Today’s Top Story
Study: How often are medical errors disclosed to patients?
A study published online in the Journal of Patient Safety examines trends in disclosure and apology following medical errors. The researchers reviewed data on 434 medical liability claims from a private insurance database. They found that 4.6 percent (n = 20) of medical errors were disclosed to the patient at the time of the error, while 5.9 percent (n = 26) were followed by disclosure and apology. There was no incremental increase during the financial years studied (2012-2013). Of disclosed errors, 26.1 percent led to an adverse reaction and 17.4 percent were fatal. In 17.4 percent of cases, the cause of disclosed medical error was improper surgical performance. Disclosed medical errors were classified as medium severity in 67.4 percent of cases, and no apology statement was issued in 54.5 percent of medical errors classified as high severity. The researchers note that the mean age of informed patients was 52.96 years, 58.7 percent were female, and 52.2 percent were inpatients.
Read the abstract…
Other News
Study: Many RA patients may go unscreened and untreated for osteoporosis.
Findings from a study published online in the journal Arthritis Care & Research suggest that many rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients for whom treatment is indicated may not receive osteoporosis medication. The research team followed 14,498 patients, 11,669 of whom had RA and 2,829 of whom had osteoarthritis (OA). At median 5.5-year follow-up, they found that among patients for whom treatment was recommended under 2010 American College of Radiology glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis guidelines, approximately 55 percent reported use of osteoporosis medication. The research team noted that overall, RA patients were not more likely to undergo osteoporosis treatment and screening compared to OA patients. Factors associated with receipt of osteoporosis care in RA patients were older age, postmenopausal state, prior fragility fracture or diagnosis of osteoporosis, any duration of glucocorticoid treatment, and biologic use.
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Read the abstract…
Study: Corticosteroid injection may offer little advantage for Morton’s neuroma patients treated with local anesthetic.
According to a study published online in the journal Foot & Ankle International, corticosteroid injection plus local anesthetic may not be superior to local anesthetic alone in terms of pain and function for patients with Morton’s neuroma. The authors conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 41 patients with a diagnosis of Morton’s neuroma who received either three injections of corticosteroid plus local anesthetic or local anesthetic alone. At 3- and 6-month follow-up, they found no significant difference in visual analog scale for pain and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Score across cohorts.
Read the abstract…
House proposal would require e-prescribing of opioids under Medicare Part D.
Healthcare IT News reports that a bill under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives would, if enacted, apply more stringent oversight of how opioids and other addictive drugs are dispensed under Medicare. If enacted, the Every Prescription Conveyed Securely Act would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require e-prescribing of controlled substances under Medicare Part D.
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Read the bill…
Have reductions in readmission rates plateaued?
An article in Modern Healthcare suggests that reductions in readmission rates seen under the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program may have plateaued. The writer notes that the agency’s spending on readmissions fell significantly from implementation through 2014, but from 2013 through mid-2016, readmissions dropped only 0.1 percent on average. In addition, the article notes that since CMS began to dock hospitals for readmission rates, a majority of institutions have consistently been penalized.
Read more…(registration may be required)
AAOS members only: Housing now open for the 2018 AAOS Annual Meeting.
Now is the best time to reserve a room for the 2018 AAOS Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for March 6-10 in New Orleans. All official AAOS hotels not within walking distance will offer free shuttle bus services to the Morial Convention Center. Housing is currently open for only AAOS members.
Learn more about the AAOS Annual Meeting…
Reserve your room…
Last call: Patient Safety Committee.
Aug. 18 is the last day to submit your application for a position on the Patient Safety Committee (two member-at-large openings). This committee directs and evaluates Academy initiatives designed to promote orthopaedic patient safety. Applicants for this position must be active fellows with an interest in or experience with musculoskeletal infections/infectious disease or patient safety.
Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)
