Healthcare Update 01-14-2013

Interesting facts about the human body. Did you know that your stomach acid can melt zinc? Your femur is 4 times stronger than concrete? In your life you make enough saliva to fill two swimming pools? More strange facts at the link. If your stomach acid can’t dissolve it, then try some Coca-Cola. Study shows that Coke is quite effective in dissolving physobezoars (balls of indigestible plant material) in the stomach. Having sex … in a hospital bed … with other people in the room … after just delivering a baby? Look for pictures on the internet – another patient’s family took the pictures and visitors aren’t subject to HIPAA laws. New York State creates rules stating that every hospital in New York must adopt aggressive procedures for identifying sepsis in patients and must develop a plan so that parents can “play a meaningful and informed role” in decisions made about care for their children. This should be interesting. “Mom and dad, it appears that your child has a head cold. Based on New York State directives, we’re going to increase the cost of your visit severalfold by drawing a lactate level, starting IV fluids, and administering antibiotics. Would you prefer ticarcillin or cefotetan as the unnecessary antibiotics for your viral infection?” In other news, NY Times reporter Jim Dwyer dislocates shoulder patting himself on back for actions taken on his misinformed article used to exact revenge for a family friend. Develops tachycardia and fa...
Source: WhiteCoat's Call Room - Category: Emergency Medicine Doctors Authors: Tags: Healthcare Update Source Type: blogs