Sidewalk Sheds and Construction Injuries
Construction is everywhere in New York City, as older spaces are improved and maintained and newer spaces are being rapidly built. As De Zeen Magazine explains, a construction boom is going on right now — particularly in the residential market. The value of construction projects in the first half of 2015 alone was $22.2 billion, […]
Tree Trimming Can Pose a Risk Without Proper Safety Protocols
Keeping trees carefully trimmed is important to prevent falling branches from injuring people passing by. Unfortunately, the tree trimming process itself can be inherently dangerous, not just to workers doing the trimming, but also to others in the vicinity of where the tree is being cut. Reasonable precautions for ensuring worker safety must be taken […]
Medical malpractice issues and hospitalists
A New York resident who spends time in the hospital is likely to be treated by a hospitalist at some point. Although this specialty has only been around for approximately 20 years, the role of the hospitalist is prominent in patient care. This party typically acts much like a primary care physician in overseeing and coordinating the involvement of other specialists during a patient’s stay.
New York Advocacy Groups Discuss Scaffolding Laws
There’s a great deal of debate in Albany and all around the state about New York’s scaffold law, which is one of the strictest of its kind in the country. This portion of New York labor law came to be when workers began constructing some of the earlier skyscrapers that made New York what it […]
Medical mistakes are a leading cause of death
Most New York residents would not be surprised to learn that heart disease and cancer are the nation’s two leading causes of death, but they may be shocked to learn that preventable medical mistakes are America’s third biggest killer. Research indicates that over 400,000 American hospital patients lose their lives each year due to doctor errors, prescription drug side effects or unsanitary conditions, and experts say that a sweeping, concerted and comprehensive effort is needed to tackle the problem.
A Closer Look at Bike-Pedestrian Crashes
Since 2000, data shows approximately .45 percent of pedestrian fatalities in Manhattan were caused by bicycle riders striking pedestrians. However, most experts believe that the official reports of pedestrian deaths after bike crashes significantly undercount the real death rate because the statistics are obtained using emergency room data that records the number of people who […]
Most IV medication errors caused by poor clinical practices
For years, intravenous medication errors ranked among the top medical mistakes at hospitals in New York and nationwide. Experts thought that the advent of the IV smart pump would eliminate the issue, but, according to a multihospital study, IV errors are still common.
Advances in tuberculosis testing
New York residents may face tuberculosis testing for various reasons, including preparing to work in food service or in education settings. However, there can be challenges when an individual has been vaccinated for TB because a traditional skin test could produce a positive result. Additionally, current methods for testing can fail to distinguish active tuberculosis from latent cases. A test that has been developed in the Khatri lab at Stanford University may provide an avenue for better accuracy.
Reducing medication errors caused by distractions
Nurses in New York City hospitals have difficult and important jobs, and they are rarely able to complete their shifts without being frequently distracted or interrupted. The errors that such interruptions lead to can be serious, and nurses are expected to focus intently on what they are doing to avoid distractions when performing important tasks such as sorting or administering medications.
New York man claims hospital responsible for wife’s death
The husband of a New York woman who died at a Brooklyn hospital in February 2015 is calling on the state to launch an investigation into her death. He alleges that medical staff mistreated his wife and that she died due to medical malpractice.
