A recent large study suggests anesthesiologists who split their time over multiple operating suites are linked to higher incidence of patient complications and death. “Overlapping” is the term used when an anesthesiologist induces the next surgical patient in an operating room (OR) while a previous patient is still in surgery. Overlapping is useful when qualified … Continued

To reduce the number of adverse drug events suffered by patients, a new study suggests an in-person meeting between hospital pharmacists and prescribing residents is helpful. Medication errors are the most common medical error. A medication error is any “preventable harm event” that occurs along the medication supply chain from manufacture to patient administration. Because … Continued

With a goal of minimizing delays in patient care for cardiovascular issues, The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association announced a new facility certification program in April of this year. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease (CVD) was identified as the leading cause of death of 873,613 people in the US … Continued

Physician sexual abuse showed up again in headlines recently, the most visible evidence of an ongoing current of tragedy in the US healthcare system. Ricardo Cruciani was by all accounts a skillful pain physician—a doctor who specialized in alleviating the pain of patients through careful prescription of appropriate medication.  Patients of Dr. Cruciani were vulnerable … Continued

Research from the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School suggests premature birth can be a factor in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered premature, with specific stages that define the severity of prematurity by gestational age.  The less time in utero and the earlier the birth, the higher the … Continued

Giving birth in the US is dangerous for too many women. To counter the long-term rise in maternal morbidity, the Biden administration recently announced a “Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crises.”According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the latest figures on maternal mortality show 861 women died from maternal causes in … Continued

Most patients are happy to be home after a hospital stay of any duration. Because patients often arrive home with new prescription medications, including IV drugs, lack of coordination between providers, home care nurses, and patients can lead to danger after discharge. Medication errors are one of the most common causes of adverse events in … Continued

The Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) recently published its 2022 report highlighting its top concerns for patient and provider safety. ECRI partners with the Institute for Safe Medication Practice (ISMP) to review data and identify top safety concerns.  Each organization analyzes research and a wide domain of event reports as well as root cause analyses.  … Continued