Patient Safety and Medical Error

Mar 2004

Patient Safety and Medical Error

This month’s issue on patient safety and medical error aims to help our readers better understand the challenges to patient safety; understand that medical professionals are personally responsible for improving patient safety in their practices; identify individual opportunities for improving patient safety and reducing medical errors; and identify institutional initiatives and strategies for improving patient safety and reducing medical error.

Volume 6, Number 3:

From the Editor
Mar 2004

Patient Safety and Medical Error: A Constant Focus in Medical Ethics
Erin Egan, MD, JD
The theme editor introduces a special issue that examines patient safety and medical errors.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):101-102. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.fred1-0403.
Case and Commentary
Mar 2004

Disagreement over Error Disclosure, Commentary 1
Brintha Krishnamoorthy
Physicians have an ethical obligation to admit mistakes to their patients, even if no harm came of the mistakes.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):103-107. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.ccas1-0403.
Case and Commentary
Mar 2004

Disagreement over Error Disclosure, Commentary 2
Kevin O'Rourke, OP
Physicians have an ethical obligation to admit mistakes to their patients, even if no harm came of the mistakes.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):103-107. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.ccas1-0403.
Case and Commentary
Mar 2004

Problem Peers, Commentary 1
Kevin Simpson, MD
Residents and attending physicians have an ethical responsibility to speak up if there is a concern that a colleague lacks clinical skills and is providing inadequate patient care.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):108-111. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.ccas2-0403.
Case and Commentary
Mar 2004

Problem Peers, Commentary 2
Scott Pawlikowski, MD
Residents and attending physicians have an ethical responsibility to speak up if there is a concern that a colleague lacks clinical skills and is providing inadequate patient care.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):108-111. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.ccas2-0403.
Case and Commentary
Mar 2004

HMO-Dictated Patient Discharge, Commentary 1
Lisa Anderson-Shaw, DrPH, MA, MSN
The financial constraints of HMOs often conflict with physicians' medical decisions regarding patient care.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):112-116. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.ccas3-0403.
Case and Commentary
Mar 2004

HMO-Dictated Patient Discharge, Commentary 2
Linda MacDonald Glenn, JD, LLM
The financial constraints of HMOs often conflict with physicians' medical decisions regarding patient care.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):112-116. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.ccas3-0403.
Medical Education
Mar 2004

Thoughts on Patient Safety Education and the Role of Simulation
Stephen D. Small, MD
Patient simulation in medical education is an effective tool to teach response skills needed to ensure patient safety.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):123-125. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.medu1-0403.
In the Literature
Mar 2004

Leap-Frogging to Forgiveness
Faith Lagay, PhD
A journal author calls for physicians to admit to and repent for their medical mistakes, even in a no-blame environment.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):117-119. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.jdsc1-0403.
In the Literature
Mar 2004

A Place of Healing? Medical Injuries in the Hospital Setting
Richard Morse, MA
Medical errors often result in longer hospital stays and increased costs in patient care.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):120-122. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.jdsc2-0403.
Health Law
Mar 2004

Suspending a Physician without a Hearing
June M. McKoy, MD, JD, MPH
Hospitals are entitled to suspend a physician without a hearing when there is reasonable concern that patient safety is at risk.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):129-131. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.hlaw1-0403.
State of the Art and Science
Mar 2004

Computer Physician Order Entry
Donald Levick, MD, MBA
Computer physician order entry has been shown to decrease medical errors and increase the safety of patients and productivity of hospital staff.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):126-128. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.cprl1-0403.
Policy Forum
Mar 2004

Content of Medical Error Disclosures
Thomas H. Gallagher, MD
A basic standard for error disclosure for physicians needs to be developed, which will enhance the patient-physician relationship.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):132-135. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.pfor1-0403.
Policy Forum
Mar 2004

The National Practitioner Data Bank: Promoting Safety and Quality
Teresa M. Waters, PhD and Peter P. Budetti, MD, JD
The National Practitioner Data Bank attempts to help maintain a level of quality and safety assurance by providing data on the clinical competence of physicians.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):136-138. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.pfor2-0403.
Policy Forum
Mar 2004

Improving the Quality and Safety of Care at Loyola University Health System
William Barron, MD
The Center for Clinical Effectiveness at Loyola University Health System has taken steps to decrease medical errors and ensure patient safety.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):139-142. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.pfor3-0403.
Medicine and Society
Mar 2004

To Err is Human: Understanding the Data
Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD
The Institute of Medicine's ground-breaking report on medical errors has helped to make patient safety a priority goal, but the findings of the report are often interpreted by the media.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):143-145. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.msoc1-0403.
Viewpoint
Mar 2004

Law, Health Care, and Ethics: Detoxifying the Lethal Mix
Bryan A. Liang, MD, PhD, JD
A physician argues that a systems analysis approach to medical errors must be widely used to improve health system safety.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):146-149. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.oped1-0403.
Viewpoint
Mar 2004

Lessons from the Worst-Case Scenario
Erin Egan, MD, JD
A system of physician self-regulation will help ensure patient safety and quality medical care.
Virtual Mentor. 2004;6(3):150-152. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2004.6.3.oped2-0403.

Patient Safety and Medical Error

Patient Safety and Medical Error: A Constant Focus in Medical Ethics

Disagreement over Error Disclosure, Commentary 1

Disagreement over Error Disclosure, Commentary 2

Problem Peers, Commentary 1

Problem Peers, Commentary 2

HMO-Dictated Patient Discharge, Commentary 1

HMO-Dictated Patient Discharge, Commentary 2

Thoughts on Patient Safety Education and the Role of Simulation

Leap-Frogging to Forgiveness

A Place of Healing? Medical Injuries in the Hospital Setting

Suspending a Physician without a Hearing

Computer Physician Order Entry

Content of Medical Error Disclosures

The National Practitioner Data Bank: Promoting Safety and Quality

Improving the Quality and Safety of Care at Loyola University Health System

To Err is Human: Understanding the Data

Law, Health Care, and Ethics: Detoxifying the Lethal Mix

Lessons from the Worst-Case Scenario

Other Issues

Professionalism in Medical Education

Physician Activism

Paternalism in Medicine