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1. New Annals Series Explores Medical Errors; First Case Study is The Wrong Patient
In the first of an eight-article series on medical errors, two patient safety experts describe the 17 errors that allowed one patient to receive an invasive procedure intended for another patient (Academia and Clinic, p. 826). Each article in the series diagnoses the problems in the medical system and in individual decision-making that led to a serious error or adverse medical outcome for a patient (Editorial, p. 850).
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2. Reviewing Patient Charts Is Not a Reliable Way to Find Medical Mistakes
A 1999 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report estimated that 44,000 Americans die each year of medical errors. The estimates were based on reviews of hospital medical records. In a new study, researchers reviewed 500 of the records used in the IOM report and found that two changes in the record review process markedly reduced the rates of negligent events: increasing the number of reviewers from one to three, and requiring reviewers to be highly confident that the event being examined was due to negligence (Brief Communication, p. 812). Thus, the authors say, institutions and health systems interested in reducing medical errors will need more reliable measurements than reviewing medical records, such as direct observation of patient care.
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3. Cocaine Impairs Bodys Ability to Detect Overheating and Cool Down
Cocaine raises body temperature, which makes users more susceptible to fatal cocaine overdose. Researchers discover
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Contact: Susan Anderson
sandersion@mail.acponline.org
215-351-2653
American College of Physicians
3-Jun-2002