[9 MIN READ] 

Hospital discharge is cited as a vulnerable point in a patient’s care transition.

Its effective execution has significant implications on a patient’s recovery trajectory.

The most effective tool in a clinician’s toolbox to promote patient healing is the effective delivery of communicating discharge instructions for patients.

The Wrong Way to Communicate Discharge Instructions

Before discussing best practices for reviewing discharge instructions with patients, let us review what patient discharge should NOT look like:

[4 MIN READ]

ACOG has issued a practice advisory regarding the recent measles outbreak.

It is hard to fathom that a disease once considered eradicated is now in a state of progression across the United States. To date, there are 764 reported cases across 23 states; this number has increased by 60 cases from the previous week as reported by the CDC. No state is immune, and nationwide advancement is probable.

[12 MIN READ]

While the mission of clinical research is to advance the practice of medicine, it is an extremely daunting task to not only manage clinical trials, but to also oversee them to keep patients safe and reduce risk. In a review of numerous malpractice cases related to clinical research, I have found several common denominators and opportunities to improve patient safety.

The issues that arise from clinical trials are not typically intentional; they are simply intrinsic to the complexities of the system. Under the best of circumstances and in many cases by design, patients have significant problems and are randomized to receive a trial drug. This population is inherently at risk. Additionally, many medical professionals are not trained to conduct appropriate, safe, well-organized clinical trials. These factors along with others I will outline have led to an increase in patient injury, federal and legal scrutiny, and obviously, litigation.

[6 MIN READ]

The Joint Commission (TJC) defines a Sentinel Event as “a patient safety event (not primarily related to the natural course of the patient’s illness or underlying condition) that reaches a patient and results in any of the following: death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm and intervention required to sustain life.” TJC adopted a Sentinel Event Policy in 1996 in an effort to assist hospitals in voluntarily reporting, evaluating and reducing risk, and preventing patient harm. The term “never event” was first described in 2001 by Dr. Kenneth Kizer of The National Quality Forum (NQF) in reference to significant adverse medical errors that should never have taken place. The NQF currently uses this term when referring to serious reportable events deemed preventable. Whatever you choose to call these, they are simply events that really should not happen.

[8 MIN READ]

Unprecedented maternal mortality and morbidity rates nationwide have pushed healthcare providers and obstetric experts to closely examine all areas of perinatal and obstetric health. Specifically, the postpartum period is a time of heightened patient vulnerability and is fraught with maternal risk. Sixty-one percent of pregnancy-related deaths occur in the postpartum period, making it potentially more hazardous to a woman’s health than the actual pregnancy itself.

[5 MIN READ]

With the concept of physician burnout taking center stage, questions have arisen regarding the factors affecting it, either positively or negatively. One particular factor that has been the topic of research is the use of electronic medical records (EMRs), specifically the link, if any, between EMRs and physician burnout.

This blog will hopefully answer these questions definitely: EMRs are a causative factor of burnout. These two quotes are fitting in this situation:

[8 MIN READ]

I recently reviewed the bare-bones of what EMTALA is and highlighted recent studies of EMTALA investigations.

In this installment, I have summarized nine recently settled EMTALA cases in which monetary penalties were levied by OIG against the hospital that serve to illustrate the factors responsible for alleged violations.

[5 MIN READ]

EMTALA violations can be a costly lesson for both healthcare providers and organizations. EMTALA is an acronym for the “Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.” This statute was enacted in 1986 for the original purpose of preventing dumping – the practice of refusing service to patients in the emergency department for financial reasons. The final EMTALA statute now extends beyond this initial noble goal and prohibits discrimination against ED patients for any reason.

[6 MIN READ]

After reading the case with perspective on how to recognize secondary postpartum hemorrhage, it's critical to understand why it occurs and how to treat it.

Etiology of Secondary PPH

Why does secondary PPH occur? The normal physiologic changes associated with pregnancy are the perfect predisposition for an unrecognized hemorrhage. Typically, pregnant women are young and healthy with increases in circulating blood volume and hormonal and vascular changes specific to pregnancy. All of this creates the perfect environment for hemorrhage.

[4 MIN READ]

Your Postpartum Patient

Your postpartum patient was not complaining. Her vital signs were stable. She had experienced a prolonged labor, but to your knowledge, her vaginal delivery the previous day went well. Her recovery seemed to be progressing nicely. The morning report did not reveal that she was at any risk.