Hospital falls are extremely common. Hundreds of thousands of people sustain fall-related injuries in hospitals in the U.S. every year. In fact, September 22 was Falls Prevention Awareness Day. Make yourself aware of what causes hospital falls—and how you can prevent them. Here is what you need to know about hospital falls. Who is most …
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When a baby’s head is delivered but the shoulders are stuck, it is known as shoulder dystocia. It is a rare but serious birth complication, and it can cause injury to the newborn. There are a number of factors that can make shoulder dystocia more likely to happen, including obesity, diabetes, and overdue pregnancy. Having …
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The 2018-2019 flu season is expected to be a severe one, so it’s important to obtain your flu shot as soon as possible. While the flu vaccine cannot avert every instance of flu, it is still the most effective means of prevention. It’s also important to ensure that your flu is correctly diagnosed. If your …
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When you go to the emergency room, it’s only natural to assume that you will be well taken care of by conscientious care providers. Unfortunately, mistakes do happen—and even experienced healthcare professionals can make them. In fact, emergency room errors are far more common than you might assume. These are some of the types of …
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If you’ve recently received a significant finding from your physician, you may be wondering whether it’s a good idea to seek out a second opinion. In general, if you have any doubts about your first diagnosis, there’s no harm in getting a second opinion from a different healthcare provider. However, you may also want to …
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As a patient, it’s only natural to assume that you will be adequately cared for by every health care provider who serves you. Unfortunately, negligence in the medical world is all too common. One of the most dangerous forms of medical negligence is also one of the most common—medication errors. Here are a few tips …
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August is National Immunization Month, so it’s a good time to be sure that you and your loved ones are caught up on your immunizations. It’s hard to overstate the importance of vaccines for protecting your health as well as that of the people around you. Today, pregnant women and all caregivers should always ask …
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Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that results when the body is trying to fight off an infection, causing injury to its own tissue and organs. If a medical professional who is providing care for you has failed to identify sepsis, it may be considered medical malpractice. It’s important to know what the warning signs of …
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As a patient, you can’t depend solely on your healthcare providers to take care of your health—you need to take action to protect yourself. The more proactive you are, the more likely it is that you will get the kind of care you deserve. Here are some tips for effectively advocating for your health. Pay …
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When most people think about possible accidents during medical care, they tend to overlook anesthesia. Anesthesia in itself is a safe and effective medical practice that suppresses the nervous system, thereby eliminating awareness or sensation during medical procedures. The potential anesthesia errors exist in position-related injuries, oxygen deprivation, spinal cord injury, failure to maintain blood …
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