The American College of Physicians (ACP) is a national medical organization with more than 130,000 physician members. Its stated mission is "to foster excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine."
Electronic health records: A two-post examination
Today's blog is the first of a two-part post that examines the advent and rapid proliferation of electronic health record (EHR) systems in medical facilities across the country. As we have previously noted in other posts, electronic records are being pushed heavily by the government, insurers, medical administrators and others, and they are often touted for a perceived ability to make medical care cheaper, safer and more efficient.
New studies, conclusions: Annual PSA screenings falling from favor
The time-honored advice of urologists and many advocacy groups recommending that men have a PSA blood test annually to screen for cancer is under siege and has been strongly challenged in recent years by a number of medical experts and organizations.
Paper: Is the public being served by recent UPMC decisions?
Our medical malpractice blog seeks to apprise readers of relevant medical information across a broad spectrum. Often that involves a national topic or trend. Sometimes, too, of course, the focus is local or regional.
UPMC board members go dark
Interesting article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about UPMC's board of directors. "Not a single one will talk about their CEO's quest to conquer Pittsburgh"...
ER changes geared toward reducing medical errors, patient harm
Based on any number of measurements, virtually every emergency room ("ER") across the country is under mounting stress. An overall lack of primary doctors often results in patients going to the ER initially for treatment. Staff members there are invariably overworked and understaffed, and the work environment is typically chaotic and intense.
HRSA under fire for shutting down public medical error data bank
In 1986, Congress enacted a law aimed at providing information that could be used to evaluate and monitor the amount and types of medical malpractice acts being committed by health care professionals.
Focus: Doctors' liability to third parties for medical negligence
Two medical malpractice cases alleging medication mismanagement are being scrutinized by legal experts, practitioners and medical associations for their implications concerning physicians' liability to third parties when those nonpatients are injured by the criminal acts of patients following prescribed treatments.
Patients dying from Lap-Band weight-loss surgery
An aggressive marketing campaign by a company called 1-800-GET-THIN has led to a surge of calls from people in Southern California over the past year who are seeking to lose weight. Patients are directed by the company to affiliated clinics, where doctors surgically implant a silicone ring into their stomachs that prevents them from overeating.
