Oregon patients who suffer from Lyme disease know all too well that it can be tricky to diagnose. This can lead to misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments, which can cause significant patient harm. Lyme disease is typically diagnosed through a series of blood...
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Year: 2016
Being aware of childhood cancer
Every day, 43 children are diagnosed with cancer, and each year, 12 percent of the 40,000 children who receive cancer treatment do not survive. During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, organizations work to spread important information regarding...
Complexities of diagnosing dementia
Oregon residents know that getting a correct diagnosis when facing a disease that affects the brain's function can mean the difference in getting appropriate treatment. In addition, it might affect the outcome. According to a report issued by Neurology Advisor,...
Medical errors common but largely unreported
When Oregon patients die from medical mistakes, the death certificates usually don't list 'medical error" as the cause of death. In most cases, the physiological cause of death is listed even if a patient died as a direct result of a surgical mistake or a...
Even when you trust your doctor, a second opinion could be wise
Doctors in Oregon sometimes face the difficult task of telling patients bad news. When a patient is diagnosed with a serious illness, however, they may not consider that the doctor could be wrong. Even if someone trusts their doctor, getting a second opinion...
Strategies for reducing medical error rates
Oregon residents might know that heart disease and cancer are among top causes of death in the nation. However, they might be surprised that they are closely followed on the list by medical mistakes. There are various settings in which errors could occur, and...
How patient errors may impact Washington residents
Between January 2013 and July 2015, the Patient Safety Organization of the ERCI Institute received reports of 7,613 wrong-patient events. Those reports were sent voluntarily by 181 different health care facilities during that time. However, it is believed that...
Continued testing may be needed to diagnosis hernias
People in Oregon who experience groin pain might end up receiving an evaluation from a radiologist. Unfortunately, just because something is not found does not mean that something is not there. Small hernias are not always noted by radiologists and surgeons...
Factors contributing to cerebral palsy
There are many types of birth injuries, and one familiar one is cerebral palsy. Oregon parents faced with this condition after the birth of their child might initially blame their labor and delivery team for the issue, but in many cases, this is misplaced....
Hormone discovery may hold promise for young PCOS sufferers
Teens in Oregon who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, are at risk of misdiagnosis due to overlap between the syndrome's symptoms and commonplace side effects of puberty. For instance, girls with PCOS may experience irregular menstruation....