A Missouri-based story does not yet prominently feature alongside other recent tales concerning frightening outcomes associated with endoscope use. In time, though, that could change. A “deadly pattern of illnesses” was recently noted in a media expose concerning the use of so-called duodenoscopes that are inserted down patients’ throats to probe for digestive disorders such as gallstones and cancerous...
Read MorePart of the bait extended by government officials to doctors to entice those physicians to vigorously participate in the transformation from paper medical records to digital patient records has been money. And no small amount. Doctors who have transferred over to electronic health records and demonstrated “meaningful use” of such systems have reportedly received about $9 billion in federal...
Read MoreIt might have struck you as an immediate apparency or, rather, dawned on you only over time. We’re talking about your recognition as a patient of electronic health records. For years, your doctor busily scribbled away in your patient records, making handwritten notations. Then, suddenly, he or she began interacting with a computer screen each time you came in...
Read MoreWe queried in our immediately preceding blog post whether it seemed reasonable to throw up any red flags concerning the care provided patients in America’s outpatient surgical centers. Here’s why, as posed in a question: How can there be any real concerns when, as noted in a recent media article discussing ambulatory surgical clinics, many millions of patients across...
Read MoreIn the realm of medical malpractice, preventable surgical error surely ranks high among patient concerns. When undergoing surgery, patients are absolutely vulnerable and must rely upon a reasonable expectation that all medical professionals in an operating theater will do their duties in a competent manner. Tragically, that sometimes does not happen, with patient injuries resulting from medical malpractice acts...
Read MoreAdministrators of hospitals in Missouri and all other states across the country that receive public dollars are unquestionably focused on the federal “Hospital Compare” website and the list of medical facilities nationally that have been deemed comparatively problematic. “Problematic” in this instance means that, when compared with other hospitals, a particular medical facility has what is considered a troublingly...
Read MoreEven a cursory look at representative literature concerning birth injuries reveals that many things can go wrong prior to, during and immediately following a baby’s delivery. Indeed, the types of birth injuries that can occur span a wide spectrum, ranging from cerebral, Erb’s and brachial plexus palsy to fractured bones, paralysis and spinal cord injuries. Shoulder dystocia is yet...
Read MoreFor obvious reasons, birth injuries that occur during or closely following upon a newborn’s entry into the world are highly distressing for a mother and family members. Even in instances where long-term and adverse birth-related injuries do not result, the fears and stresses associated with a botched or otherwise confused medical response during birth can be notably stressful and...
Read MoreFederal government scrutiny of dialysis administration some years back sadly revealed a high number of mistakes that routinely occur with this important care-delivery function. Indeed, and as noted on a website page at Dempsey Kingsland Osteen, discussing dialysis monitoring, “substantial deficiencies in the quality of care” were discovered by investigators from the Government Accounting Office at about 15 percent...
Read MoreGiven the huge and growing population of baby boomers and other aging persons across the United States, it seems only logical that nursing home-related stories encompassing a wide range of themes pop up consistently in media outlets. And, indeed, they do. And while commentators often take the necessary step of noting that many nursing home facilities across the country...
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