A patient can have a difficult time coping with the knowledge that his or her doctor made a mistake, and rightly so. Doctors are supposed to help their patients, not potentially harm them as the result of negligence, medical errors or medical malpractice. Unfortunately, medical errors are not at all uncommon in America’s health care system. […]
Technology: Causing Medical Errors Instead of Preventing Them
Despite being born 16 weeks early, baby Genesis was quickly adapting to life outside the womb. His parents were thrilled with his progress until his recovery took a tragic turn. His mother was told to come to the hospital immediately, where she saw CPR being administered to her son. After 40 minutes, Genesis was pronounced […]
Study Says Benefits of E-Prescribing Outweigh Implementation Challenges
A study recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that implementing new electronic prescribing systems can decrease the occurrence of medication errors, but it also can present adaptation challenges for physicians using the systems. Researchers at New York’s Weill Cornell Medical College analyzed e-prescribing implementation at a clinic with 17 doctors between February […]
Patients should be able to receive appropriate medical treatment without concerning themselves with anything other than their recovery. According to a recent survey, however, hospital patients could have more to worry about than they realize. The survey, conducted by medical professional associations and a global training and consulting firm, focused on operating-room and critical-care nurses. […]
Self-Reporting of Medical Errors Leads to False Belief in Improvement
A recent study published by Health Affairs suggests that rather than improving patient safety, health care facilities are underreporting medical errors, skewing statistics that seem to indicate hospitals are becoming a safer place for patients. By misattributing adverse events to a patient’s underlying condition, rather than to a mistake by health care professionals, the study reported that almost […]
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, medical errors are one of the leading causes of death and injury in America. The Institute of Medicine estimates that about 44,000 to 98,000 people die annually in U.S. hospitals because of medical errors, many of which are preventable. Medical errors are adverse events that […]
Will You Soon Be Paying a “Baby Tax” To Subsidize Doctors’ Malpractice?
New York’s Medicaid Redesign Team is considering the controversial Proposal 131. Besides putting strict caps on non-economic compensation for medical malpractice suits, the proposal would establish a birth injury fund. This fund would be financed by a surcharge paid by liability insurance companies with costs likely passed onto small businesses and any insurance consumer. Although […]
Surgical Checklists Likely Reduce Medical Errors and Hospital Deaths
Every day people use checklists to keep track of things and make sure steps are not missed. It may come as a surprise to many that when doctors use such a simple tool they not only significantly decrease medical errors, but likely save lives. Medical errors continue to be a major problem in hospitals nationwide. […]
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