Posted by admin on Jun 6, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Anesthesia has opened up the world of medicine in ways that would otherwise not be possible. Even though anesthesia errors are rare, they can have devastating consequences. Anesthesia administration is such a complex and potentially dangerous part of surgery that it must be performed by an anesthesiologist, a specialist who works alongside the surgeon and whose only job is to administer the anesthesia and monitor the patient. Anesthesia errors are one of the most catastrophic types of medical malpractice.
Anesthesia errors Anesthesia errors can happen in many ways and may be caused by human error before or during surgery or by defective equipment. Anesthesia errors and their causes include:
• Overdose
• Administration of too little anesthesia
• Delayed delivery of anesthesia
• Allergic reaction to anesthesia
• Harmful drug interactions
• Defective medical devices used during sedation
• Inadequate product labeling
• Failure to give proper instructions to the patient regarding fasting before surgery
• Failure to properly monitor the patient while sedated
• Failure to properly administer oxygen or respond to oxygenation problems during surgery
Who is responsible for anesthesia error?
Parties responsible for errors can vary depending on the nature of the error. Although the anesthesiologist is primarily responsible for properly administering the medication, monitoring the patient, and taking appropriate measures if a problem arises, a drug company, medical device manufacturer, health care facility, and other health care practitioners or medical staff may be responsible for the cause of the error. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can advise you of your rights should you lose a loved one to a medical mistake.
Injuries caused by anesthesia error
The results of anesthesia error also depend on the nature of the error and can cause permanent impairment or death. These injuries include:
• Anesthesia awareness
• Brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Paralysis
• Nerve damage
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Birth defects
• Asphyxia
• Coma
• Death
Anesthesia awareness
Anesthesia awareness does not cause immediate physical harm, but it is the most traumatic anesthesia injury and it can lead to serious health problems later down the road because victims are often so terrified of health care procedures after the experience that they avoid going to doctors altogether.
In anesthesia awareness the patient is conscious during surgery. He may feel extreme pain or be able to feel what is going on during the procedure. At the same time, the patient is paralyzed and cannot communicate at all. It is impossible to escape the experience or get help. Anesthesia awareness can lead to:
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety and panic disorders
• Sleep disorders
• Total avoidance of doctors and medical settings due to extreme fear no matter how great the need for medical attention
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Posted by admin on May 12, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Medication Therapy Management is a practice adopted to improve health outcomes of elderly people through suitable intervention of physicians and pharmacists. The secondary objective of medication therapy management program is also cost reduction. In other words, if cheaper and better medicines and treatment work for a particular disease or illness, medication therapy management programs should be able to identify it.
In order to be eligible for a medication therapy management program one needs to suffer from four (4) chronic diseases and the annual drug cost should be greater than $3000.
Medication Therapy Management services can be provided by physicians and pharmacists who work in tandem to ensure optimal treatment in terms of cost and quality to the patients.
Medication Therapy Management services broadly include – medication review, continuous medication monitoring, disease state management, patient education, brown bag review, “are you aware” reports, CMS compliance reports.
The basic objectives of medication therapy management program are – reporting as per CMS guidelines, reducing drug costs and improving formulary adherence through therapeutic interchange program, Handling of redetermination appeals as per CMS requirements under the guidance of a board certified physician and medicare specialist, coverage determination according to benefits plan design and formularies.
Good Medication Therapy Management generally takes sound knowledge of clinical services, excellent communication skills, prior patient care knowledge, and strong relationship with area physicians.
This article briefly discusses about medication therapy management – concept, eligibility, services and reporting and is primarily targeted to the newbies who want to know about medication therapy management.
Medication Therapy Management is a practice adopted to improve health outcomes of elderly people through suitable intervention of physicians and pharmacists. The secondary objective of medication therapy management program is also cost reduction. In other words, if cheaper and better medicines and treatment work for a particular disease or illness, medication therapy management programs should be able to identify it.
In order to be eligible for a medication therapy management program one needs to suffer from four (4) chronic diseases and the annual drug cost should be greater than $3000.
Medication Therapy Management services can be provided by physicians and pharmacists who work in tandem to ensure optimal treatment in terms of cost and quality to the patients.
Medication Therapy Management services broadly include – medication review, continuous medication monitoring, disease state management, patient education, brown bag review, “are you aware” reports, CMS compliance reports.
The basic objectives of medication therapy management program are – reporting as per CMS guidelines, reducing drug costs and improving formulary adherence through therapeutic interchange program, Handling of redetermination appeals as per CMS requirements under the guidance of a board certified physician and medicare specialist, coverage determination according to benefits plan design and formularies.
Good Medication Therapy Management generally takes sound knowledge of clinical services, excellent communication skills, prior patient care knowledge, and strong relationship with area physicians.
This article briefly discusses about medication therapy management – concept, eligibility, services and reporting and is primarily targeted to the newbies who want to know about medication therapy management and its application and utility.
Medication Therapy Management outsourcing service provider Sun Knowledge Pvt Ltd is a Kolkata based organization offering healthcare and medicare services.
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Posted by admin on Mar 30, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
People suffering from anxiety disorders face several challenges. They not only have to deal with a mental disorder that can create havoc with their lives, but also find the right professionals, therapists, and medication to help them deal with their problem.
Medical doctors can prescribe anti-anxiety medication to help patients overcome their problems. However, none of these anti-anxiety drugs can affect a cure; they can only provide relief from the symptoms of anxiety. Some of these drugs can lower the intensity of the symptoms instantly while others work slowly toward bringing the symptoms under control.
1. Anti-anxiety Drugs
Drugs such as Zoloft and Valium work quickly to suppress the more severe symptoms of anxiety disorder. In some cases, anti-depressants also come under the category of anti-anxiety medication. Anti-depressants are slower, but doctors usually prescribe them to treat patients with mutiple symptoms.
Patients who take anti-anxiety drugs are advised to take certain steps to shield themselves from side effects. Most people are prescribed anxiety medication that does not have too many side effects. However, the side effects of certain potent drugs can be very serious.
Before starting medication for an anxiety disorder, patients have to tell their doctors freely and frankly about their problems. Medical doctors should know the following details about a patient.
2. Complete Medical History
The type of drugs that can be safely taken depends on a patients medical history and certain medical conditions he or she might have. It is, therefore, important that you share your medical history with your doctor to prevent any serious side effects or complications.
3. List of Medications
If the patient is already taking medication for some other condition, the doctor has to know. This includes herbal medicines and over-the-counter medicines too.
Certain drugs when taken in combination with other drugs can have dangerous effects on your body. If you need to add any drug to your list of drugs, when you are under medication for an anxiety disorder, ask you doctor if it is safe for you to do so.
4. Addictions
Certain drugs used to treat anxiety conditions can be addictive. If the patient has had problems with addiction in the past, they might need closer medical monitoring or try a safer therapy.
It is possible for you to deal with an anxiety disorder. Drugs commonly used to treat anxiety disorders can surely alleviate acute as well as chronic symptoms of anxiety disorder. Along with medications, doctors might urge patients to try other methods of therapy to assist them in managing and controlling the anxiety disorder.
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