Healthcare Update Satellite — 01-19-2015

Penicillin allergy? It’s associated with increased bad outcomes, but not for the reasons you think. The allergies themselves are mostly not allergies. And no, “my mother said I had a rash when I was a baby” isn’t an allergy. However, when compared with patients who don’t have penicillin “allergies”, patients with penicillin allergies have longer hospital stays and are between 14% and 30% more likely to get resistant infections while in the hospitals – possibly because the penicillin “allergic” patients are being treated with much stronger antibiotics that kill off the “good” bacteria in their systems. Ever wonder why it seems that whenever you call a doctor for a medical problem they tell you to go to the emergency department? Here’s a good reason why: 26 week pregnant patient calls on-call obstetrician with severe abdominal pain and severe headache. On call physician attributes symptoms to a “gastric condition” and that she did not need to come to the hospital. The following day, the patient suffered a stroke. Patient and family sued and were awarded $10.9 million. Georgia malpractice attorney Wilson Randolph Smith settles case on behalf of his clients, then forges client’s name on settlement check and keeps the money. Tells clients that the case would likely be set for trial later this year. Eventually gets caught and is now cooling his heels in the county jail. Florida prosecut...
Source: WhiteCoat's Call Room - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Healthcare Update Source Type: blogs