Medical Errors News and Research

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Prohibiting cap messages will increase medication errors: Survey

At a meeting today of the United States Pharmacopeia's (USP) Nomenclature Expert Committee, the Consortium for the Advancement of Patient Safety (CAPS) presented results of an independent study producing a landmark three-part report, including a human factors engineering (HFE) analysis, on the relationship between patient safety and printed messages on ferrule and cap overseals used to secure injectable drug vials.

27 May 2010

First Edition: May 21, 2010

In today's headlines, legislation containing a Medicare pay 'fix' and an extension of the COBRA subsidy is moving toward House consideration.

21 May 2010

2010 funding program for Inova Life Sciences - George Mason University research collaboration open

What do you get when you mix a world-class health system with an innovative, entrepreneurial university? A very successful research collaboration.

20 May 2010

MOCPS develops program to reduce patient care errors in EMS

While much attention is devoted to reducing medical errors in hospitals, there's a lesser focus on rooting out patient care errors in emergency medical services. To address that gap, the Missouri Center for Patient Safety is developing a program to help medical professionals systematically improve quality and reduce errors during treatment and transport provided by ambulance service providers.

18 May 2010

Nurses give evidence of the horrifying day in Dr. Jayant Patel’s surgery

The trial of Dr. Jayant Patel continues. In recent evidence at the court one of the operating theatre nurses revealed under oath to the Brisbane Supreme Court how staff had tried to deter former Bundaberg-based surgeon Jayant Patel from transferring an unstable patient from the theatre to ICU, where he died. There was earlier evidence that the man was bleeding uncontrollably and also allegations that Patel urged junior doctors not to tell anyone what happened.

12 May 2010

Caffeine helps shift workers make fewer errors: Cochrane researchers

Caffeine can help those working shifts or nights to make fewer errors, according to a new study by Cochrane researchers. The findings have implications for health workers and for any industry relying on shift or night work, such as transportation.

12 May 2010

Debate over benefits and privacy concerns in the proposed Australian e-health scheme

There has been a move towards complete computerization of health and related information in the Australian Government’s e-health scheme that will be set up in the next two years. This scheme is purported to cost $467 million of taxpayers’ money. The plan has been criticized because of the fear that all test results; prescriptions etc. will then be available on a national database and accessible over the internet.

11 May 2010

Intellectually disabled in Victorian government run facilities treated in a “Victorian” manner

A disturbing new report has revealed that nearly 150 patients with intellectual disabilities in Victoria’s Grampians and Loddon Mallee regions in the last financial year were restrained using chemical or mechanical means and often secluded.

10 May 2010

Experts unveil roadmap to improve health and health delivery in the U.S.

A Commission of national health care experts convened by the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress has unveiled a roadmap and integrated approach that will put "health" back into our nation's health care system as well as address key opportunities following passage of health care reform legislation.

6 May 2010

AARP implores Governor to enact HIE legislation

Legislation that will help modernize medical records, reduce errors, and improve quality of care for all Illinoisans passed both houses of the Illinois General Assembly and is on its way to the Governor's desk. AARP, which backed the measure, is urging Gov. Quinn to sign it into law.

5 May 2010

New health law will penalize hospitals for poor quality

The new health law puts the nation's hospitals on strict notice. Either they improve the safety and quality of care for patients or the government will hit them where it hurts the most -- their revenue.

30 Apr 2010

Accurate reporting of errors can reduce preventable hospital deaths: SIOP

People go to hospitals to be treated for an illness or for corrective surgery with the expectation they will return home in much better health than when they entered the medical facility.

30 Apr 2010

Top ten tips for managing healthcare

America's healthcare system is about to undergo the most fundamental transformation in our nation's history. An already over-stressed system must absorb 32 million new patients at the same time that the country's huge baby boomer population is likely to need ever more medical attention as they age. And many of our most experienced and talented physicians will soon reach retirement age, leaving fewer experienced doctors to treat more patients.

28 Apr 2010

California Republican lawmakers continue to press for tort reform

The Contra Costa Times: "The effort to overhaul the nation's health care system has so far skirted the issue of tort reform, intensifying debate over the role malpractice lawsuits play in increasing premiums." Critics say the new health reform law does not do enough to address the high costs of medical lawsuits, but other experts say that malpractice suits do not contribute to increasing health costs.

27 Apr 2010

Nurses interrupted – leading to 12% rise in medication errors: study

In a study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine on the 26th of April the causes of “procedural failure and clinical error” by nurses in Australian hospitals were analyzed. The study found that nurses made at least one mistake or oversight in a whopping 80.2% of cases where they were administering drugs or other therapy to patients. These mistakes could range from not checking the patient’s identity before giving the drug to not washing hands. Researchers say that in some cases these mistakes could be fatal.

27 Apr 2010

e-MDs selected as one of two recommended EHR vendors by AEHRA

e-MDs, an industry leader in the development and implementation of electronic health record and practice management solutions, announced they have been selected as one of two recommended EHR vendors by the Alaska EHR Alliance. e-MDs was identified through The EHR Selection Project as an endorsed vendor to Alaska healthcare providers looking to incorporate an EHR in their clinical practice.

26 Apr 2010

Northwest Community Hospital's new $250M, nine-story addition set to open on May 1

Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights becomes one of the biggest, busiest and most advanced hospitals in Illinois with a $250 million addition set to formally open May 1.

26 Apr 2010

Patel trial adjourned further

There has been a further delay in the much hyped Dr. Jayant Patel manslaughter case.

23 Apr 2010

More testimony on Patel trial

In the ongoing trial of Dr. Jayant Patel for manslaughter of three men and grievous injury to the fourth during his tenure as Director of surgery at Bundaberg base hospital new testimony has surfaced. Patel had pleaded not guilty.

21 Apr 2010

Patel trial testimony by anesthetist: bleeding and kidney damage may have led to early death

In the Jayant Patel manslaughter case new testimony has surfaced. Dr. Patel has been accused of causing the deaths of three Queensland patients and permanently injuring another when he performed operations as director of surgery at the Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005. He had pleaded not guilty.

20 Apr 2010