Back in December, our blog discussed a very interesting study by researchers at the University of West Virginia examining whether the spread of potentially deadly nosocomial infections — which typically occur within 48 hours of admission, three days of discharge or 30 days of surgery — could be greatly reduced by physicians using a decidedly […]
Officials at the World Health Organization have long held that the given rate of cesarean sections performed in a country should sit somewhere between 10 to 15 percent due to the heightened health risks for both mother and baby. However, this is not the current reality here in the U.S. Data from the Centers for […]
Most people might not realize it, but one of the biggest dangers they face when they are admitted to the hospital is not surgical errors, misdiagnoses or even anesthesia errors, but rather bloodstream infections — otherwise known as sepsis. For those unfamiliar with sepsis, it is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a “potentially life-threatening […]
In the overwhelming majority of hospitals across the U.S., women are discharged only a few days after giving birth and sent home with a seemingly endless list of instructions concerning their newborn. A growing chorus of medical professionals and patient safety advocates are now calling on hospitals to send women home with another set of […]
While tablet computers have served to transform the face of personal computing over the last several years, it may seem as if this technology has yet to make significant inroads into the area of modern medicine. This actually couldn’t be further from the truth, however, as tablet computers have helped revolutionize electronic medical records and […]
Thanks to the tireless efforts of medical professionals, we now know more than ever about the hidden dangers of head injuries. Indeed, this knowledge has not only sparked greater vigilance on the part of both youth sports and high school sports coaches, but also spurred lawmakers to take action. For example, some states — including […]
Officials at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, one of the largest installations in the entire Air Force, were on high alert earlier this month following the news that one of the pharmacies located on base may have subjected thousands of people to potentially dangerous medication mistakes. According to reports, the pharmacy became aware of a problem […]
Expectant parents will often go to great lengths to ensure that they are fully prepared for the arrival of their little one. This can mean everything from preparing the nursery and planning the route to the hospital to taking childbirth classes and even making exact arrangements for the arrival date. The reality, however, is that […]
While we prefer not to think about it, a car accident can occur in the blink of an eye, with the actions of a negligent driver leaving us with everything from broken bones and lacerations to bruising and generalized pain. Fortunately, we know that in the event something like this happens, we can be taken […]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration made headlines last month when it issued a rather sternly worded statement discouraging OB/GYNs from performing a certain type of surgical procedure that it claims can increase the risks of spreading cancer. The procedure in question is laparoscopic power morcellation, which for the uninitiated, is when a surgeon uses […]
