To recognize the contributions of Ernest Amory Codman, MD, FACS (1869-1940), to American surgery and to patient care as a whole, a memorial headstone has been placed at his previously unmarked gravesite in the historic Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Helen Riess, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard University and director of the Empathy and Relational Science Program at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), has devoted her career to teaching and research in the art and science of the patient-doctor relationship. 

Collecting and analyzing clinical data to measure performance is no simple task for many physician practices, but is becoming increasingly critical as government and commercial payers shift to value-based payment contracts and programs (Block, 2013).

Essentially all medical devices used in hospitals come with a user instruction manual, commonly called Instructions for Use (IFU) or Directions for Use. Typically an IFU includes basic, operational “how to” information as well as pages of warnings, cautions, and other general or device-specific information beyond simply how to operate the device. 

The English language uses the Latin alphabet with 26 letters and a numeric system with 10 numerals. These alphanumeric symbols (letters and numerals) work well most of the time when used to communicate information. However, problems may arise during written or electronic communication because of similarities in appearance of the alphanumeric symbols we use.

Quality goals for diagnostic and interventional invasive laboratories can be difficult to measure effectively. In the lab, multiple factors can impact measurements and outcomes. Administrators typically focus on driving down costs while clinicians tend to concentrate on patient outcomes.

Safety experts, policy makers, and regulators cite technology solutions as key strategies to create a safer healthcare environment (Kohn, Corrigan & Donaldson, 2000; Wachter, 2012). Infusion pumps with built-in decision support logic for dosing limits and clinical advisories are one such solution currently employed by many hospitals. 

This article on the transition from hospital to home is the third in a series (see sidebar, pg. 28) that focuses on the healthcare journey of patients and families using the experiences of a real patient, Max. Vignettes have been extracted from a presentation given by Valerie, Max’s mother at One Voice: Patient- and Family-Centered Care, a program held at Mayo Clinic in 2008. These articles highlight how family-centered practices can enhance the healthcare experience for patients and their families.

Barcodes are everywhere. In the hospital environment, they are used for tracking medication, IV fluids, equipment and, of course, patients themselves. 

As the demand for clinical documentation grows, physicians find themselves torn between attending to patients and recordkeeping, often working on computer systems that are distracting for physicians and patients alike.