Posts summarize Joint Commission advisories, FDA device notices, and CDC infection-control updates, translating them into practical checklists—e.g., tightening implant counts or revising pre-op screening protocols.
Articles explore techniques for minimizing premature closure, anchoring bias, and confirmation bias. We review real malpractice cases where diagnostic delay played a role and outline steps—second-opinion pathways, structured hand-offs—to improve outcomes.
Operating-room posts examine safe-surgery checklists, time-outs, and credentialing for new technologies. Clinic-based pieces tackle injection safety, laser protocols, and minor-procedure documentation.
Blogs discuss open-disclosure models, apology laws, and early-compensation frameworks, with example scripts and data on claim reduction after implementation.
We highlight initiatives such as morning huddles, leadership walk-rounds, and just-culture scoring tools that foster an environment where staff raise concerns before harm occurs.
When I was a resident, one attending asserted he’d rather have a resident at bedside making the evaluation than Harvey Cushing (the father of neurosurgery) at home. Technology has improved and, today, diagnoses can often be made remotely. Still, when a nurse beckons, and says she’s worried, you should listen. A recent paper supports that … Read more
Physician-patient relationships end for numerous reasons. The reality is often a mundane affair. Objectives change. The patient’s care develops. Sometimes a change of scenery is necessary. Still – physicians are human, and humans are bound by limitations. We have a limited amount of time. We have limited resources. Limited patience. Some relationships can be salvaged. … Read more
Sometimes the little things matter just as much as the big ones. They can create downstream problems that were never anticipated. We recently heard from a surgeon in Ohio. He was performing an office-based procedure. An employee was looking for the doctor. She quickly opened the door to the room where the surgeon was working. … Read more
The Center for HIV Law and Policy recently published an illustrative (though not exhaustive) list of 332 arrests and prosecutions for HIV exposure in the US between 2008-2017. ‘ To illustrate but a handful: October 2017: a 28 year old man was arrested in Florida for allegedly not disclosing to sexual partners he was living … Read more
In May, the FDA issued a report called: Unintentional Injection of Soft Tissue Filler into Blood Vessels in the Face: FDA Safety Communication. For our general audience, fillers are approved to reduce the appearance of wrinkles or augment hollowed-out areas, such as lips or cheeks. When injected by trained and experienced practitioners, the safety record is … Read more
If you practice in an operating room, sooner or later you will get stuck with a needle. We all try to follow best practices. But, when you have sharp tools, on occasion, the unfortunate does happen. Last year, an ophthalmologist in Oregon relayed this tale. He had used a syringe and needle to aspirate and … Read more
It’s been an active year for neurosurgeons and the criminal justice system. Dr. Christopher Duntsch was sentenced to life in prison for knowingly and recklessly injuring patients. Thirty two patients were involved. Two were killed. Two were paralyzed. Duntsch’s attorneys argued he was not a criminal; just a bad surgeon. Admitted into evidence was an email he sent his … Read more
Virtually every physician knows that patient privacy is sacred. One needs a patient’s affirmative consent to disclose what is known as protected health information. This is covered by state and federal (HIPAA) privacy laws. If a doctor posts the medical record, that is disclosure of protected health information. If a doctor acknowledges a particular patient … Read more
Sometimes you need a nugget of medical information – pronto. If your patient has been in a hospital, you likely have access to reams of data. Finding your nugget may take seconds, minutes, or hours. You may never find it. A number of years ago, Dr. Kamal Thapar, a Wisconsin neurosurgeon, gave a talk on … Read more
In Alabama, fears of “government health care reform” have caused people to give a con man their bank account info over the phone. In Kansas, people have been claiming to be government employees collecting payments for the newly required “Obamacare” insurance.
