A stroke is not something most New York residents think about when they are in their 30s or 40s. While it is true the chance of a stroke happening to a younger person is only about 1 in 1000, strokes may end up being even more dangerous to a younger person due to a misdiagnosis.
New York parents-to-be may be interested in learning that about 1.3 children are delivered via cesarean section every single year. However, researchers have determined that approximately half of the C-sections that are performed, which can pose additional risks to both the mother and child, are not even necessary. There are several factors that can help determine whether or not a pregnant woman will undergo a C-section to deliver her child.
New York residents who rely on pharmacies to obtain their medications may be interested to learn that in 2016 more than 4.4 billion prescriptions were dispensed. However, research shows that the majority of serious or life-changing pharmaceutical errors occur during shift changes. As such, a study found that the rate of errors could be reduced if communication between pharmacists is improved.
Many New York residents may be interested in the report of a new option doctors have to help with skin cancer diagnosis. Metastatic melanoma, a type of skin cancer, has been difficult to diagnose correctly with current techniques. The new technique promises to make diagnosis easier and prevent either a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.
New York patients who are seeking a second opinion on a medical issue might be able to do so virtually, and this could reduce the incidence of misdiagnosis. According to the journal BMJ Quality & Safety, around 12 million American outpatients are misdiagnosed annually. The consequences of a misdiagnosis could include financial loss, treatments that are unnecessary, and a reduced quality of life or poorer outcomes for patients.
