Lawton Oklahoma Personal Injury Law Blog

The treatment for Oklahoma patients who have sustained a traumatic brain injury is typically based on established clinical practice guidelines. An update to guidelines for patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries being implemented in Canada could provide guidance for health professionals in the United States. The update was based on input from the rehabilitation professionals directly involved with many of the main aspects of patient care, from the initial assessment through follow-up care. The goal is to better address the many needs of TBI survivors.

The new clinical practice guideline is one of several updates that have been made to improve the standard protocols for the care of anyone with a brain injury. Another reason for the guideline update is because of a move towards community-based rehabilitation as an alternative to long-term hospitalization. Many rehab professionals generally agree with established TBI guidelines. However, suggested protocols aren't used too often in everyday practice. A separate survey found that while a high percentage of care recommendations were mostly or fully implemented, there are still multiple gaps in implementation.

Oklahoma residents who may suffer from brain injuries might be interested in promising new research that could lead to new therapies. Neuron cells from the central nervous system, unlike most other cells, do not regenerate, making many brain injuries permanent. However, researchers may have discovered hope through experimentation.

Researchers at the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center have been able to successfully mimic the effects of a traumatic brain injury on neuron cells. In the study, neuron stem cells were exposed to large levels of glutamate, a chemical released in the brain after concussions. The glutamate left the cells in a similar state as brain tissue after a concussive injury. Researchers then attempted to stimulate recovery in the cells by delivering electronic impulses designed to disrupt the post-injury pattern of the cells, which adopt a synchronous pattern researchers were able to monitor using specialized equipment. As a result, the cells within the petri dish demonstrated growth and recovery.

Researchers at Coverys, the provider of liability insurance to medical practitioners and health systems, have analyzed over 10,000 radiology-related medical malpractice claims filed between 2013 and 2017 and now closed. Their intention was to identify major risk factors and safety vulnerabilities. The results of their study should be of interest to Oklahoma residents.

Among diagnosis-related claims, most of the allegations involved general medicine providers, followed by 15 percent that involved radiologists. 80 percent of these claims arose from the misinterpretation of clinical tests. Researchers state that radiology mistakes are all too common and often lead to missed, delayed or incorrect diagnoses. More than 80 percent of the diagnostic mistakes analyzed ended in serious, permanent injury or in death.

When people in Oklahoma are sick or injured, they should not have to worry about the quality of medical care they receive. However, studies show that, in many cases, health care outcomes can be worsened when people go to the hospital in the afternoon. There are a number of reasons for this phenomenon that can reflect the natural circadian rhythms of the body, but patients have a right to receive excellent care at any time of day. When they do not, the consequences can be devastating.

While people in all professions may be aware of the feeling of fatigue and exhaustion that often sets in around 3:00 p.m., the consequences can be much more concerning when a physician is involved. For example, studies show that anesthesiologists make more mistakes during procedures that begin in the mid-afternoon hours. In a review of 90,000 surgeries performed inside hospitals, anesthesiologists were only 1 percent likely to make a mistake during morning surgeries, but that risk increased to 4.2 percent by 4:00 p.m. As anesthesiologists deal with the delicate administration of powerful drugs, avoiding medical mistakes can be particularly important for patient health.