Patient Safety

Why Does the US Have the Worst Rate of Preventable Deaths Among Industrialized Nations?

1 Comment / Health /Medical Consumerism, Health Insurance, Healthcare Quality, Media, Medical and Research Studies, Medical Errors / Mistakes / Misdiagnosis, Patient Advocacy, Patient Empowerment, Patient Safety, Patient Tools, Self Help

From 2002 to 2003, about 101,000 Americans died from preventable causes ranging from diabetes to bacterial infections and surgical complications, so says a study releases this week. The reports are based on results from a study undertaken by the Commonwealth Fund, a private New York City based health policy foundation. The study took place among […]

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MRSA: Victimization and Shooting the Messenger

8 Comments / Doctor Communication, Health /Medical Consumerism, Health Insurance, Healthcare Quality, Hospitals, Patient Advocacy, Patient Empowerment, Patient Safety, Patient Tools, Self Help, Surgery

Yesterday’s post, where I told the stories of three (+2) victims of MRSA infections, raised ire, blame and excuses from commentators and emailers alike. Never mind that they were stories of five people who are infected with MRSA, one of whom has basically been left to die. Never mind that the frustration levels of these

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MRSA: Patients Ignored, Left to Die

18 Comments / Healthcare Quality, Hospitals, Patient Advocacy, Patient Empowerment, Patient Safety, Patient Tools, Politics and Medicine, Surgery

(Find an update to this post: MRSA, Victimization and Shooting the Messenger) (And a further update, posted 8 months later:  MRSA:  Patient Ignored, Left to Die — Redux) In the past two days, I have heard three stories, all related to MRSA and other hospital acquired staph infections, and all relating to heinous — even

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When Your Doctor Fakes You Out

7 Comments / Doctor Communication, Health /Medical Consumerism, Healthcare Quality, Medical and Research Studies, Medical Errors / Mistakes / Misdiagnosis, Patient Empowerment, Patient Safety, Patient Tools

Empowered patients will be interested in a report today on the study results of a survey of Chicago area internists (family doctors). It seems that 45% of them see nothing wrong in prescribing placebos — fake sugar pills — for their patients. The report actually tiptoes around what the results really mean. The spinmeisters had

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Lot’s ‘o Topics – Find Links Here

Health /Medical Consumerism, Health Insurance, Healthcare Quality, Media, Patient Advocacy, Patient Empowerment, Patient Safety, Patient Tools, Self Help

It’s been a busy several days — as the holiday season always is. Haven’t written anything new on this blog for your consideration, but I have been busy! Here are the topics I’ve covered, and links so you can find them: What about Nataline? The 17-year-old who got caught in the crossfire over insurance coverage,

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Doctors Protect Colleagues at Patient Expense

Doctor Communication, Health /Medical Consumerism, Healthcare Quality, Medical Errors / Mistakes / Misdiagnosis, Patient Advocacy, Patient Empowerment, Patient Safety, Patient Tools

One of the questions I am asked frequently is about the best way to find the right doctor for a second opinion. That question — and its answer — have become among the most important answers I’ve ever provided, ever since the proof of my answer was provided in the results of a study last

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Patient Empowerment on About.com

Health /Medical Consumerism, Healthcare Quality, Media, Patient Advocacy, Patient Empowerment, Patient Safety, Patient Tools, Self Help

This is the announcement I’ve been waiting to make to you, and it’s finally time to spring it…. I’m pleased to tell you that as of Friday, About.com has launched a new site for Patient Empowerment — and yours truly is the expert behind the scenes. About.com is owned by the New York Times —

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Trisha Torrey →←
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