Risk Watch e-column
May 2005
A monthly update of risk management news, issues and items of interest
Record Number of Physicians Disciplined
State medical boards reported a total of 6,265 disciplinary actions in 2004, an increase of nearly 20% from the previous year, according to a Federation of State Medical Boards annual summary issued April 18.
Of the total number of actions taken, 5,502 were ‘prejudicial’ in nature, meaning they directly affected physicians’ licenses to practice medicine. Such actions include revocations, suspensions and reprimands. In California alone, 544 prejudicial actions were reported.
Additionally, boards took 763 ‘non-prejudicial actions’ — such as a license reinstatement after probation — that did not adversely impact physicians’ licenses.
The federation said 2,116 licenses were revoked in 2004, nearly 19% more than in 2003. The leading reasons for the revocations were substance abuse, unprofessional conduct and controlled-substance violations. The report is available at www.fsmb.org.
(Source: Modern Healthcare)
Study: Bacteria Can Survive 24 Hours on PC Keyboards
Computer keyboards in hospitals and other healthcare facilities can harbor harmful bacteria for up to 24 hours, according to a study released on April 11.
Researchers from Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago contaminated keyboards with three types of bacteria; two types survived up to 24 hours on keyboards and one survived for one hour. When volunteers touched the keys, bacteria spread to their hands up to 92% of the time.
To reduce the risk of spreading bacteria to patients, the study authors recommended disinfecting computer equipment on a regular basis and having staff wash their hands before patient contact. Findings from the study were presented at the annual scientific session of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America held in Los Angeles.
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times)
AHRQ Launches Patient Safety Website
A new website introduced on April 12 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) aims to provide information and resources on improving patient safety and preventing medical errors.
Dubbed PSNet, the site provides a wide variety of information on patient safety resources, tools, conferences and more. Physicians and other healthcare providers can customize the site around topics that best meet their needs. For example, a surgeon can set up the site to automatically collect the latest information on treating postoperative surgical complications.
In addition, subscribers can receive weekly updates on patient safety topics. For more information, go to http://psnet.ahrq.gov.
(Source: AHRQ)
Study: Few Americans Follow Lifestyle Recommendations
Only about 3% of adults living in the U.S. follow medical advice to reduce their weight, exercise regularly, eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day and avoid smoking, according to a new report.
Researchers from Michigan State University examined surveys of 153,000 adults. Among their findings:
- 76% of respondents said they did not smoke
- 23% included at least five fruits and vegetables in their daily diets
- 22% exercised at least 30 minutes per day five or more times a week
- 40% maintained a healthy weight (defined as a body mass index of 25 or less)
- 3% met all four goals.
The report is published in the April 25 Archives of Internal Medicine.
(Source: Reuters)
