When it comes to a higher rate of successful surgical outcomes, more appears to be more, according to a new survey of hospital procedures. The U.S. News & World Report on Hospital Quality says that hospitals that perform a higher volume of certain surgeries save more lives than those with a low volume of those….
Continue ReadingArchives for May 2015
Panel Warns About Endoscopes, But Advises Their Continued Use
The February outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriacaea (CRE) at a Los Angeles hospital prompted the FDA to assemble a panel of experts to determine the fate of the device responsible for spreading the infection. A couple of weeks ago, the Gastroenterology and Urology Devices advisory committee unanimously agreed that the device, a specialized endoscope inserted into….
Continue ReadingWhen Hospitals Focus on Patient Happiness Instead of Patient Safety
As part of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), Medicare payments to hospitals are based on several accountability factors including measurable quality outcomes and a more subjective “patient satisfaction” rating. No one would argue against satisfying patients, but a recent article in The Atlantic made the case that subjectivity is dangerous, and leads “hospitals to steer….
Continue ReadingThe Error Rate Rises When Machines Override Human Judgment
If Google maps has made you less able to find your way around a printed version, consider that some people believe that advanced medical technology has led to some epically stupid human medical errors. Megan McArdle, a columnist for Bloomberg, has looked into the advanced technology = retarded thinking scenario in health care. She recalled….
Continue ReadingDepression and a Higher Risk of Stroke
People with depression know that it can be frustratingly persistent, requiring various kinds of treatment, often more than once. Now, a new study suggests that people with long-term depression face another possible challenge – a higher risk of stroke. The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, not only showed a doubled….
Continue ReadingSuperior Reporting on a Complicated Topic — Lung Cancer Screenings
Earlier this month, the New York Times wrestled with the thorny issue of lung cancer screenings, and whether people who are entitled to certain screenings through their Medicare coverage should get them. As the paper pointed out, “… screening will not help everyone who is eligible, experts warn. Like any medical test or procedure, it….
Continue ReadingTread Carefully on Treadmills
A couple of weeks ago, renowned Silicon Valley executive Dave Goldberg died of severe head trauma and blood loss after a gym accident involving a treadmill. His untimely death at 47 raised the profile of a device whose risks had previously gone mostly unnoticed. Treadmill accidents, according to the Boston Globe, injure thousands of people….
Continue ReadingThe Mediterranean Diet Might Be Good for an Aging Brain
Like every other body part, the aging brain isn’t as proficient as it used to be; it’s not as adept at learning, reacting and remembering. But like other lifestyle choices, what you eat might have an effect on how well your brain continues to remember things. A new study published in the Journal of the….
Continue Reading‘Performance’ Supplement BMPEA Linked to Strokes
In April, the FDA sent warning letters to five nutritional supplement companies demanding that they stop selling products containing BMPEA, an amphetaminelike stimulant. This month, a report in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that this dangerous compound might cause a stroke. We blogged last month about BMPEA-containing supplements promoted for weight-loss and sports performance,….
Continue ReadingOrdering Your Own Lab Tests
Most people have medical lab work done when their doctor prescribes it. But what if you could have blood or urine analyzed simply by showing up at a lab that serves retail consumers? Is that a good idea? LabCorp is one of the country’s largest providers of outpatient laboratory services, and it’s planning to allow….
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