When you went to the hospital or birthing center for the delivery of your child, you were probably nervous about the well-being of your baby. The arrival of your child was a significant event, and the hospital stay likely brought joyful visitors and tender moments of bonding. However, for the staff of nurses and doctors, […]
With the approaching of flu season again, more and more people are going to be receiving flu shots. Almost everyone is encouraged to get a flu vaccination in order to prevent the spread of the influenza virus with very limited exceptions such as infants and those with serious allergies to flu vaccine. One reason many […]
Going to the hospital during the summer months may be a bad idea as medical errors increase starting in June and ending in September. If you are planning an elective procedure, choose a time other than the summer. What makes summer the most dangerous time for you to be hospitalized? Human errors rise in the […]
There is reason to be optimistic in the field of medical malpractice. Check out this article in the Wall Street Journal, highlighting the fact that insurers and medical specialty groups are reviewing thousands of medical malpractice lawsuits that have either been tried or settled. One of the reasons for the review is to identify issues […]
Pennsylvania residents who need to undergo surgery can understandably be nervous. This nervous feeling may relate to many things from concerns about what may be discovered during an operation to medical errors that may be made in the process. While no patient wants to think about the potential of becoming the victim of medical negligence, […]
According to a recent article published by the British Medical journal, medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Martin Makary and Michael Daniel assess its contribution to mortality and call for better reporting, because medical error is not included on death certificates or in rankings of cause of death. […]
When you or a family member in Pennsylvania becomes sick or injured, the last thing you should have to worry about is the safety of your medical care. However, in today’s society, this concern is a valid one. Many a medical error has been known to leave patients with serious injuries. In some cases, patients […]
From kitchens and warehouses to industrial plants and office settings, the simple reality is that no single place of employment is immune to breakdowns in communication. However, while breakdowns can be time-consuming and inefficient, the fallout from something like a misplaced order or a failure to complete a report on time is generally limited in […]
Many people may be surprised to learn that the American Medical Association has taken a rather firm position on the degree of difficulty with which patient health information — discharge instructions, etc. — should be drafted. Indeed, the AMA is of the belief that this information should be written for a sixth grade audience. While […]
As patients, physicians and lawmakers look ahead to the issues that will most critically impact patient safety in 2016, it is important to obtain a firm grasp on the issues that most significantly impacted patient safety in 2015. Not only will reviewing these issues give patients, physicians and lawmakers insight into matters that may continue […]
