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Medication errors frequent during hospital transfers

Mistakes at the hospital can be a frightening thought for patients seeking medical care in New York. When receiving treatment for a serious illness or injury, patients are at risk of even greater damage because of improper administration of medication or the use of incorrect dosages. The confusion that can happen during hospital transfers marks one occasion that can be particularly hazardous for patients.

Medication errors and how doctors can avoid them

Patients in New York who expect dependability from their health care practitioners. However, a 2016 study from Johns Hopkins University suggests that more than 250,000 Americans die every year because of medical errors. Despite the availability of digital record-keeping technology in clinics, there are still many ways for simple mistakes to hamper medical care.

How to report a medication error

When mistakes involving medication or medical devices arise, it’s important to make a record of the errors. This will help doctors and nurses better understand the side effects or limitations of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Medical professionals can also better ascertain the risks of using a medical device. When reporting an error, New York patients should be as detailed as possible.

Appendix cancer can be rare and deadly

For patients in New York, the idea that a doctor may fail to diagnose a serious disease like cancer is deeply disturbing. The potential for misdiagnosis escalates when the disorder in question is rare, such as appendix cancer. While colorectal cancer is a relatively common form of cancer, the growth of a cancerous tumor in the appendix is a much less frequent occurrence.

Researchers say diabetes should be split into five types

New York residents who have diabetes were probably diagnosed with the disease categorized as either Type I or Type II. The classification of diabetes into these two groups is based on various factors, but now researchers say that the disease is too complex to be split into just two groups. According to a study that was published online on March 1, there should be five types of diabetes recognized.

Medication mistakes causing antibiotic resistance

Medication errors can compromise the health of New York patients, worsening existing medical conditions and causing adverse reactions. According to the World Health Organization, medical errors can also increase resistance to antibiotics. Resistance to antimicrobials can take place when there are modifications in bacteria that make the medications intended as treatment ineffective. Antimicrobial resistance is an issue that is impacting the world. If the issue is not properly addressed, the era of modern medicine could come to an end.

Costly hospitalization for misdiagnosed cellulitis commonplace

Potentially one-third of patients admitted to hospitals in New York for cellulitis have been misdiagnosed. Instead of cellulitis, they could have pseudocellulitis, a condition that resembles the bacterial skin infection but inflames the skin for other reasons. People misdiagnosed with cellulitis could receive unnecessary antibiotic therapy.

Medical malpractice and misdiagnosis

Medical malpractice affects many New York residents every year, and a common type is a misdiagnosis. A failure to diagnose a disease can lead to harm for the patient if treatment is delayed after a medical provider failed to correctly identify the patient’s condition. Another type of misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor tells patients that they have a condition that in fact they do not have, which can result in unnecessary invasive procedures.