New audit reveals frequency of prescription errors in New York
Every year, people in New York City and across the state are prescribed medications by their physicians to combat a wide range of illnesses. When filling a prescription, New Yorkers must not only trust that their doctors are prescribing the appropriate medication, but also that the pharmacists are closely following the doctors’ instructions. According to […]
More people are making medication errors at home
A look at how at-home medication errors have more than doubled and why children are especially at risk. The number of mistakes people are making when they take their medication at home is growing at an alarming rate. According to the Washington Post, the number of at-home medication errors that were considered serious more than […]
Medication errors: What patients can do to prevent them
There are several steps patients can take to prevent undue harm caused by a medication error. Many adults in New York and in the rest of the U.S. take a prescription medication to help them manage or treat a health condition. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, nearly one-third of all adults […]
Medicare Report Reveals Serious Hospital Errors
Inspectors Need to Improve Tracking and Reporting to Address Hospital Negligence A recent Medicare report released by the agency’s inspector general, Daniel Levinson, revealed that more than 180,000 Medicare patients die each year due, in part, to treatment received during a hospital visit. According to Levinson, this death count stems from a failure on the […]
Medicare fines 17 NYC hospitals over patient complication rates
On behalf of Daniel C. Minc Medicare cuts designed to combat infections and other patient-safety issues A total of 17 hospitals in New York City will see their Medicare funding cut due to high rates of patient complications, such as infections, according to the New York Post. The 17 hospitals in the city are among […]
Medical residents and interns violate working regulations
Patients appreciate the devotion of hardworking medical care specialists. However, there is a difference between hardworking and overworking – the latter of which is professionally negligent. It is expected that doctors come to their jobs with a fresh mind as any lapse in focus can lead to serious harm. Residents of University of Chicago’s internal […]
Medical malpractice claims from bariatric surgery becoming more common
Bariatric surgeries like gastric bypass are complicated procedures. Unfortunately, a surgeon’s errors or malpractice makes the risk of serious complications or injury much higher. More than 100,000 bariatric surgeries are performed each year. The majority of bariatric patients will come through surgery just fine, experiencing only normal complications and adverse effects like pain, fatigue, nausea […]
Medical care specialists rarely report medication errors, study finds
Did you know that according to a recent study, patients and their families are not always told when hospitals make medication errors? A medication error is any incorrect administration of medicine. This can include failure to prescribe or administer the correct drug, a mistake in dosage, allergic interactions and other similar matters. When medication errors […]
Lawsuit shows dangers of Botox in treating cerebral palsy
On behalf of Daniel C. Minc Boy developed epilepsy following "off-label" use of drug to treat spasms A couple from upstate New York were recently awarded $6.75 million after Botox injections left their son, who is now seven years old, suffering from life-threatening epileptic seizures, according to U.S. News & World Report. Although Botox is […]
Is July really the most dangerous month to be a hospital patient?
This article looks at the so-called “July Effect” when patient deaths are rumored to spike at hospitals.
In the medical profession it is known as the “July Effect:” a midsummer phenomenon during which patient deaths at hospitals are said to spike. The most common explanation for the July Effect is that July is when many medical school graduates take up their residencies at teaching hospitals throughout the country, which in turn leads to an increase in hospital errors and a deterioration in patient care. In recent years, a number of studies have been conducted to verify whether the phenomenon is an urban legend or based in fact. So far, those studies have suggested evidence for and against the notion that the July Effect may be rooted in reality.