New medical guidelines say that women in their 40s should decide for themselves whether they need regular mammograms to screen for breast cancer. The guidelines, which are still in draft form, were released by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of medical experts who recommend health […]
Ann Purchase
40 posts
Do you care for patients with atrial fibrillation? Then you need to know that this heart condition increases the risk of dangerous blood clots. It’s also important to understand how medications that prevent clotting can increase other risk factors. Atrial fibrillation is a serious medical condition, but treatments vary among […]
As a medical student, Dr. Elizabeth Levin cried while caring for a breast cancer patient. In the process, Dr. Levin admits, she upset the patient and made a difficult situation even worse. Patients say they want doctors to show compassion, but do patients really want medical professionals to express empathy […]
600,000 Americans In “A Time to Act”, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) tells the story of what it’s like to have your heart stop functioning. Each year, approximately 600,000 Americans experience a cardiac arrest. In hospital settings, the survival rate is just 24%. In community settings, that rate falls to […]
Do medical ethics support doctor-assisted dying? Breaking the Hippocratic Oath, first do no harm, for many physicians would be impossible, but let’s take a closer look at this issue and begin a dialogue. Consider the individuals who would benefit from the assistance of their doctor, the trusted individual who has […]
Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, and contribute to substantial increases in annual healthcare costs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), nearly 75% of HAIs occur in acute care hospital settings. HHS also reports that 25% […]