Five Essential Components of an Effective Stroke System
Five Essential Components of an Effective Stroke System
Approximately 795,000 Americans will have a stroke this year. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability. The direct and indirect costs associated with stroke are projected to exceed $65 billion in 2009, according to the National Stroke Association.
Is Patient Safety Part of Something Larger?
I keep seeing examples of what I think of as a
patient safety approach to problems: an emphasis on clear
communication, teamwork, systems thinking, disclosing and learning from
errors, and personal accountability balanced with an understanding of
the inevitability of human error. These principles have relevance and
benefits beyond patient safety — beyond medicine…
Using Social Media to Improve Patient Safety
Facebook. Twitter. Wikipedia. The names alone
may cause eyes to roll and prompt a quick run for the exits. Despite
widespread skepticism, these and other interactive sources of
information and communication, referred to as social media, continue to
proliferate.
Heparin: Improving Treatment and Reducing Risk of Harm
The short-acting, reversible anticoagulant heparin is widely used in hospitalized patients to prevent the development or extension of potentially life-threatening blood clots. However, numerous issues make the use of this high-risk agent particularly challenging and error-prone.