How Can Hospitals Improve Patient Safety?
What can get hospitals a poor ranking with LeapFrog? The non-profit looks at evidence-based safety measures in place at hospitals, events reported by the institutions and patient readmission rates. However, there are ways to prevent medical mistakes and improve hospital safety. Which Four Methods Can Improve Hospital Safety? According to The Agency for Healthcare Research… Read more »
Tags: PatientSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Disinfecting Robots Used To Fight Hospital-Acquired Infections
Some hospitals are using robots equipped with xenon lights to disinfect rooms and reduce infections. The germ eliminating machines, known as Xenex robots, use full-spectrum, pulsing xenon lights to disinfect rooms. Deadly ultraviolet light is released from the robots to kill bacteria and viruses. Prior models of germ killing robots used bulbs with mercury, a… Read more »
Tags: MRSA Hospital Infections
Posted in Medical Malpractice
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
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
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
American Medical Association Targets Television Doctors
The American Medical Association (AMA) has taken a strong stance against doctors accused of giving bogus advice to millions of television viewers. Dr. Oz, who has his own television show with four million daily viewers, has become the most recent and public target of the AMA. AMA members are expected to create ethical guidelines for… Read more »
Tags: DoctorOzShow
Posted in Medical Malpractice
