Germs can be dangerous, causing a wide range of infectious diseases. Some people go to extremes to avoid germs, but for most of us, we just try to be careful, while trying not to think about it. But we can’t escape germs, even in places we think are clean. Did you know doctor offices and […]
Archive | Patient Safety
How Safe are Medical Devices?
You know you’re taking a risk if you’re skydiving or bull riding. But did you know there are serious risks associated with many medical devices? Maybe your diabetes leads to a recommendation for an insulin pump. Or, perhaps years of constant hip pain led you to a surgeon’s office to discuss a hip replacement. Or, […]
How Can Patients Protect Themselves from Hospital Infections?
No one wants to go to the hospital, and certainly no one wants to get sicker while they are there. However, since there are germs lurking throughout hospitals, there is actually a pretty good chance a patient could acquire a serious hospital infection. How common are hospital-acquired infections? Common enough that you should care. How […]
Four Patient Safety Hazards You Need to Know About
At one time or another, we all need medical care. Whether it’s for a sudden illness, a chronic condition or a serious illness or injury, we’ll need a doctor’s help. Of course, we expect the care we receive to help us, not harm us. But unfortunately, that is not always the case. Doctors, nurses and […]
Dangers in Hospitals
We go to the hospital for care and recovery. Certainly no one wants to get sicker in the hospital, but it happens more often than most people realize. There are dangers in hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, that can cause serious harm, even death. Each year ECRI* compiles of a list of top health technology […]
Health Hazards in Hospitals
As a patient, it’s scary be in the hospital. It’s equally scary when your loved one is in the hospital. We all worry about health and recovery. Most of us don’t worry about the risk of getting sicker from health hazards in the hospital. But we should. It turns out there are dangers lurking in […]
How Well Does Your Hospital Manage Sepsis Infections?
No one goes into the hospital expecting to pick up a potentially deadly sepsis infection. Yet it’s killing hundreds of thousands of people every year. Some hospitals are better than others at identifying and treating sepsis. How well does your hospital manage sepsis infections? The what, how and why of sepsis. What is sepsis? Sepsis […]
Should you Speak Up if You Think Your Doctor is Wrong? YES!
Would you speak up if a waiter brought you a hamburger, but you ordered fish? Would you speak up if the bagger at the grocery store put cans of soup on top of a loaf of bread in your bag? I am guessing that most of us would speak up in these circumstances. After all, […]
Reduce Your Risk of Medical Errors That Even the Best Doctors Can Make
We literally put our lives in the hands of doctors. We trust them to do their jobs well – to heal us and protect us from harm. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In fact, medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. Do you know what you should do […]
What Happens if You Don’t Get Your Test Results When You Leave the Hospital?
As a hospital patient, it is almost certain that your doctors will order tests to determine your diagnosis and/or treatment plans. Getting the results of these tests, and following through with care based on the findings, is critical for your health. But sometimes you don’t get these results before you are discharged. What happens if you don’t […]