Are Overcrowded Emergency Rooms a Threat to Patient Safety?
Overcrowded emergency rooms can put patients at risk of death or injury from medical mistakes. Many of the common causes of medical mistakes, such as signoff errors, poor communication or failure to double-check work may be more likely to occur when health care providers are rushing between patients in crowded emergency rooms. Crowded emergency departments… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Negligence
In Hospitals, Silence Hurts
For victims of medical mistakes and their families, emotional pain and suffering continue long after errors are made. Victims and family members may want answers, and in many cases, hospitals only offer silence. A recent Forbes article covered this subject quite well, and it shows how patients and health care providers are emotionally hurt by… Read more »
Tags: PatientRights
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Why Hospital Surfaces Are Hazardous to Your Health
Germophobes and people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, this blog may give you nightmares. If you are afraid to touch railings and doorknobs, our blog today may induce a mild panic attack during your next hospital visit. Germs are everywhere, but they love to hang out in hospitals. In hospitals, germs find ways to evolve and develop… Read more »
Tags: SuperBugs
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Mean to Your Doctor? They May Mess Up Your Diagnosis
We all have our bad days, and sometimes it might be tempting to take out our frustrations on other people, such as Starbucks baristas or waiters. However, pulling this stunt with your doctor could lead to critical consequences. Two studies conducted by researchers at the Institute of Medical Education Research Rotterdam suggest being mean to… Read more »
Tags: PatientSafety
Posted in Misdiagnosis
Anesthesia and Brain Injury: Is Your Child at Risk?
Anesthesia is commonly used in patients undergoing surgeries or other complex treatments. However, it may come with risks for children. When mistakes are made during anesthesia, the consequences for children can be severe and permanent. The case of a 4-year-old Houston girl who suffered a severe brain injury while having her tooth pulled can serve… Read more »
Tags: TBI
Posted in Traumatic Brain Injuries
What Can Patients Do to Avoid Medication Errors?
Readers of our blog know that medication errors have serious or fatal consequences for patients. Ironically, the very medications we use to treat our health conditions can, under the right circumstances, become a threat to our lives. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, about one-third of adults in the US are prescribed… Read more »
Tags: Pharmacy
Posted in Medication Errors
New Report Sheds Light on Patient Safety Issues in Hospitals
A new report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has revealed reasons why hospitals are ineffective at addressing patient safety issues. Ironically, the report was released during National Patient Safety Awareness Week, an annual event where the National Patient Safety Foundation passes out educational materials to hospitals around the country. Aside from the hilariously… Read more »
Tags: PatientSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
Are Doctors More Prone to Medical Mistakes During Residency?
A medical malpractice lawsuit filed against Yale-New Haven Hospital raises some important questions on whether doctors undergoing training can be a threat to patient safety. The lawsuit claims a doctor still in his residency removed the wrong body part from a patient, one of the worst mistakes possible. Why was his patient so upset? The… Read more »
Tags: HospitalSafety
Posted in Medical Malpractice
