Articles

If recent research and the wise words of medical industry professionals are to be believed, two little words might have the power to revolutionize medical malpractice claims in Oregon and around the country. The words? “I’m sorry.” Could it really be that simple? Could hearing treating physicians apologize actually bring change to America’s current complicated,…

Head injuries are one of the most vexing concerns for medical care providers and patients alike. Unlike many other types of injury, the long-term effects of head trauma may not manifest for months, or even years after an accident. According to a new study from the New York University Langone School of Medicine, even victims…

Nurses routinely work long shifts and odd hours to keep hospitals and care facilities staffed. Some registered nurses work swing shifts switching between daytime hours and overnight shifts. In addition to long shifts, many also work voluntary overtime. In some states, mandatory overtime is also an expectation. Past research has consistently found that long hours…

This summer, Senators Barbara Mikulski and Lisa Murkowski passed a resolution designating June 2012 as “National Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Awareness Month.” The virus, CMV, is a common cause of birth defects in the United States. Approximately one percent of babies suffer from congenital CMV, which equates to approximately 40,000 babies born with the virus each year.…

Oregon hospital patients hope for a safe and harmless hospital environment. That is why they may be dismayed to learn the results of a recent study. The Oregon Patient Safety Commission reports that in 2009 at least 32 patients died, because of preventable hospital errors. There were 136 total incidents investigated. Patients suffered minimal or…

A shortage of primary care doctors is one factor pushing more to the emergency room. The United States will have a shortage of 45,000 primary care physicians by 2020, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges. This may explain why many healthcare leaders find their emergency departments overcrowded. Of those leaders, 51 percent worry…

Medical malpractice reform has been a hot topic across the country and in Oregon. Some states have even passed legislation to cap the amount of damages that injured people may receive after a life-altering injury. Some Oregon lawmakers believe that damage caps will reduce the costs of medical malpractice lawsuits and overall health care costs.…

Recent accusations that hospital giant Health Corporation of America (HCA) performed unnecessary cardiac surgeries in one of its Florida hospitals turned out to be true. A former nurse at the hospital alerted HCA’s ethics officer of the unnecessary surgeries and an investigation substantiated them, but the nurse’s alerts were not the only signs. Unnecessary Cardiac…

Last month, a panel of medical experts recommended that routine ovarian cancer screenings be discouraged. They cited a study which found that the screening did not do anything to save the lives of women diagnosed with this disease. The study also found that ovarian cancer screenings could actually do more harm than good, often leading…

A 23-year-old woman with a troubled past killed herself by swallowing and choking on a small medicine bottle while in the care of Oregon State Hospital in Portland. An unfortunate series of preventable hospital errors contributed to this young woman’s death. The woman’s medical history clearly warned that she would swallow small objects, yet a…