Healthcare Risk Management – December 1, 2006
December 1, 2006
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Warning: Reprocessing disposables is accepted, but there are still some risks
Reprocessing medical devices labeled for single use offers substantial savings, but the practice has been controversial since it first started gaining popularity more than 10 years ago. -
ED falls not same as others, require different strategy
Falls occur in the emergency department (ED) with distressing frequency, but the typical fall prevention strategies that work in other areas of health care may not be so effective in this special setting. -
Research shows big risk with residency programs
Young doctors, long work hours, and inexperience are a bad combination when you're trying to improve patient safety, according to new research that provides a clear reminder of the risks inherent in a medical residency program. -
Has the patient given informed consent?
The patient is ready for surgery, or so the surgeon says. However, the circulating nurse says the patient is asking about the risks of the surgery and appears to be confused about what procedure is being done. -
Mother injured at hospital where 3 babies died
In a tragic demonstration that increased vigilance is sometimes not enough to prevent medication errors, the same hospital that promised sweeping changes after the accidental deaths of three premature newborns reports that another error has led to the paralysis of a teenage mother. -
Claims stabilizing for first time in years, study finds
Insurance claims against doctors, nurses and other medical professionals have stabilized for the first time in years, according to the seventh annual Aon Hospital Professional Liability and Physician Liability Benchmark Analysis, recently released by the insurance giant based in Chicago. -
JCAHO warns about risk of generator failure
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations recently issued a Sentinel Event Alert that urges health care organizations to pay special attention to how emergency power systems can fail. -
Legal Review and Commentary: Failure to provide treatment by 7 doctors and 1 hospital leads to death and $1.35 million settlement
A woman suffering from severe discomfort in her mouth and throat area presented to the emergency department (ED) for treatment. Over the next two days, doctors passed the patient around as they refused to respond to their on-call duties.