Medical Errors News and Research

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Study evaluates liability effects of hospital communication-and-resolution programs

To be more transparent and to promote communication with patients after medical injuries, many hospitals have implemented a new approach called the communication-and-resolution program.

3 Nov 2018

Influential Leapfrog Group jumps in to rate 5,600 surgery centers

The influential Leapfrog Group, which grades nearly 2,000 U.S. hospitals, is launching a national survey to evaluate the safety and quality of up to 5,600 surgery centers that perform millions of outpatient procedures every year.

16 Oct 2018

NAM special publication outlines steps to ensure interoperability of health care systems

While health care has made great strides in recent years with the proliferation of electronic health records, establishment of regional health information exchanges, and development of data exchange standards and interfaces, interoperability among health care technologies remains very limited, says a new National Academy of Medicine special publication.

15 Oct 2018

Despite red flags at surgery centers, overseers award gold seals

At his surgery center near San Diego, Rodney Davis wore scrubs, was referred to as "Dr. Rod" and carried the title of director of surgery. But he was a physician assistant, not a doctor, who anesthetized patients and performed liposuction with little input from his supervising doctor, court records show.

20 Sep 2018

Infiniti Research provides healthcare quality improvement tips to improve patient care

Infiniti Research, a world-renowned market intelligence solutions provider, has announced the completion of their latest article on the interesting healthcare quality improvement tips to improve patient care.

25 Aug 2018

'Do now' actions to address emotional toll of harmful medical events

Injuries and deaths resulting from medical errors can have profound long-term consequences on patients and families. Seriously harmed patients and/or family members who have lost a loved one may describe feelings of neglect, isolation, fear, anger, and despair, among other emotions, many of which can be heightened by organizational silence and withholding of information.

23 Aug 2018

Lax oversight leaves surgery center regulators and patients in the dark

The first man died in April 2014. Another died later that month. Then on July 18 of that year, a woman was rushed to a hospital where she was told she was lucky to be alive.

9 Aug 2018

Stanford’s chief wellness officer aims to prevent physician burnout

Stanford Medicine hired Dr. Tait Shanafelt as chief wellness officer last year, not so much for the well-being of the patients — but of the physicians.

3 Aug 2018

Medicare reconsiders paying for seniors’ spine operations at surgery centers

Medicare is reviewing whether seniors should undergo spine surgeries at same-day surgery centers, the government-run health program announced Wednesday, five months after a USA Today Network-Kaiser Health News investigation revealed a spate of patient deaths following the procedures.

30 Jul 2018

Research investigates why medical errors occur in emergency department

Medical errors are estimated to cause 250,000 deaths per year in the US. Previously, research on admitted patients suggested that errors are due to the way doctors process the data they have about patients - in other words, doctors have the right information, but might not act on it in the best way.

27 Jul 2018

Study: Physician burnout equally responsible for medical errors as unsafe healthcare settings

Physician burnout is at least equally responsible for medical errors as unsafe medical workplace conditions, if not more so, according to a study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

9 Jul 2018

That ‘living will’ you signed? At the ER, it could be open to interpretation.

"Don't resuscitate this patient; he has a living will," the nurse told Dr. Monica Williams-Murphy, handing her a document.

14 Jun 2018

Study finds important factors to improve transfer of patients from ICU to general hospital ward

A new study has identified important factors that can improve the transfer of patients from the intensive care unit to a general hospital ward, a high-risk transition in which breakdowns in communication, medical errors and adverse events resulting in readmission can occur.

4 Jun 2018

The other opioid crisis: Hospital shortages lead to patient pain, medical errors

Even as opioids flood American communities and fuel widespread addiction, hospitals are facing a dangerous shortage of the powerful painkillers needed by patients in acute pain, according to doctors, pharmacists and a coalition of health groups.

16 Mar 2018

As surgery centers boom, patients are paying with their lives

The surgery went fine. Her doctors left for the day. Four hours later, Paulina Tam started gasping for air.

6 Mar 2018

High risk of burnout, depression, and low quality of life found among health care workers

The current financial crisis has heavily impacted the public sector in Europe and, to a greater extent, in countries in which the public system has higher costs.

7 Dec 2017

New 3D-printed artificial models mimic the look and feel of real organs

A team of researchers led by the University of Minnesota has 3D printed lifelike artificial organ models that mimic the exact anatomical structure, mechanical properties, and look and feel of real organs. These patient-specific organ models, which include integrated soft sensors, can be used for practice surgeries to improve surgical outcomes in thousands of patients worldwide.

6 Dec 2017

Your plumber offers a money-back guarantee. Should your doctor?

Linda Radach has had six hip replacement operations since 2006, three on each side. Osteoarthritis was the reason she needed surgery in the first place, but replacing her hips in some ways only worsened her troubles.

6 Dec 2017

New method offers better way to measure effectiveness of complex healthcare interventions

A new statistical technique offers a better way to gauge the effectiveness of complex healthcare interventions.

20 Nov 2017

Rush Hospitals continue to earn top scores for patient safety from Leapfrog Group

For the second time this year, all three Rush hospitals -; Rush University Medical Center, Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush-Copley Medical Center -; have received an 'A' grade, the highest possible, from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit patient safety watchdog organization.

3 Nov 2017