Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Patient Mix-Ups Leading To Dire Consequences
The Wall Street Journal: Medical Record Mix-Ups A Common Problem, Study Finds
A patient in cardiac arrest was mistakenly not resuscitated because clinicians confused him with a patient who had a do-not-resuscitate order on file. Another patient was given an okay to undergo surgery based on a different patient’s records and was found dead in his hospital room the next day. Such patient-identification mix-ups are common and can have deadly consequences, according to a report from the ECRI Institute, a nonprofit research group that studies patient safety. (Beck, 9/25)
In other health technology news —
The Washington Post: Hey, Siri, Am I Drunk?
Are you sober enough to drive? The familiar way to test levels of blood alcohol (without actually drawing blood) is with breathalyzers. They are used by police trying to identify drunk drivers and in ignition-locking devices designed to prevent intoxicated people from starting a car. But breath analysis can be distorted by such factors as ambient humidity and the use of mouthwash. Research has shown that sweat might provide a more reliably accurate medium. (Szokan, 9/23)
Health News Florida: Have Questions About Your Doctor? State Website Has Answers
The state’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance launched flhealthsource.gov last year, giving consumers a searchable database containing information about every doctor in the state. The Division of Medical Quality Assurance “strives to become the leader in health care quality regulation,” said director Lucy Gee. “The website redesign serves as another example of how (the agency) remains committed to serving the people of Florida. ”In addition to looking up a doctor’s criminal offenses and disciplinary action, consumers can see information about his or her education, training and specialty certifications. They can also find out where doctors have staff privileges and academic appointments. (9/23)
