It took 14 years for Dr. Christian Guier’s alleged history of throwing scissors, berating OR team members and other disruptive behaviors to reach the breaking point for St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson, Wyo. The hospital pulled the orthopedic surgeon’s surgical privileges in 2006 after the entire OR staff signed a “Work Refusal Petition” over his alleged abuse — a disciplinary action that was lawful and justified by the evidence, the state Supreme Court affirmed last week.   Read More…
According to Diversity Office, “Behavior problems” …

A recent study by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control revealed that outpatient surgical centers may not keep patients as safe from infections as they should. The report, published in JAMA, said that researchers found at least one lapse at 68 percent of the 68 centers tested and saw lapses in at least three areas at 18 percent of the facilities. With outpatient operations on the rise, these lapses may affect a growing number of patients. …

Report Shows Infection Rate in Hospitals Still High

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recently released a report that shows that doctors are still struggling to cut down on post-operative infections acquired by patients in hospitals. The rates of post-operative bloodstream infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections both increased by substantial amounts over the last year, the report said. The new health care laws may help subdue this trend, however. Hospitals with high rates of infection will face …

Patients who have a better understanding of their illnesses are likely to be healthier.
Technology such as social networking sites, e-mail, personal health records, home monitoring devices and patient portals have made communication between patient and doctor not only more convenient but also more meaningful.
Patients are able to do more independent research, making them better informed. They can compare costs, exchange information with other patients, and bring that knowledge back to their physicians. Technology even can allow physicians to monitor a patient’s health without a visit to the office, creating more …