Yes, sepsis is deadly.
Sepsis is often life-threatening, especially in people with a weakened immune system or other medical illnesses.
Sepsis, commonly known as blood poisoning, strikes more than 750,000 Americans a year. It is a serious condition in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria, usually from an ordinary infection like pneumonia or urinary tract infection. Blood pressure and oxygen levels drop and eventually lead to complete organ failure. Death can happen quickly in up to half of all patients.
One of the reasons for the high mortality rate is the fact that patients are not correctly treated due to late diagnosis. The doctor and the patient used to have to wait as much as 48 hours for the laboratory analysis.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Is sepsis the same as septicema?
Is sepsis the same as septicema?
Yes and no; it depends which resource you're looking at. Sepsis is the medical term for blood poisoning. Sepsis is common in older people and has a high mortality rate.
Septicemia is a related medical term referring to the presence of pathogenic organisms or bacteria in the bloodstream that lead to sepsis.
On another often overlooked note, according to a study done by the University of Michigan, the risk for mental decline in an older person is almost three times more after hospitalization for severe sepsis than in patients of similar age hospitalized for other conditions.
During sepsis, extensive inflammation is triggered when the body releases chemicals into the blood in order to fight a serious infection. Heart weakness, low blood pressure, and organ failure may follow.
Severe sepsis is also linked to a stronger risk for developing at least one new limitation of daily activities after hospitalization.
Yes and no; it depends which resource you're looking at. Sepsis is the medical term for blood poisoning. Sepsis is common in older people and has a high mortality rate.
Septicemia is a related medical term referring to the presence of pathogenic organisms or bacteria in the bloodstream that lead to sepsis.
On another often overlooked note, according to a study done by the University of Michigan, the risk for mental decline in an older person is almost three times more after hospitalization for severe sepsis than in patients of similar age hospitalized for other conditions.
During sepsis, extensive inflammation is triggered when the body releases chemicals into the blood in order to fight a serious infection. Heart weakness, low blood pressure, and organ failure may follow.
Severe sepsis is also linked to a stronger risk for developing at least one new limitation of daily activities after hospitalization.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Medical Malpractice: Short Hospital Stay
When filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, people blame the doctors, nurses, the anesthesiologist, and hospitals for mistakes or inadequate care.
One often omitted reason for a medical malpractice suit is what is known as DRG or what your health insurance company calls Diagnosis Related Groups. These Diagnosis Related Groups regulate how long a patient can remain in the hospital.
Hospital stays are shorter than ever and you can point the finger at your medical insurance for that. It doesn't matter if your doctor thinks you should stay longer. Your healthcare provider trumps doctor expertise regardless of how effective the method is.
DRGs need to be the subject of malpractice suits when and if it can be documented that a patient dies because of the overzealous application of a DRG.
Healthcare is going in the wrong direction. It restricts treatment decision-making by doctors within hospital settings in order to manage costs. Cost containment reigns as priority, rather than patient care.
Beware.
One often omitted reason for a medical malpractice suit is what is known as DRG or what your health insurance company calls Diagnosis Related Groups. These Diagnosis Related Groups regulate how long a patient can remain in the hospital.
Hospital stays are shorter than ever and you can point the finger at your medical insurance for that. It doesn't matter if your doctor thinks you should stay longer. Your healthcare provider trumps doctor expertise regardless of how effective the method is.
DRGs need to be the subject of malpractice suits when and if it can be documented that a patient dies because of the overzealous application of a DRG.
Healthcare is going in the wrong direction. It restricts treatment decision-making by doctors within hospital settings in order to manage costs. Cost containment reigns as priority, rather than patient care.
Beware.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
PA Medical Malpractice in the News
Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell vetoed Senate Bill 1280 noting the proposed legislation would destabilize the medical malpractice market, affecting physicians, other health care providers and ultimately the quality of care available.
"Senate Bill 1280 fails to recognize the noteworthy progress we have made in Pennsylvania's medical malpractice insurance marketplace," said Governor Rendell. "The bill would cause extreme swings in the MCare assessment from year to year, which would be detrimental to providers, would destabilize the medical malpractice market, and would create a crisis atmosphere that would undermine the commonwealth's continuing ability to retain and attract physicians and other health care providers to Pennsylvania. None of this is prudent or in the best interests of Pennsylvania or its citizens.
The bill would amend Act 13 of 2002, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act, or MCare, by freezing primary medical malpractice insurance limits for seven years and by adjusting the formula for determining the assessment by which MCare is funded. These actions would destabilize the medical malpractice insurance marketplace and would undermine the commonwealth's ability to attract and retain medical providers to care for its citizens.
"Senate Bill 1280 fails to recognize the noteworthy progress we have made in Pennsylvania's medical malpractice insurance marketplace," said Governor Rendell. "The bill would cause extreme swings in the MCare assessment from year to year, which would be detrimental to providers, would destabilize the medical malpractice market, and would create a crisis atmosphere that would undermine the commonwealth's continuing ability to retain and attract physicians and other health care providers to Pennsylvania. None of this is prudent or in the best interests of Pennsylvania or its citizens.
The bill would amend Act 13 of 2002, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act, or MCare, by freezing primary medical malpractice insurance limits for seven years and by adjusting the formula for determining the assessment by which MCare is funded. These actions would destabilize the medical malpractice insurance marketplace and would undermine the commonwealth's ability to attract and retain medical providers to care for its citizens.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Missed Diagnosis and Pa. Medical Malpractice Claims
According to a recently published article by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, errors related to missed or delayed diagnosis are cause for patient injury.
Diagnostic errors are encountered in every specialty and are often the first or second leading cause of medical malpractice in the United States. Diagnostic errors account for twice the settled claims as medication mistakes.
Examples of reports were found in the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System by search terms include delayed diagnosis, wrong diagnosis, missed diagnosis, misdiagnosed, failure to diagnose, failure to treat, and medical follow-up.
If you or a family member has suffered serious consequences or wrongful death as the result of a wrong diagnosis, you may have cause for a potential medical malpractice claim in Pennsylvania.
Diagnostic errors are encountered in every specialty and are often the first or second leading cause of medical malpractice in the United States. Diagnostic errors account for twice the settled claims as medication mistakes.
Examples of reports were found in the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System by search terms include delayed diagnosis, wrong diagnosis, missed diagnosis, misdiagnosed, failure to diagnose, failure to treat, and medical follow-up.
If you or a family member has suffered serious consequences or wrongful death as the result of a wrong diagnosis, you may have cause for a potential medical malpractice claim in Pennsylvania.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
PA Medical Malpractice for Bad Knee Care
A Pa. couple is suing a medical center in Charleston, West Virginia for medical malpractice.
The male plaintiff was on a camping trip in West Virgina when he was involved in an off-road dirt bike accident where he suffered a complex laceration on his left knee.
Upon arriving at the medical center, he was given an antibiotic to prevent infection, and medication to control pain and debris was removed from wounds. Later he developed horrible knee pain and was admitted to the trauma service. After an orthopedic consultation, the plaintiff underwent surgery to repair a left tendon and received the antibiotic Ancef during and after the surgery.
The couple requested an infectious disease consult upon admission but were refused.
Following his discharge the couple returned to Pa, and the next day the plaintiff woke up with drainage around the wound edges at the surgical site and a low grade fever. At a Pittsburgh ER, he underwent left knee incision and drainage and had to be on IV antibiotics for days.
The coupled claimed that the medical center was negligent in failing to order intravenous antibiotic therapy and are seeking compensatory damages for medical malpractice.
The male plaintiff was on a camping trip in West Virgina when he was involved in an off-road dirt bike accident where he suffered a complex laceration on his left knee.
Upon arriving at the medical center, he was given an antibiotic to prevent infection, and medication to control pain and debris was removed from wounds. Later he developed horrible knee pain and was admitted to the trauma service. After an orthopedic consultation, the plaintiff underwent surgery to repair a left tendon and received the antibiotic Ancef during and after the surgery.
The couple requested an infectious disease consult upon admission but were refused.
Following his discharge the couple returned to Pa, and the next day the plaintiff woke up with drainage around the wound edges at the surgical site and a low grade fever. At a Pittsburgh ER, he underwent left knee incision and drainage and had to be on IV antibiotics for days.
The coupled claimed that the medical center was negligent in failing to order intravenous antibiotic therapy and are seeking compensatory damages for medical malpractice.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Pennsylvania MedicalMalpractice: Doctors & Nurses Conflict
Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice: Doctors & Nurses Conflict: Can't you all just get along?
According to a report just released by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, doctors who are at odd with nurses and other doctors cause disruptive behavior which infringes on patient safety. According to the report covering a two year period, there were 177 events that detailed healthcare clinicians’ disruptive behaviors, many of which negatively affected patient care.
Frontline healthcare clinicians, who have witnessed poor performance by their peers or supervisors, may be hesitant to report bad behavior because of the fear of retaliation or uncertainty about its importance in patient outcome. Staff may also be reluctant to call a physician, supervisor, or other clinician, even in the face of the deteriorating status of a patient, fearing intimidation, confrontation, antagonistic discussion, or other disruptive behavior.
According to the report, hospital hierarchy allows high-ranking doctors to get away with intimidation and temper tantrums. The report also mentions doctors hanging up on nurses who called with questions about medications.
When bad behavior affects patient outcomes, this is considered medical malpractice which reflects not only on the doctor but on the hospital as well.
According to a report just released by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, doctors who are at odd with nurses and other doctors cause disruptive behavior which infringes on patient safety. According to the report covering a two year period, there were 177 events that detailed healthcare clinicians’ disruptive behaviors, many of which negatively affected patient care.
Frontline healthcare clinicians, who have witnessed poor performance by their peers or supervisors, may be hesitant to report bad behavior because of the fear of retaliation or uncertainty about its importance in patient outcome. Staff may also be reluctant to call a physician, supervisor, or other clinician, even in the face of the deteriorating status of a patient, fearing intimidation, confrontation, antagonistic discussion, or other disruptive behavior.
According to the report, hospital hierarchy allows high-ranking doctors to get away with intimidation and temper tantrums. The report also mentions doctors hanging up on nurses who called with questions about medications.
When bad behavior affects patient outcomes, this is considered medical malpractice which reflects not only on the doctor but on the hospital as well.
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