Archive: July 2013

If you believe that big-name hospitals are more reliable than others, and more likely to focus on patient care, you may not necessarily be right. According to a new analysis by Consumer Reports, hospitals may not always live up to…

According to new research, equipment or technology-related failures cause about one in every four operating room errors. It is clear from the data published online in the medical journal BMJ Quality & Safety that equipment problems are a substantial patient…

Some studies point to a so-called “weekend effect,” in which people admitted to emergency rooms over the weekend do not get the same quality of care as those who enter on weekdays. Now a new study in the British Medical…

Diagnostic errors and misdiagnosis are the leading causes of the medical malpractice claims that are filed across the country, according to a recent study. The American Medical Association estimates that 150,000 Americans suffer from misdiagnoses every year. One in three…

Some researchers say that the month of July is not the right time to schedule elective surgery. That’s because of a phenomenon called the “July Effect,” when surgical error rates reportedly rise as newly graduated doctors start their terms as…

People who are rushed to the hospital for emergency gallbladder surgery are more likely to suffer complications than those who undergo elective surgery. That is the conclusion of a new study by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science…

Tens of thousands of patients every year undergo surgeries that are completely unnecessary, according to a review of government data by USA Today. The research, which analyzes data from medical databases, found that patients very often are victims of doctors…

Burnout among doctors is a serious problem, because it increases fatigue, reduces motivation and morale, and raises the risk of medical errors. A new study finds that orthopedic surgeons may have a much higher risk of burnout than general surgeons….