Articles Tagged With:
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Beyond the Symptoms: A Primary Care Approach to Depression Management
In the vast mosaic of primary care, depression often remains in the shadows, embedded in patient care but easily overlooked. Left unrecognized, the prognosis worsens and complicates the management of other chronic conditions. However, with timely identification and effective treatment, the course of depression can be altered significantly. A comprehensive understanding of this condition, coupled with effective treatment strategies, empowers the primary care physician to mitigate the potentially debilitating effects of this condition.
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New Patient Safety Initiatives Could Change Standard of Care
New initiatives from the Biden administration could result in improvements to patient safety, but they also may create new compliance burdens and change the standard of care used in malpractices cases.
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Report Finds Hospitals Safer Now than Before Pandemic
Hospital and health system performance on key patient safety and quality measures was better in the first quarter of 2024 than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the American Hospital Association.
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Extreme Surgical Error Shows Never Events Still Happen
A stunning surgical error in Florida is a reminder that never events still can happen and underscores the importance of a hospital culture that encourages clinicians to speak up when they suspect something is wrong.
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Hand Hygiene Improving, New Research Finds
Hand hygiene is improving dramatically in U.S. healthcare facilities, according to a new report from The Leapfrog Group. The 2024 Hand Hygiene Report indicates that since Leapfrog began public reporting on hand hygiene in 2020, the percentage of hospitals meeting its rigorous standards has increased from 11% to 74% in 2023
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Claims and License Events for Counselors Doubled in Five Years
The number of reported license protection adverse incidents and claims made against counselors to the Board of Professional Counselors has nearly doubled in the last five years, according to a report from Healthcare Providers Service Organization, a division of Aon Affinity. The report indicates that 4,080 reported license protection adverse incidents and claims were made against counselors in the 2024 dataset, compared to 2,082 in the 2019 dataset.
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Hospital May Be Held Liable for ‘Independent Contractor’ Surgeon’s Alleged Mistakes
A Texas Appellate Court recently decided that a nonprofit hospital could be held vicariously liable for a botched brain surgery that left a minor permanently disabled. The hospital’s argument that the defendant surgeon was an independent contractor rather than an employee was dismissed by the court. This ruling opens the door for the family of the injured plaintiff, who sued on her behalf, to continue their case against the hospital and doctor and, if successful, seek to hold the hospital responsible for damages.
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Minnesota Orthopedic Center Settles Injury Suit Before Second Trial
A settlement has been reached in a high-stakes lawsuit between an orthopedics center and former patient stemming from a 2017 emergency surgery that allegedly led to catastrophic and permanent injuries to the patient’s leg. This settlement comes just before a second trial was set to begin after a jury previously had awarded the patient $110 million in damages — a verdict later vacated by the court for being excessive.
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Look for the Pattern
How would you interpret the two-lead rhythm strip shown in the figure? Hint: Is there a pattern?
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Nalmefene Injection (Zurnal) and Intranasal Nalmefene HCl (Opvee)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first nalmefene autoinjector for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose. Nalmefene is an opioid antagonist and an analog of naltrexone. It was granted a priority review and accelerated approval with a breakthrough therapy designation. It is distributed by Purdue Pharma L.P. as Zurnal.