Some Oregon residents who lack insurance coverage turn to the Internet for medical help through websites that offer personal consultations without the high costs of office visits. Teledermatology is a subset of the telemedicine movement, allowing individuals to...
Dedicated To Protecting What Matters Most
Month: May 2016
Death may have been caused by surgical error
Thousands of Oregon residents undergo elective surgery each year, and many of these procedures are designed to provide cosmetic benefits rather than treat medical conditions. Plastic surgery is a lucrative segment of the health care industry, but patients...
Medical software crashes during heart surgery
Oregon patients may know that computer systems and robots are being used in some surgical procedures. A medical device called Merge Hemo is sometimes used to help doctors perform heart surgery. While connected to the tube that is inserted into a patient's veins...
Robotic surgery in the operating room
As Oregon residents may have heard, robots have made their way into the medical field. Surgeons at a children's medical center demonstrated that a robot could perform soft-tissue surgery. During the surgery, the robot operated on bowel segments in pigs,...
Hospital discharge a dangerous time for patients
According to medical experts, patients in Oregon and nationwide are most vulnerable to complications when being discharged from the hospital. Studies show the problem is even worse for older patients with complex medical needs. Poor transitional care occurs...
Bar-coded sponges could prevent surgical errors
Oregon hospitals sometimes pay a heavy price when items like sponges and surgical screws are left inside a patient's body. In addition to possible malpractice awards and the associated premium hikes, medical facilities must often bear the costs of follow-up...
Older mothers at risk of pelvic floor injuries during birth
Oregon residents may know that women who become pregnant over the age of 35 are at an increased risk for many complications. Now, a study shows that women who are at an advanced maternal age at first birth have an increased risk of major pelvic floor trauma...
Research examines frequency of fatal medical mistakes
When an Oregon resident requires treatment for a medical issue, there is an inherent trust that the hospital staff will not make a mistake that leads to harm. However, errors can and do happen, and research suggests that the problem is far greater than...
Electronic health records missing mental health data
Oregon medical professionals know that electronic health records are being adopted by more and more health care systems. These records are supposed to make it easier to research a patient's medical history, improve patient safety and save money. However, a...