Feature Channels: Patient Safety

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2-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EDT
Tulane-Led Study First to Confirm Effectiveness and Safety of New Treatment for Hemophilia
Tulane University

An international research team led by Dr. Cindy Leissinger of Tulane University School of Medicine, along with Dr. Alessandro Gringeri from the University of Milan, has found that a drug commonly used to treat bleeding events in people with a type of severe hemophilia can also be used to prevent such events from happening in the first place.

Released: 1-Nov-2011 1:15 PM EDT
SmartTots Initiative Plans Research to Answer Questions on Anesthetic Safety in Children
International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS)

A special section of the November issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), presents new research, updates, and commentaries about possible toxic effects of anesthetics and sedatives in infants and young children. The IARS is a key partner in the SmartTots initiative, dedicated to finding scientific answers to these urgent public health concerns.

Released: 1-Nov-2011 1:05 PM EDT
'Melting Curve Analysis' Provides New Tool for Assessing Malignant Hyperthermia Risk
International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS)

A new DNA test may make it much simpler to identify patients at risk of malignant hyperthermia (MH)—a rare but life-threatening complication of exposure to common anesthetics reports the November issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

Released: 31-Oct-2011 12:10 PM EDT
Anesthetics Not Only Trigger of Malignant Hyperthermia
Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS)

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a potentially life-threatening inherited disorder of muscle. Patients who are at risk for MH usually have no outward signs of muscle problems. However, when exposed to certain commonly used general anesthetics they may develop very high body temperature, increased heart rate and muscle breakdown. If not recognized and treated promptly MH may be fatal.

27-Oct-2011 1:00 PM EDT
Antibiotics May Not Be Only Cause of Community-Acquired Clostridium difficile Infection
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)

Antibiotics May Not Be Only Cause of Community-Acquired Clostridium difficile Infection and Nursing Home Residence May Allow for “On-Admission” Prediction Model of Disease Severity, according to the results of two separate studies released today.

Released: 27-Oct-2011 11:55 AM EDT
Minimizing Healthcare-Associated Infections Improves Patient Care and Cuts Costs
Thomas Jefferson University

Research presented at the 2011 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

Released: 26-Oct-2011 11:45 AM EDT
Study Compares U.S., EU Health Care Privacy Laws
Virginia Tech

Electronic health records can potentially save billions of dollars in health care costs and increase patient safety, but have considerable risks to individual privacy in the United States, more so than the European Union.

Released: 26-Oct-2011 10:00 AM EDT
'Peace and Power' Can Transform Disruptive Behavior among Nurses
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

Bullying and other types of disruptive behavior in health care settings are common problems that can negatively affect patient care. An approach incorporating emancipatory education and community-building provides a way of addressing "horizontal violence" between nurses, according to a paper in the November issue of Advances in Nursing Science. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

21-Oct-2011 1:40 PM EDT
Study Offers Clues As to Why Some Patients Get Infections from Cardiac Implants
Ohio State University

New research suggests that some patients develop a potentially deadly blood infection from their implanted cardiac devices because bacterial cells in their bodies have gene mutations that allow them to stick to the devices.

19-Oct-2011 8:25 AM EDT
Simple Steps to Prevent Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections Save Hundreds of Kids' Lives, Millions of Dollars
Johns Hopkins Medicine

By following a few basic rules for handling central venous catheters, nurses and doctors at a group of children's hospitals have, in three years, prevented nearly a thousand infections and saved more than a hundred children's lives and millions of dollars, according to a study by investigators at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and elsewhere

Released: 14-Oct-2011 8:00 AM EDT
Anesthesia Quality Institute Activates First Nationwide System to Collect Anesthesia Data to Improve Patient Safety
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

The Anesthesia Quality Institute (AQI) has activated the first nationwide system to collect individual adverse events from anesthesia, pain management and perioperative care.

Released: 13-Oct-2011 8:00 AM EDT
Improving Radiation Therapy for Cancer Patients
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed mathematical optimization models that will make radiation treatment plans safer and more efficient than conventional plans.

Released: 6-Oct-2011 12:45 PM EDT
Blood Infections Most Costly Hospital Condition
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Septicemia, an illness caused by blood infections with bacteria such as E. coli and MRSA, was the single most expensive condition treated in U.S. hospitals in 2009.

28-Sep-2011 9:00 AM EDT
MRI Tests Safe for People with Implanted Cardiac Devices When Certain Guidelines Are Followed
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), an important diagnostic test, has traditionally been off limits to more than 2 million people in the United States who have an implanted pacemaker to regulate heart rhythms or an implanted defibrillator to prevent sudden cardiac death. Now, in a study published in the October 4 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, cardiologists at Johns Hopkins report that a protocol they developed has proved effective in enabling patients with implanted cardiac devices to safely undergo an MRI scan.

Released: 3-Oct-2011 2:40 PM EDT
Survey Reveals Reasons Doctors Avoid Online Error-Reporting Tools
Johns Hopkins Medicine

“Too busy,” and “too complicated.” These are the typical excuses one might expect when medical professionals are asked why they fail to use online error-reporting systems designed to improve patient safety and the quality of care. But, Johns Hopkins investigators found instead that the most common reason among radiation oncologists was fear of getting into trouble and embarrassment.

23-Sep-2011 8:35 AM EDT
Receiving Carotid Artery Stent From Lesser-Experienced Physicians Linked With Higher Risk of Death
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

An analysis of Medicare data indicates that older patients who had a stent placed in the carotid artery (a major artery of the neck and head) by a physician operator who performed less than six of the procedures a year, or if the procedure was conducted early in the operator’s career, had an increased risk of death 30 days after the stent placement, according to a study in the September 28 issue of JAMA.

Released: 23-Sep-2011 3:00 AM EDT
Hospital for Special Surgery Has Lowest Infection Rate for Total Hip Replacement in New York State
Hospital for Special Surgery

For the third year, Hospital for Special Surgery is the only hospital in New York State with an infection rate that is significantly lower than the state average for hip replacement or revision surgeries, according to the 2010 report on hospital infection rates just released by the State Dept. of Health.

22-Sep-2011 8:55 AM EDT
Time to Stop Giving Toxic Drugs to Transplant Patients?
American Society of Nephrology (ASN)

Immediately after transplantation, patients should minimize or avoid using certain anti-rejection drugs.

20-Sep-2011 9:00 AM EDT
Researchers Pinpoint the Cause of MRI Vertigo
Johns Hopkins Medicine

A team of researchers says it has discovered why so many people undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially in newer high-strength machines, get vertigo, or the dizzy sensation of free-falling, while inside or when coming out of the tunnel-like machine.



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