Safe Patient Project

Hospitals fight to limit reports on infections

Daniela Nuñez — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:25:11 +0000

"Consumers Union and the Washington State Hospital Association are still tangling over legislation approved unanimously by the Legislature to require more reporting by hospitals when patients develop infections during care."

Fecal Transplant: FDA Wants Regulation

Daniela Nuñez — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:50:26 +0000

MedPage Today reports: "Researchers who have been reporting success with the use of fecal transplant to treat resistant C. difficile are likely to need an OK from the the FDA to continue that treatment."

J&J Will Stop Sales of Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements

Daniela Nuñez — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:44:52 +0000

Bloomberg reports: "Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), the world’s biggest maker of health-care products, said it will stop selling metal-on-metal and ceramic-on-metal hip replacements as demand wanes for the devices and U.S. regulators seek new rules."

J.&J. Unit Phasing Out All-Metal Hip Devices

Daniela Nuñez — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:42:58 +0000

NY Times: "The orthopedic unit of Johnson & Johnson said Thursday that it was phasing out production of all-metal replacement hips, a move reflecting an industrywide trend to abandon the once widely used implants because of high early failure rates."

J&J will abandon metal hip replacement sales

Daniela Nuñez — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:40:33 +0000

J&J announced it will discontinue selling its metal-on-metal and ceramic-on-metal hips by the end of 2014. Consumers Union has voiced major patient safety concerns with metal-on-metal hip implants after hearing from many patients with metal-on-metal hips who faced problems and/or became disabled.

Letter to WA governor on House Bill 1471, hospital infection reporting

Minerva Novoa — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:56:50 +0000

CU strongly urges the Governor to stand with consumers and ensure that current reporting on infections associated with hip and knee replacement and cardiac surgeries is retained in the law.

Patient Safety America Newsletter (May 2013) – Practical Advice

Daniela Nuñez — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:10:28 +0000

The May newsletter includes summaries that are targeted to alert patients to ways to manage risk and cost: outpatient diagnostic errors, shopping for a hip replacement, too much calcium, radiation risk to your heart, screening for cervical cancer, and finally a series on patient-safety “progress.”

Targeted screening can reduce spread of C. diff infection

Daniela Nuñez — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:39:14 +0000

New study published in the May issue of American Journal of Infection Control finds testing patients with 3 risk factors when they're admitted could help hospitals reduce spread of C.diff infection.

Deadly CRE Infection Spreading Fast in Hospitals

Daniela Nuñez — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:35:01 +0000

Arjun Srinivasan, MD, Associate Director for Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Programs for the CDC responds to questions about CRE, a deadly antibiotic-resistant infection which has been detected in hospitals in 42 states.

N.J. hospitals credit Obamacare for drop in infections

Daniela Nuñez — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:28:43 +0000

"New Jersey hospitals are celebrating major drops last year in hospital infections and other preventable problems, crediting a federally funded initiative that's part of the Affordable Care Act."