In the opinion section of the News & Observer yesterday (1/20/11), Dr. James Bryan and Burton Craige wrote about a study published recently in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine that looked at the “shockingly high rate of preventable injuries to patients, and little or no improvement over time”…specifically in North Carolina hospitals. Researchers […]
Harmed in the Hospital Read More »
The Department of Health and Human Services released a report titled “Questionable Billing by Skilled Nursing Facilities.” The title says it all… but we’re still going to comment. In recent years, government analyses have discovered improprieties in the amount of Medicare dollars billed by–and paid to–to skilled nursing facilities (a general term that includes nursing
Report Questions Nursing Home Charges Read More »
For decades, McNeil Consumer Healthcare has given the world some of the most popular over-the-counter (OTC) medications, including Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, Sudafed, and Zyrtec. But with a long string of recent product recalls, McNeil is at risk of losing consumer trust. The latest recall affects several highly popular brands. In consultation with the U.S. Food and
First Major Drug Recall of 2011 Read More »
Last fall, the National Football League (NFL) unveiled new guidelines regarding concussions, encouraging players to recognize symptoms, report them to coaches, and follow treatment suggestions. The announcement was met with cautious optimism that the culture of head-cracking aggression might be softened. The culture is as thick-skulled as ever, but the NFL is making another attempt,
NFL Launches Health Info Website Read More »
Acetaminophen—the active ingredient in Tylenol products—is a popular, over-the-counter pain reliever. Because it is so useful to treat many types of pain, it is often added to prescription narcotic pain medications. Even though you can buy acetaminophen in any supermarket or pharmacy, it is actually a potent drug, capable of causing permanent liver damage if
FDA to Restrict Acetaminophen in Pain Medications Read More »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about a scam targeting people who purchase medications over the Internet or via “telepharmacies.” The criminals call the victims and identify themselves as FDA special agents or other law enforcement officials. The scammers tell the victims that purchasing drugs over the Internet or the telephone
Beware Scam by FDA Impersonators Read More »
The rapid response of the Tucson, Arizona medical team saved the lives of a dozen people shot in a gunman’s rampage. Among the injured was U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who had been shot in the head. This week, neurologist Richard C. Senelick, M.D., gives us a peek into the challenges Representative Giffords will face as
Arizona Shooting Spree Aftermath: Recovery from Brain Injury Read More »
This week, there were two very disturbing reports about security at North Carolina long-term care facilities. Oddly, they came from both sides of the door. ON THE INSIDE… At Louisburg Manor (Louisburg, NC), two women entered the nursing home and took jewelry from a 90-year-old resident. According to a report on WRAL.com, the intruders told
Security a Concern in NC Nursing Homes Read More »
Some great news for University of North Carolina (UNC) fans, especially those with an interest in brain injury: NFL Charities, the charitable foundation of the National Football League (NFL) owners, has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes at UNC to support concussion research. In addition, the NFL Players Association matched that grant
UNC Receives Grant for Concussion Research Read More »
Imagine this: You’re in your car, stopped at a traffic light when another car slams you from behind, pushing you across the road and into a light post. Your car is totaled and you have some serious medical bills. Who do you think will end up paying your bills? Well, if the driver who hit
The High Cost of Uninsured Motorists Read More »