Mothers at risk of injury or death in childbirth
When mothers in New York go to the hospital for childbirth, they may expect to receive exceptional care to protect their health and lives during delivery. However, the United States has the highest maternal injury and mortality rate among developed countries. Every year, around 700 mothers die in childbirth and 50,000 mothers suffer severe injuries.
Abdominal X-rays may do more harm than good
Doctors in New York and around the country are increasingly discouraging the practice of taking X-rays when children have abdominal pain. Overall, the practice of medicine changes with the evolution of science and the collection of evidence that points to a particular treatment method. However, while it is highly uncommon for doctors in adult emergency medicine to give an X-ray to patients who arrive complaining of abdominal pain, they are commonly given to pediatric patients.
A rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial for stroke victims
The effects of a debilitating stroke can be greatly reduced when patients in New York and around the country receive thrombosis quickly. Thrombosis, which is also known as thrombolytic therapy, breaks down blood clots to relive pressure on the brain. However, accurately identifying stroke victims can be difficult for even experienced emergency room doctors as several other conditions present similar symptoms. Doctors at the Helsinki University Hospital studied 1,015 cases involving possible stroke victims to determine whether or not the pressure to generate a speedy diagnosis was affecting their accuracy, and they discovered that only two of these patients received thrombosis unnecessarily.
New tool can help diagnose breast cancer
Although breast cancer is among the most common form of cancer among woman, it is possible to treat the cancer and survive. However, some patients in New York and elsewhere have lesions that are hard to detect, which can make it harder to treat in time. A project called MAMMA is turning to computers to help find those lesions and obtain positive outcomes for patients.
Physician burnout and medical errors
The results of a national survey indicate that over 50 percent of doctors in New York and the rest of the nation are burned out. The results also indicate that those doctors have a higher likelihood of committing medical errors.
Errors with electronic health records vary across systems
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association indicates that the reliability and usefulness of electronic health records may vary widely across different systems. EHR error rates also varied among the different tasks physicians were asked to perform, and were as high as 50 percent for certain tasks. That could be important information for New York patients.
Study says penicillin misdiagnosis can lead to infection
Penicillin is a common ingredient used in medication at clinics and hospitals across New York. Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon to see patients with a serious allergy to penicillin. Allergic reactions caused by penicillin can have major health consequences, so it’s incumbent on medical professionals to confirm or rule out a penicillin allergy before prescribing it. Now, there are additional reasons to rule out a penicillin allergy.
PMF and Gaucher: similar symptoms can cause misdiagnosis
New York has many experienced and respected doctors, but no medical professional is immune to making mistakes. A medical case from Europe that spanned over 20 years illustrates the problems that can be caused by a misdiagnosis. In this case, two diseases, Gaucher disease and myelofibrosis, were confused.
Symptoms of Merkel cell carcinoma
When a New York patient suddenly finds a new growth on their skin, they should seek immediate attention to rule out any potentially deadly cancers, such as Merkel cell carcinoma. This rare cancer first appears as a nodule on the skin that may be skin-colored or bluish-red in color. While they usually first appear on the head, neck or face, they can spread to other parts of the body quickly if they are not dealt with in a timely manner.
IV drug shortages can result in medical errors
In New York hospitals, drug shortages can be a major obstacle. When there are shortages of certain drugs, medication errors may be more likely to occur, especially if they have an impact on the methods for compounding sterile products. Establishing preparedness processes and best practices can help ensure that hospitals are prepared for shortages and able to mitigate any errors these shortages could potentially cause.