Category Archives: Patient safety

Using technology to make patient care safe by Pat Iyer

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Pat Iyer

A recent issue of Healthcare Informatics provides hope that technological advances can improve patient safety. One of the most significant barriers to care delivery is communication. Nurses, says Turisco, are often placed in the middle of the communication loop, where … Continue reading →

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How a medical malpractice suit can make a difference by Pat Iyer

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Pat Iyer

Why do people file medical malpractice suits? One reason is to get answers about what happened to result in the injury. Another is to prevent the same thing from happening to another person. Although risk managers, practitioners, and administrators may … Continue reading →

Posted in Damages, Healthcare Risk Management, Medical malpractice, Medication errors, Nursing malpractice, Patient safety | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Has the Nursing Shortage Gone Away? By Pat Iyer

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Pat Iyer

Prior to the recession, dire predictions about the coming shortages of nurses and faculty stressed the need to recruit and retain more nurses. Then, spouses lost jobs and non-working nurses returned to the workplace. Fully staffed facilities, layoffs, and financial … Continue reading →

Posted in Medical malpractice, Nursing malpractice, Patient safety, Priorities | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Reducing Distractions is Reducing Medication Errors – by Pat Iyer

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Pat Iyer

My father was fascinated by airplanes when I was little. I recall going to Idlewild Airport in New Jersey to watch planes land. My father was trained as an aeronautical engineer. Little did I know as a child the lessons … Continue reading →

Posted in Medical malpractice, Medication errors, Nursing malpractice, Patient safety | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Are there frivolous lawsuits? By Pat Iyer

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Pat Iyer

The other day, a woman who sells healthcare insurance made a casual comment to me about how insurance rates are affected by frivolous lawsuits. Let’s be clear. There are two kinds of medical malpractice claims: those that settle or go … Continue reading →

Posted in Expert witness, Healthcare reform, Legal nurse consulting, Medical malpractice, Patient safety, Tort reform, Trial lawyer skills | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

On Challenging an Authority

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Pat Iyer

A nurse sees a physician about to commit a grievous error. A resident watches an attending physician brush aside warning signs of a medical error. What factors go into challenges that may save a patient’s life? Malcolm Gladwell provides insights … Continue reading →

Posted in Business skills, Communication skills, Medical malpractice, Patient safety | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Michael Jackson: A Demerol Death? by Pat Iyer

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Pat Iyer

Reports state Jackson stopped breathing shortly after receiving an injection of Demerol. Attempts to resuscitate him were not successful. Was it the combination of medications or the Demerol which caused him to stop breathing? Toxicology reports are pending. Recent reports … Continue reading →

Posted in Damages, Legal nurse consulting, Medical malpractice, Medical records, Medication errors, Nursing malpractice, Patient safety | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Retained Objects after Surgery by Pat Iyer

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Pat Iyer

The patient leaves the operating room with a sponge, a clamp, or a towel inside. What is the impact on the patient? We’ve heard the stories of the patient’s clamp that sets off the metal detector in the airport, but … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS never events, Damages, Medical malpractice, Medical records, Nursing malpractice, Patient safety | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Nursing school grad saves dean’s life at commencement by Pat Iyer

Posted on June 15, 2009 by Pat Iyer

Every once in awhile, I come across a story that highlights the joys of being a nurse. Read about a lucky man. Charity Townsend Caldwell wasn’t even going to go to her own graduation that day, but a friend talked … Continue reading →

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Air embolism: the silent killer by Pat Iyer

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Pat Iyer

Our prodgram on air embolism revealed some frightening facts. As little as one ounce of air can enter the blood vessel in a second and result in death. Sue Masoorli RN, a skilled IV therapy educator, author, and expert, explained … Continue reading →

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Posted in Medical malpractice, Nursing malpractice, Patient safety | Tagged , , | Leave a comment