Facility Fails to Provide Pressure Care and Prevention for Two Residents

South Heritage Health & Rehabilitation Center was cited after failing “to provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.” After observation, interviews with staff, review of resident records, review of hospital records, and local police department photographic evidence, two residents were found to be affected. T ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Mail Order Pharmacy Dangers

The use of mail-order pharmacies has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Some health insurance companies even require their insured to order many medications online or over the phone to reduce costs. But as OakRidger.com reports, online pharmacies can present a serious danger. Some companies that pose as legitimate pharmacies are not ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Mistaken Patient Identity

The first article in this series discussed drug errors that can occur when two medications have similar names. Whether the names sound close to one another or have similar spellings, this kind of medicine mix-up can have deadly results. Unfortunately, this confusion is not limited to medicines that have similar names. It can also happen when a doct ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Failing to Adjust Medication Dosages

There are many reasons why a doctor may need to change a drug’s dosage. If a patient’s still suffers symptoms, a dosage increase may be warranted. Changes in a patient’s general health may also require an adjustment to prevent a patient from taking too much medicine. MSN Health reports a common and serious doctor medicine mis ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Taking A Medication That Is Not Safe For You

There are many reasons why a medication might be considered an unsafe medicine for a particular patient. In addition to concerns about drug allergies, some medications are contraindicated for certain conditions. This means if you have a specific ailment taking that drug may cause additional problems, so it is advised that that drug not be used in t ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Insulin Overdose

In hospitals, among the top 10 medication errors are insulin overdose and other insulin errors. Patients living with diabetes can suffer severe injuries and even death if they are administered the wrong dosage. Patients who do not need insulin but receive it may also suffer an overdose. When such medical errors occur, they must be taken seriously s ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Failure to Identify a Drug Allergy

Between 6 and 10 percent of the 1.5 million people who become ill each year due to medicine mistakes suffer from a drug allergy. This can happen because a new allergy has developed or potentially because a doctor failed to identify a drug allergy. A drug allergy is a group of symptoms caused by the immune system’s hypersensitivity to a medica ... Read More
National Hospital Safety Scores Reported

The Leapfrog Group is a national non-profit organization founded by leading private healthcare experts and the nation’s top employers. The organization seeks to save lives “by reducing injuries, accidents and preventable medical mistakes and medication errors.” In order to cut down the number of hospital mistakes, the Leapfrog Gro ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Getting the Wrong Dosage

The number of people who are made sick each year by medication errors is staggering. There is no mandatory reporting system in place for incidents when a doctor prescribed the wrong drug or a pharmacist gave the wrong medication. Many practitioners do not report these events, as they fear retribution. According to AARP, the U.S. Food and Drug Admin ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Medications with Similar Components Cause Accidental Overdose

It is difficult to track medication mistakes since they are often not reported or on record unless someone is seriously injured by the error. Each year, over one and a half million people become seriously ill after taking the wrong medication. Another 100,000 die due to medicine mistakes. According to MSN Health, the third most common drug error in ... Read More
New Hampshire’s Medical Malpractice Early Offer Settlement Option

There is a great debate over how to handle medical malpractice cases. There are also many arguments and points of view. Despite evidence to the contrary, some believe tort reform and monetary damage caps will reduce the number of “frivolous” lawsuits, thereby lowering health care costs and streamlining the process. In some sta ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Taking Multiple Drugs that Interact With Each Other

Medication errors are preventable, but happen far too often. Over 1.5 million people suffer from the effects of a medication mistake each year. Ten medicine mistakes happen more often than others and are the most likely to cause drug related injuries or illnesses. The second drug error on MSN Health‘s list is taking multiple drugs that magnif ... Read More
Pre-Filled Medication Cartridges Could Cause Overdose

Modern technology has streamlined many aspects of life and medicine is no exception. Advances in both knowledge and equipment have improved length and quality of life. Other technological improvements have simply made medicine easier. The Carpuject Syringe System is one invention that is meant to improve safety and efficiency. It includes pre-measu ... Read More
Top 10 Medication Errors – Confusing Two Different Medications with Similar Names

Medication mistakes are more common than most people realize. While some who are given the wrong medicine do not suffer severe complications, over 1.5 million Americans get sick from taking the wrong drug and 100,000 die due to drug errors. MSN Health complied a list of the ten most common drug mistakes. Over the next few weeks I will go over each ... Read More
Common Acne Medications Double the Risk of Eye Infections

For many Americans, one of the worst parts of puberty is acne. Some can control it with over the counter medications and good hygiene. But millions turn to prescription medications like Accutane or Roaccutane to treat their blemishes. While it is common knowledge that many acne treatments will bleach wash cloths and dry out skin, a new study from T ... Read More