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Patient Safety experts share their observations of emerging challenges and evolving best practices; information about accreditation and safety issues affecting hospitals and their medical staffs in free monthly e-newsletters.

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2007

December

Survey shows physicians know ethics but don't always practice professionalism, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 19, 2007
Washington governor asks for increased transparency to aid patient safety efforts, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 19, 2007
CVS looks to bring MinuteClinics to Boston area, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 19, 2007
Six months after APIC study, not enough being done to prevent MRSA, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 19, 2007
Editor's note, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 19, 2007
Are you a hero for patient safety?, Patient Safety Quality Monthly, December 13, 2007
AHRQ releases toolkits to help prevent medical errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 12, 2007
Study shows elderly ER visits could double over next five years, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 12, 2007
South Carolina hospitals strained by influx of mentally ill patients, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 12, 2007
Stroke patients rarely receive drug, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 12, 2007
Staph infection hospitalization and death rates rise rapidly between 1999 and 2005, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 5, 2007
Colorado next state to offer Web-based hospital scorecard, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 5, 2007
Large number of CT scans could lead to cancer, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 5, 2007

November

Study: Rapid response teams associated with declining child mortality rates, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 28, 2007
Berwick, Spear call for improved processes to impact healthcare in editorial, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 28, 2007
State-of-the-art hospital to put patient safety first, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 28, 2007
RI hospital fined for third wrong-site surgery this year, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 28, 2007
National Patient Safety Foundation's Lucian Leape Institute to hold roundtables at gala, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 21, 2007
Teamwork breakdowns in resident groups lead to medical errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 21, 2007
Kerry and Gingrich call for stronger use of e-prescriptions, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 21, 2007
MA hospitals will not require patients or insurers to pay for procedures resulting in an adverse event, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 21, 2007
Measuring process vs. outcome: Is the pendulum swinging back?, Patient Safety Quality Monthly, November 15, 2007
Surgical fires put patients at higher risk than previously thought, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 14, 2007
RFID patch to help with patient identification, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 14, 2007
Medical errors provide some benefit, argues one doctor, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 14, 2007
New study says telehealth could save ED millions of dollars each year, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 14, 2007
Joint Commission and AHRQ release special report, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 7, 2007
Doctor devises new way to prevent wrong-site surgeries, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 7, 2007
Maryland Hospital Association decides on plan to combat nursing shortage, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 7, 2007
Most patients don't know which medications they are taking, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 7, 2007

October

Kaiser Permanente appeals fine on hospital after medication error caused death, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 31, 2007
Surgical mistakes, though smaller in number, still occurring in Massachusetts hospitals, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 31, 2007
Tampa Bay VA hospitals struggling with patient flow, patient diversions, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 31, 2007
IHI launches Fall Harvest to boost 5 Million Lives campaign, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 31, 2007
Kansas pharmacists work for hospital from home, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 24, 2007
Premier survey shows hospitals see HAIs as serious threat, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 24, 2007
New Jersey calls for standardization of patient arm bands, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 24, 2007
New Jersey calls for standardization of patient arm bands, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 24, 2007
Communication breakdown between physicians and trainees a source of many hospital errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 24, 2007
Creating a culture of data acceptance and external accountability, Patient Safety Quality Monthly, October 23, 2007
Pilot site tries out MRSA prevention technique, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 17, 2007
Patients want to be more involved in their own care than in the past, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 17, 2007
New study says U.S. loses billons each year to low health literacy, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 17, 2007
MA one of first states to post patient falls data, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 17, 2007
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics address survey concerns, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 10, 2007
FDA considers adding third class of drug, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 9, 2007
HHS awards contracts to nine health information exchanges around country, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 9, 2007
White males most likely to receive simple procedure for heart disease, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 9, 2007
With greater number of screening tests comes larger chance for cancer scare, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 3, 2007
With greater number of screening tests comes larger chance for cancer scare, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 3, 2007
Staff at NJ hospital using wireless devices to communicate, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 3, 2007
New group to study why some patients suffer serious illness when taking new medications, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 3, 2007
Pennsylvania's Patient Safety Authority says 23 % of reported events are medication errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 3, 2007

September

FDA launches new drug safety newsletter, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 26, 2007
IN hospital system launches family-initiated RRT, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 26, 2007
MO collaborative receives grant to improve med error reporting, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 26, 2007
Study: Number, cost of U.S. hospital infections on the rise, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 26, 2007
FDA launches new drug safety newsletter, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 26, 2007
Group to encourage patient involvement in care, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 19, 2007
Hospitalists increasingly used in hospitals, coordinate care, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 19, 2007
NHS: long sleeves pose MRSA risk, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 19, 2007
Stark cites medication overdosing as reason to revisit Medicare payments, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 19, 2007
The Joint Commission announces Eisenberg award winners, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 19, 2007
E-prescribing more common, say advocates, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 12, 2007
Same-day visits could improve patient safety, increase satisfaction, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 12, 2007
Physicians criticize in-store clinic plans, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 12, 2007
Reported drug reactions triple, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 12, 2007
Physician recounts medical error to newspaper, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 5, 2007
Patient advocates voice concerns about patient safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 5, 2007
Alberta releases infection control plan, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 5, 2007
IN hospitals report on 2006 errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 5, 2007
HCPro News: Exhibit Schedule Announced, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, September 4, 2007

August

Patients have a role in controlling infection, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 29, 2007
Survey: Physicians sometimes discount complaints of side effects, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 29, 2007
Canadian physicians: Only we can prescribe medications, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 29, 2007
Leape: CMS changes are a welcome development for patient safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 29, 2007
What is the medical staff's role in hospital patient safety training?, Patient Safety Quality Monthly, August 23, 2007
Hospitals move to ’smart beds’ to increase patient safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 22, 2007
Apologies in the wake of errors may reduce patient stress, lawsuits, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 22, 2007
NH Board of Pharmacy pushes anonymous reporting, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 22, 2007
CMS to discontinue payments for some preventable errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 22, 2007
Wrong site surgery rates hold steady, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 15, 2007
Column: Self-regulation doesn't work in healthcare, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 15, 2007
Outpatient surgical errors focus of USA Today article, letter, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 15, 2007
AMA cautiously approves implanting microchips with patient information, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 15, 2007
Researchers urge less beta-blocker use, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 8, 2007
Canadian physicians may engage in more disclosure, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 8, 2007
IN hospital collaboration improves patient safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 8, 2007
Op-ed: Hospitals should consider alternatives to restraints, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 8, 2007
Potential MRSA cases shut down UK hospital ward, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 1, 2007
Physicians experience stress after errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 1, 2007
U.S. News blog: Cap nursing work hours, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 1, 2007
Op-ed writer, AMA trade barbs over store clinic safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 1, 2007

July

July Ezine, Patient Safety Quality Monthly, July 31, 2007
Patient outcomes best in hospitals ranked highest in quality, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 25, 2007
In-store clinics rankle some physicians, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 25, 2007
Study: Race stills play a role in ER care, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 25, 2007
Feds investigate LA hospital, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 25, 2007
Bypass death study rankles California surgeons, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 18, 2007
Wiki offers advice on how to communicate with physicians, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 18, 2007
Nasal cannula may be treatment option for sleep apnea, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 18, 2007
Nurse's experience as patient used to improve communication, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 18, 2007
Editorial: Surgical error rate should be zero, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 11, 2007
Study shows depth of Australian surgical error rates, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 11, 2007
Utah mulls increased error surveillance, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 11, 2007
Technology helps San Antonio hospitals reduce IV medication errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 11, 2007
Wisconsin State Journal publishes patient safety series, interactive tool, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 4, 2007
Hospital uses wrong angiogram films during heart bypass, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 4, 2007
Hospital adapts to changing patient demographics, needs, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 4, 2007
Screening, isolation used for superbugs, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, July 4, 2007

June

The Joint Commission announces new National Patient Safety Goals, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 27, 2007
Government grades hospitals' heart care, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 27, 2007
OR hospital initiative yields positive results, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 27, 2007
MA physicians scored high in 12 key areas, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 27, 2007
Today is National Time Out Day, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 20, 2007
Study: Reduced hours for residents lead to better care, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 20, 2007
Med errors, syringe safety top nursing concerns, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 20, 2007
Joint Commission accreditation predictor of patient safety implementation, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 20, 2007
Joint Commission Resources looks for test hospitals for new study, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 13, 2007
Joint Commission unveils new patient rights campaign, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 13, 2007
Arizona hospitals introduce wristband system for at-risk patients, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 13, 2007
Canadian patient safety group launches handwashing campaign, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 13, 2007
Patients and families increase involvement in care, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 6, 2007
Simple test could prevent stroke care error, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 6, 2007
Suicide attempt lawsuit dismissed, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 6, 2007
Study: Most pediatric chemo errors reach patient, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, June 6, 2007

May

Study: More ICU nurses lead to safer care, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 30, 2007
AORN's Time Out Day gets new supporters, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 30, 2007
Increased feedback can improve patient safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 30, 2007
Congress to consider health court legislation, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 30, 2007
Have you heard of the, Patient Safety Quality Monthly, May 24, 2007
Hospital networks work to develop standardized patient safety practices, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 23, 2007
Study: Physicians do not apologize as much as they claim, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 23, 2007
VA program focuses on patient safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 23, 2007
Physicians, lawmakers wary of pharma data mining, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 23, 2007
Michigan hospitals try two-minute pre-op briefings, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 16, 2007
Hospitals go on offense against MRSA, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 16, 2007
Lyme activists try to alter medical recommendations, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 16, 2007
Texas nurse: State should pass ratio law, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 16, 2007
WHO announces nine patient safety solutions, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 9, 2007
CEO pay increasingly tied to patient safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 9, 2007
Survey: physicians see obstacles to patient safety improvements, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 9, 2007
Built-in home medical equipment may speed care, increase safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 9, 2007
PA Patient Safety Authority releases annual report, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 2, 2007
Patients encouraged to question phsyicians on safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 2, 2007
Med rec, handoffs examined in journal articles, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 2, 2007
Support staff shortages could lead to patient safety concerns, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 2, 2007

April

NY to get electronic records for needy patients, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 25, 2007
Boston area hospitals reveal accreditation survey results, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 25, 2007
Cardinal Health, Premier team up to develop standard terminology, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 25, 2007
Survey: Hospitals must redouble efforts to clean skin prior to surgery, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 25, 2007
Joint Commission rescinds interim rule on MM.4.10, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 18, 2007
Congressional Committee wants study on healthcare worker fatigue, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 18, 2007
Johns Hopkins begins prescreening for superbugs in pediatrics, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 18, 2007
Patient self-care for chronic illnesses may be safe alternative, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 18, 2007
How Doctors Think debated, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 11, 2007
Column: VA leads in patient safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 11, 2007
UConn hospital staffers use good catches to prevent errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 11, 2007
Hospital removes wrong testicle during surgery, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 11, 2007
Canadian "Safer Healthcare Now!" campaign draws positive results, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 4, 2007
Discharge information delays lead to safety concerns in UK, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 4, 2007
Second Boston hospital publishes central-line infection information, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 4, 2007
Study: 250,000 preventable deaths occurred between 2003 and 2005, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 4, 2007

March

Database to help reduce medication errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 28, 2007
Simple fixes can lead to safer care, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 28, 2007
UK patient dies from infection after beating leukemia, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 28, 2007
IL hospital officials oppose mandatory nursing ratios, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 28, 2007
How much Physician Performance Data should a Board Receive?, Patient Safety Quality Monthly, March 28, 2007
Pay-per-view, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 21, 2007
Thinking errors can lead to misdiagnosis, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 21, 2007
MGH RFIs outlined in newspaper, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 21, 2007
Joint Commission releases quality performance report, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 21, 2007
PAY-PER-VIEW: Summaries, outlines help patients understand safety information, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 14, 2007
Consumer group launches online resources, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 14, 2007
Indiana releases preliminary error report, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 14, 2007
PA hospital system upgrades technology to improve patient safety, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 14, 2007
Medical error leads to discovery of protocol violations, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 14, 2007
USP: Communication failures lead to perioperative medication errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 7, 2007
Column: Physicians should not shy away from making recommendations, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 7, 2007
FDA: Check software for Daylight Saving Time errors, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 7, 2007
Letter: Nursing ratios good for hospitals, Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 7, 2007

February

How do we Respond to Physicians' Classic Critique to Data?, Patient Safety Quality Monthly, February 16, 2007

January

Should we pay physicians for performing peer review?, Patient Safety Quality Monthly, January 19, 2007

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