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Health Updates on the Web
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The Patient Safety Group has compiled the latest in health, quality, and safety, news and reports.
AHRQ Innovations Exchange

Mar-03-2010
The Prevent Pressure Ulcers initiative is part of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 5 Million Lives Campaign. This site offers resources that can help reduce the incidence of...
A Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Health Care–Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals
Mar-03-2010
The Compendium is a set of strategies designed for acute care hospitals to prevent six of the most common health care–associated infections: Clostridium difficile, methicillin-resistant...
Adding Nurse Practitioners and Creating a Multidisciplinary Care Team Reduce Length of Stay and Costs at Academic Medical Center
Mar-03-2010

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Collaborative: Forms for the Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD
Mar-03-2010
These forms for the diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are designed for primary care practitioners. The collection of standardized forms can be use to improve...
Clinical Microsystem Uses Front-Line Teams to Redesign Hospital Processes, Leading to Fewer Delays and Better Patient Service
Mar-03-2010

Clinical Microsystems Tools and Resources
Mar-03-2010
This Web site presents the principles of clinical microsystems as well as related tools and resources to help health care professionals improve their practice care and outcomes.
Comprehensive Program to Promote “Fair and Just Principles" Improves Employee Perceptions of How a Health System Responds to Errors
Mar-03-2010

Comprehensive, Interdisciplinary Guidelines, Combined With Tools to Promote Adherence, Significantly Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcers
Mar-03-2010


AHRQ WEBMM
SPOTLIGHT CASE AND COMMENTARY: Adolescent Diabetes: A Routine Visit?
February 2010
An overweight teenaged girl came to the pediatrics clinic for routine follow-up of her type 2 diabetes, complaining of nonspecific, intermittent abdominal pain and worsening acne. The physician prescribed topical acne cream and increased her diabetes medications. The next day, an obstetrician notified the pediatrician that this patient had delivered a healthy infant via Caesarian section overnight.
CASE AND COMMENTARY: Medication Reconciliation Pitfalls
February 2010
An elderly woman presented to the emergency department following a hip fracture. Although the patient's medication bottles were used to generate a medication list, one of the dosages was transcribed incorrectly. Because the patient then received four times her regular dose, her surgery was delayed due to cardiac side effects.
CASE AND COMMENTARY: Defensive Medicine: "Glowing" with Pain
February 2010
Over the course of 2 years, a patient who frequently came to the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain underwent 12 CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis. All of them were completely normal.
PERSPECTIVES ON SAFETY: In Conversation with...
February 2010
Thomas J. Nasca, MD, is the executive director and chief executive officer of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Prior to joining the ACGME in 2007, Dr. Nasca, a nephrologist, was dean of Jefferson Medical College and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs of Thomas Jefferson University. We asked him to speak with us about the role of the ACGME in patient safety.
The Role of Graduate Medical Education (GME) in Improving Patient Safety
February 2010
Over the last decade, the patient safety movement has dramatically increased public and professional awareness of the safety hazards of hospitalization. Although public concerns about being cared for by "student doctors" may persist, evidence suggests that teaching hospitals have improved patient care outcomes. Nonetheless, all hospitals have room to improve.

BLOG
Verb-alizing
Mar-04-2010
One of my interns was “running the list” with me last week (giving me a thumbnail update on the plans for each of our inpatients). It was standard stuff until he got to Ms. X, a 80ish-year-old woman admitted with urosepsis who was now ready for discharge....(read more)
Substituting Coffee Cake for Journal Articles: Another Unforeseen Consequence of IT
Feb-24-2010
Late February is the pits for interns – the novelty of being a real-live MD is long gone, and the rebirth of residency is too far beyond the horizon to see. The other day, my wonderful resident Anna brought a coffee cake to my ward team's post-call rounds,...(read more)
Gawande’s “Checklist Manifesto”
Feb-08-2010
Every now and then, I read and enjoy a book, but only later fully appreciate it as its lessons and insights slowly become apparent. Judging by the number of times I’ve said, “That reminds me of Gawande’s observations about ___” over the past month, The...(read more)
Glenn Steele at CMS – A "Not So Fast, Schwartz"?
Jan-28-2010
FYI, Glenn wrote to family and friends last night saying that he is not the new CMS administrator. We'll see...(Lesson – don't believe everything you read in the blogosphere. Yes, even mine.) Turning to more important matters, now I've gotta decide about...(read more)

MEDICAL NEWS
Mass layoffs at hospitals increased in January
There is concern that state budget cuts could make things worse.
Industry support of CME under scrutiny
Federal officials proposed having physicians pay their own way as one solution to eliminate bias. The ACCME said it will continue to monitor the debate.
HIPAA privacy rules detailed in AMA online guide
The resource tool will explain new security regulations and lay out deadlines for compliance.
Insurer antitrust exemption would end under House bill
But the move would not increase competition among health plans, said an insurance industry association, citing nonpartisan research.
Medicare physician pay cut delayed as Senate clears logjam
The 21% reduction will return April 1 unless Congress delays it further. The Senate is considering a bill to make Oct. 1 the new deadline.
Health plans extend their market dominance
"Highly concentrated" insurance markets are found in all but three U.S. metropolitan areas, according to an American Medical Association report.

RECENT HEALTH NEWS
Assessing Your Risk of a Heart Attack
Mar-10-2010 08:54 PM
Concocting a Cure for Kids With Issues
Mar-10-2010 07:18 PM
Protein Suspected in Alzheimer’s May Be Needed to Fight Infection
Mar-10-2010 06:29 PM
Economic Scene: Wishing for a Health Care Plan That Cuts Costs
Mar-10-2010 05:04 PM
Maker Drops Hip Device, Then Warns of Failures
Mar-10-2010 08:08 AM
Really?: The Claim: A Glass of Wine With Dinner Aids Digestion
Mar-10-2010 08:00 AM
Flu Shots in Children Can Help Community
Mar-10-2010 07:40 AM
Q & A: Almonds for Calcium?
Mar-09-2010 11:40 PM

AHRQ 411
Healthcare 411 podcasts from AHRQ
Radio Series - Asking Your Doctor Tough Questions
Mar-10-2010 - Duration: 01:01 (mm:ss)
Radio Series - Comparing Type 2 Diabetes Treatments
Mar-03-2010 - Duration: 01:00 (mm:ss)
Radio Series - Comparing Antidepressant Medicines
Feb-24-2010 - Duration: 01:01 (mm:ss)
Radio Series - After a Diagnosis: The Next Steps
Feb-17-2010 - Duration: 01:01 (mm:ss)