designed to prevent misdiagnosis, medication errors and other common medical mistakes. According Buzzfeed, the software is… Read more »
Tags: PrecisionMedicineInitiative
Posted in Medical Negligence
Why Are Florida Pharmacies Refusing To Fill Prescriptions?
The Florida Board of Pharmacy recently convened to discuss if patients are being denied legitimate prescriptions to control pain. Pharmacists are allegedly afraid of prescribing opiate-based pain medications to patients who might be hiding substance abuse problems. With accidental overdoses from powerful prescription medications killing tens of thousands every year, the reluctance is not surprising…. Read more »
Tags: MedicalNegligence
Posted in Medication Errors
Doctor Loses Medical Malpractice Lawsuit For Mocking Unconscious Patient
A jury has awarded more than $500,000 to a patient who was ruthlessly mocked by his anesthesiologist while unconscious and undergoing a procedure. According to the lawsuit, the unconscious man left his mobile phone on record while he was receiving a colonoscopy. His phone recording captured a disturbing example of unprofessional behavior by a health… Read more »
Tags: MedicalMalpracticeLitigation
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Security Experts Warn Hospital Medication Pumps Can Be Hacked
Security experts are warning health care providers that Hospira medication pumps are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Since 2007, hundreds of thousands of these pumps have been used around the world to help patients receive accurate dosages of medication. According to security experts, the pumps can be remotely operated to change the lower and upper limits of… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Is Telemedicine A Safe Alternative To Regular Care?
Walgreens and several insurance companies are starting to utilize telemedicine to offer patients a cheaper alternative to visiting an emergency room or doctor’s office. Smart phone applications and laptops will help patients connect with doctors via the internet in 25 states by the end of this year. In addition to national drugstore chains, several insurance… Read more »
Tags: Telemedicine
Posted in Medical Malpractice
