Healthcare & Technology News
Computerize the errors away
Preventing medication errors in Massachusetts hospitals could save $170 million while sparing patients the ill effects of these mistakes. The best protection against errors is to computerize doctors' orders for drugs and tests. The 63 hospitals in the state that have not taken this step - only 10 have - should do so as quickly as possible.
Proactive patients help avoid hospital errors
Dr. Winston Ramsewak, director of diagnostic imaging at Windsor Regional Hospital, says checks and balances in the medical system should prevent any mistakes in diagnoses. Patients in Windsor, Ont., are being told to ask to see their medical test results after a woman in that city had a breast mistakenly removed even though she did not have cancer. Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital made public this week what it called a serious mistake in which Leamington resident Laurie Johnston was told she had cancer, then had a mastectomy Nov. 5. A few weeks later, Johnston learned that her surgeon, Dr. Barbara Heartwell, had misread the pre-surgery pathology report that declared a lump in Johnston's breast was actually benign.
Technology Gives Facelift to HealthCare
Thanks to the growing advancements in medical technology, the healthcare industry has had a surge in certain medical tests and increased prescription drug use, according to a new healthcare report. Things like imaging, assisted reproductive technologies, prescription drugs and knee replacements have grown dramatically since the 1990s, a report from the National Center for Health Statistics, said.
Hand Held Knowledge
If physicians are using their devices during a consultation, looking down at a screen for formulas or research, a certain sense of intimacy may be lost between doctor and patient. "We as medical educators have to teach students to use technology and still stay patient-focused," said Ohio State's Lucey, adding that as Smartphone's grow in popularity, protocols will evolve in how to use them with patients.
For now, common sense will have to do.
"If you go into a room and instead of talking to the patient you tap into the device, there's a problem," Lucey said. "On the other hand, you can choose to pull up images and diagrams that can really engage the patient."
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