One of the difficulties doctors have experienced when treating patients diagnosed with colon cancer has been in knowing when to use chemotherapy following surgical removal of tumors. According to a recent study, Oklahoma oncologists might avoid a misdiagnosis by using a currently-available laboratory test to identify patients who could benefit from chemotherapy.
Reducing surgical errors
Surgical errors are a common form of medical malpractice in Oklahoma and around the country. A team at Oxford University in England has conducted studies about how to reduce them.
Higher concussion risk, longer recovery for women
While there is a great deal of focus on concussions sustained by men during sports, there has been less attention given to the same types of injuries in women. The American Journal of Sports Medicine found that in high school sports, girls get concussion at twice the rate of their fellow male athletes. Furthermore, they tend to suffer more long-term after a concussion. According to a study that has appeared in the journal Radiology, six weeks after a concussion, the MRI scans of men tend to show a return to normal activity. However, women tend to continue to suffer from impaired memory and less brain activity.
Oklahoma patients and strategies for medication error prevention
Oklahoma patients may be interested in these strategies suggested for nurses for preventing medication errors. The first is to ensure the five rights of medical administration related to transcription. Nurses are required to ensure that correct medication is prescribed for each patient in the correct dosage and route and at the right time. Medical providers must also follow the proper medication reconciliation procedures when transferring patients. This ensures that the medication is accurate for each patient and accompanied by all relevant documentation to prevent reconciliation errors.
Five rights for avoiding medication errors
Nurses in Oklahoma who are concerned about giving medication to patients safely can follow what is known as the five rights. These are the things that should be confirmed before medication is administered.
