This Common Health Condition Is A Major Cause Of Preventable Hospital Deaths
Health complications caused by blood clots are a leading cause of preventable hospital deaths. One such complication is a pulmonary embolism, which occurs when blood clots travel to and block arteries in the lungs. Deaths caused by pulmonary embolisms in hospitals are surprisingly common. Many factors can increase the risk of a pulmonary embolism. Patients… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Can You Be Billed for Medical Mistakes?
Medical mistakes are not only a threat to your individual safety, they are also damaging to your wallet. According to an article published by Kaiser Health News, patients are frequently billed for medical mistakes. The article discusses the story of a man who suffered from a surgical error, and ended up on the hook for… Read more »
Tags: MedicalNews
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Has Physician Burnout Become a Patient Safety Threat?
Doctors have one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and comes with a great amount of responsibility. The requirements of this job might be causing an epidemic of physician burnout in hospitals. According to a Mayo Clinic survey, 54 percent of doctors report feeling burnt out. This study claims factors like long hours,… Read more »
Tags: Medicine
Posted in Medical Malpractice
3 Ways New Telemedicine Technologies are Improving Patient Safety
New telemedicine technologies are transforming hospitals across the country by making it easier for healthcare professionals to monitor and communicate with patients. Depending on the hospital, these new technologies are used in a variety of different ways to improve patient safety. Improving communications with patients: At St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, nurses… Read more »
Tags: PatientSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Will This Alarming New Policy Cause an Increase in Medical Mistakes?
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education will vote on increasing the number of consecutive hours first-year residents can work. This private organization is responsible for overseeing physician training in the United States. If this new policy goes into effect, it may have implications for patient safety in hospitals. At the moment, first-year residents fresh… Read more »
Tags: Medicine
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Can Big Data Prevent a Medical Misdiagnosis?
Forbes recently published an article on how software can pair patients with doctors who are most likely to give them an accurate diagnosis. The article explains how Grand Rounds, a mobile app, can help people find doctors in their area who have the most experience treating specific health conditions. According to the creators of Grand… Read more »
Tags: Healthcare
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Can a Second Opinion Prevent a Misdiagnosis?
Misdiagnosis is a common and potentially deadly medical error. For example, in a recent medical malpractice case in Chicago, a man went to a local hospital complaining of severe headache, neck pain, vomiting and disorientation. A doctor sent him home with pain medication instead of consulting with a neurologist or performing a CT scan. Two… Read more »
Tags: DoctorsOffice
Posted in Medical Malpractice
How Can Patients Protect Themselves from Readmissions?
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) statistics show that one in five hospital patients face readmission within 30 days after discharge. Hospital readmissions remain high across the country for several reasons. Patients may succumb to infections after leaving the hospital, or they may be released before receiving adequate treatment. Hospitals may also do a… Read more »
Tags: HealthNews
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Are Sleep Deprived Doctors Causing Medical Mistakes?
Would you trust an airline pilot to fly your plane if they had not received enough sleep? Almost everyone would answer “no” to this question. After all, we depend on airline pilots with our lives. The same goes for doctors and other health care professionals. Would you trust a sleep deprived doctor to carry out… Read more »
Tags: PatientCare
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Are You at Risk for a Heart Surgery Mistake?
Did you know that former Saturday Night Live cast member and comedian Dana Carvey was the victim of a heart surgery mistake? In 1997, Carvey was out jogging when he started feeling chest pains. Doctors told Carvey he had a blocked artery and scheduled surgery to remove the blockage. The procedure was a failure because… Read more »
Tags: HeartSurgery
Posted in Medical Malpractice
