Certainly, nobody wants to get sicker in the hospital. Despite the best efforts of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, there are dangers in hospitals that pose risks to patients. These hazards lurk in hospitals and increase your risk of infections, complications, and even death. How common and serious are dangers in hospitals? For starters, […]
Patient Safety
Patient Safety Risks
Everyone needs medical care at some point. And no one wants their healthcare to make them sicker. However, there are some common, potentially dangerous patient safety risks you should know about. This post, and its companion post, are based on information provided by ECRI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness […]
What You Need to Know About Medical Device Recalls
Not all medical devices are safe. Patient harm can occur when a device malfunctions, or otherwise causes harm. When a device is deemed dangerous, manufacturers usually issue a device recall. As patients, we should know if we have a dangerous medical device implanted in our bodies, or if we use a dangerous device to monitor […]
Sales Reps Helping Surgeons in the OR – Is this Safe?
It’s logical to assume there will be many medical staff members in the operating room during a surgical procedure. Everyone expects that in addition to the surgeon(s), there will be anesthesiologists, nurses, and perhaps doctors in training. However, did you know there are often medical device sales reps helping surgeons in the OR? Why are […]
How Do You Get C. Diff Infections?
Many of us think of hospitals as sterile places, kept immaculately clean, free of germs. And certainly, no one goes into the hospital expecting to get even sicker from a bacterial infection. However, hospitals are not kept as clean as they should be, exposing patients to dangerous germs. One such germ, Clostridium difficile (often referred […]