In early 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration launched a Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse to eliminate loopholes that allowed truckers who abused substances to continue to work. The clearinghouse is a database that lists truck drivers and any...
How pharmacy medication mistakes cause medical malpractice
If you rely on prescriptions for short or long-term health concerns, you might want to practice a little discernment when choosing a pharmacy. Medication errors are a common cause of pharmacy/medical malpractice that affects many lives. Pharmacists and their staff...
Your fall risk may increase during hospitalization
If you need long-term care for a serious illness or injury, nurses at the hospital should evaluate your fall risk. If they determine you have an increased likelihood of slipping, tripping or falling, they should place a yellow bracelet on your wrist. This bracelet...
The underreporting of surgical errors and harm to patients
When you go to the hospital, you will likely see posters touting the safety precautions the facility puts in place, but none highlighting medical mistakes. If you are about to undergo surgery, you must depend on the skill of your surgeon and trust that you will not...
The devastating impact of medication errors
The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention classifies a medication error as a preventable event that creates adverse effects or inappropriate use. U.S. consumers report more than 1 million such errors to the Food and Drug...
Get the facts about failure to diagnose cancer
Many types of cancer are easier to treat when diagnosed early. Unfortunately, your doctor may fail to recognize cancer symptoms, giving the disease a chance to spread before you seek treatment. Learn more about failure to diagnose cancer and determine whether you or...
Steps to take after a health care fall
In a health care setting, a patient fall constitutes a "never event." According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a never event is a serious, preventable safety issue in a hospital or nursing home. Nevertheless, AHRQ reports that 50% of nursing home...
7 types of never events
In 2001, Ken Kizer, M.D., introduced the term “never event.” The phrase describes medical errors that should never happen, which may include death or serious injury. The events are recognizable and severe for patients and show a problem with the safety and integrity...
A misdiagnosed blood clot may have disastrous consequences
When you are not feeling well, you expect a medical professional to use established procedures and available equipment to diagnose and treat your condition. Still, medical misdiagnoses happen at an alarming rate. If your doctor fails to diagnose a blood clot, you may...
Top 4 factors that increase risk of bedsores
Do you have an elderly loved one who spends most of the time bedbound or sitting in a wheelchair? If so, he or she may be at risk of developing bedsores. Formed when the weight of the body cuts off the blood supply to the skin, making it susceptible to forces of...
