Health care-associated infections (HAIs) affect 1 in 20 patients, according to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HAIs are a top-10 cause of death in the United States, killing 2,500 annually, but the problem only seems to be worsening. A new...
Medical Malpractice
Brian McKeen Honored With Dan Cullan Memorial Award
Brian J. McKeen, managing partner and founder of , was recently selected for the Dan Cullan Memorial Award. The prestigious honor was bestowed upon McKeen for his lifetime dedication to advocacy, especially in the area of birth trauma...
Malpractice Costs Down 28 Percent, But Medical Costs Up 58 Percent
We've been saying it for years: Medical malpractice is not a significant factor in the rising cost of American health care. Since 2003, medical malpractice costs have decreased 28.2 percent, yet the cost of medical care has increased 58.2 percent.These telling medical...
Study: 1 In 4 Surgery Errors Attributed To Equipment, Technology
About 24 percent of all surgical mistakes are caused by technology problems or equipment failure, according to research recently published in BMJ Quality and Safety. The study is alarming, as the use of complex technology in the operating room has risen dramatically....
Healthcare-Associated Infections Plague 1.7 Million Every Year
Patients go to the hospital to improve their health, but each year 1.7 million Americans become worse when they suffer a healthcare-associated infection (HAI). These infections may involve deadly bacteria like clostridium difficile (C. diff), methicillin-resistant...
Prescription Painkiller Overdoses Soaring, Especially In Women
Prescription painkiller addictions have quickly become a widespread problem in the U.S., a phenomenon that has been closely followed by officials and lawmakers. However, even after Michael Jackson's death, the prevalence of prescription painkiller overdoses hasn't...
Decontamination Process Reduces MRSA Infections By 40 Percent
Deadly bacteria like MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, kill more people every year than AIDS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The problem is especially serious because the majority of these infections occur in...
Unsterile Endoscopes Not Only Disgusting, But Deadly
A colonoscopy, gastroscopy or duodenoscopy isn't on anyone's list of favorite things to do, but every year 15 to 20 million patients go through these uncomfortable procedures for the positive impact on their health. Disturbingly, a new medical study reveals that it's...
Despite Rising Demand, Emergency Rooms Becoming More Scarce
Approximately 20 percent of Americans visited an emergency room (ER) in 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There were a total of 130 million visits to ERs in 2011, a 33-million visit increase from 1995. Despite the rise in need,...
Medical Malpractice Suits Spur Safer Hospitals, Clinics
Medical malpractice lawsuits provide accountability for medical errors and allow injured patients to recover compensation. However, another benefit of malpractice suits has been overlooked: the improved safety of American health care. More than 95 percent of hospitals...