Doctors are missing diagnoses especially with cancer - OVER 50%!!
Are you getting the right treatment? A 2006 study* of 307 closed malpractice claims revealed that many missed or delayed diagnoses in outpatients lead to serious harm, some fatal. In this study, 30% resulted in death! Adverse outcomes occurred in 59%.
The most missed diagnoses were cancer (breast and colorectal primarily), infections, fracture, and heart attacks. Fifty-nine percent of errors were associated with cancer diagnosis - or should I say misdiagnosis? Most of these malpractice claims (59% again) showed that diagnostic errors were significant.
The most common reason for failure to diagnose was failure to order the right test (55%). The other reasons were:
-failure to follow up (45%)
-failure to obtain a complete thorough medical history and physical
exam (42%)
-wrong interpretation of medical tests (37%)
Some cases were cited where the doctor failed to check the test results, or to tell the patient the results.
This data is truly mind blowing! Though a small study, it carries a lot of weight. The percentages are phenomenally high! How can this be happening in the most medically advanced country in the world? The fact is, it's happening. It is more common than we think - hidden, not talked about. What can you do to keep it from happening to you?
Has your doctor discussed preventive tests for cancer detection? Of course, you should have a routine complete medical history and physical exam first. Using this information your doctor will know what tests you may need. If cancer runs in your family, you really want to consider preventive cancer screening.
The medical history and physical exam give your medical facts. Findings on physical exam may suggest cancer for which testing is needed. Some tests considered for routine cancer screening are:
-mammogram, MRI - breast cancer
-PSA (prostate specific antigen) - prostate
cancer
-colonoscopy - colon cancer
-stool blood check - colon cancer
-PAP smear - cervical cancer
-complete blood count - blood cancer
-CT or MRI scan - lung cancer, brain cancer
-pelvic sonogram - ovarian cancer
-body scan (neck to buttocks and in between) - body (this scan shows other things ,
too).
Screening tests save lives. Talk to your doctor. Be sure your doctor goes over the test results with you and explains EVERYTHING! Leave with your questions answered! Be sure to follow up with your doctor to prevent any delays.
Get a copy of your test results. That way you will know if you were told everything and that the information is accurate. Research your results and diagnosis. Things you don't understand, ask again. Getting a second (and sometimes tiebreaker third because you were told different things by each doctor!) opinion is a reasonable research tool, also.
Patients must be their own advocate and take charge of their health. Health maintenance and prevention are so important to one's quality of life. Make it an important part of yours. Remember to do your own monthly breast exams for both sexes, and monthly scrotal check for the males.
Great health is true wealth!
(*from AHRQ, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, publication "Research Activities" February 2007 from study in Annals of Internal Medicine, 10/3/06)
J.L. Richardson, M.D., is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
martes, 28 de abril de 2009
domingo, 26 de abril de 2009
Swine Flu Resources
Swine flu information can be found at the sites below. If you have symptoms or have been exposed, seek medical attention.
Today the number of KNOWN identified cases of swine flu in the US is at 20. "CDC has NOT recommended that people avoid travel at this time."
Follow RSS feed link for current CDC updates.
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
CDC RSS Feed
http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/createrss.asp?t=r&c=252&showall=1
US Dept of Health & Human Services (HHS)
http://hhs.gov/
Follow CDC on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/CDCemergency
Your local health department is another good resource. Find your local health department at
http://www.healthguideusa.org/local_health_departments.htm
Stay safe. Wash your hands and maintain good hygiene.
by J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
www.mypatienthandbook.com
NOTE: The links are now working with a click. you can also Copy and Paste, or type web address into your browser. I finally figured this out. Thank you.
Today the number of KNOWN identified cases of swine flu in the US is at 20. "CDC has NOT recommended that people avoid travel at this time."
Follow RSS feed link for current CDC updates.
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
CDC RSS Feed
http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/createrss.asp?t=r&c=252&showall=1
US Dept of Health & Human Services (HHS)
http://hhs.gov/
Follow CDC on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/CDCemergency
Your local health department is another good resource. Find your local health department at
http://www.healthguideusa.org/local_health_departments.htm
Stay safe. Wash your hands and maintain good hygiene.
by J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
www.mypatienthandbook.com
NOTE: The links are now working with a click. you can also Copy and Paste, or type web address into your browser. I finally figured this out. Thank you.
lunes, 20 de abril de 2009
Doctor Search on the Internet - Healthy Thing to Do?
Have you looked your doctors up on the Internet? When you do, you may find incomplete inconsistencies. Many web sites had no listing for several doctors I was looking up. So I looked at some others.
I went to the state medical board pages. I found that some doctors listed on the other web pages were not listed on the state board pages. Another doctor is listed with an active and an inactive license (several are listed like this). This doctor’s medical education and training have been done overseas. Some doctors have no residency training listed. This doctor has been in practice for 45 years, and is licensed in two countries and two other states. The doctor’s address is listed as a PO Box.
The type of information listed was different amongst the states. For instance, one state listed one line of information – license number, status of license, present location, disciplinary action (yes or no, not what), date of issue and expiration. Another state gives this plus the doctor’s education and training information, details of disciplinary legal action, other states/ countries where licensed, and board certification status. There were inactive licenses that were listed as active in another state’s information.
These incomplete inconsistencies are rather consistent. Do you know about your doctor’s background? Is your doctor properly trained and licensed? Which information is correct?
The American Medical Association (AMA) has a page with links to the state boards for licensing. Check your doctor at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2645.html. Compare it to the information at “doctor finder” sites. Incomplete inconsistency.
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com
I went to the state medical board pages. I found that some doctors listed on the other web pages were not listed on the state board pages. Another doctor is listed with an active and an inactive license (several are listed like this). This doctor’s medical education and training have been done overseas. Some doctors have no residency training listed. This doctor has been in practice for 45 years, and is licensed in two countries and two other states. The doctor’s address is listed as a PO Box.
The type of information listed was different amongst the states. For instance, one state listed one line of information – license number, status of license, present location, disciplinary action (yes or no, not what), date of issue and expiration. Another state gives this plus the doctor’s education and training information, details of disciplinary legal action, other states/ countries where licensed, and board certification status. There were inactive licenses that were listed as active in another state’s information.
These incomplete inconsistencies are rather consistent. Do you know about your doctor’s background? Is your doctor properly trained and licensed? Which information is correct?
The American Medical Association (AMA) has a page with links to the state boards for licensing. Check your doctor at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2645.html. Compare it to the information at “doctor finder” sites. Incomplete inconsistency.
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com
jueves, 16 de abril de 2009
TEST YOURSELF?
Many doctors are concerned that some tests like the body scan will lead to unnecessary procedures that could harm patients. Often these tests may show abnormal things that are “normal” meaning that the abnormal finding is something that is just there. It is benign, and not life threatening.
What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with a test that they have done on their own? The patient has decided that I may need this test because heart disease, and /or cancer runs in my family, plus heart disease is the number one killer. Should I have a heart scan, body scan or a virtual colonoscopy? My doctor has told me that tests like these may find things that are benign, but something serious may show up. It could be something that would turn up in a few years and possibly be life threatening, but if I check now maybe I can do something about it.
What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with abnormal test results from a test they orders and paid for themselves?
1. Repeat the test
2. Refer the patient to a specialist
3. Do more tests to check it out
4. Scold the patient and say “It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about.
What does the patient do?
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family practice doctor, and author of the award winning "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
http://mypatienthandbook.com
What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with a test that they have done on their own? The patient has decided that I may need this test because heart disease, and /or cancer runs in my family, plus heart disease is the number one killer. Should I have a heart scan, body scan or a virtual colonoscopy? My doctor has told me that tests like these may find things that are benign, but something serious may show up. It could be something that would turn up in a few years and possibly be life threatening, but if I check now maybe I can do something about it.
What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with abnormal test results from a test they orders and paid for themselves?
1. Repeat the test
2. Refer the patient to a specialist
3. Do more tests to check it out
4. Scold the patient and say “It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about.
What does the patient do?
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family practice doctor, and author of the award winning "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
http://mypatienthandbook.com
lunes, 13 de abril de 2009
Patient Advocate Vital Signs
The “Vital Signs” of patient advocacy are important. We look for these in all our health care providers.
My health care providers are trusting communicators with caring compassion that provide education, information, and knowledge.
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family practice doctor, patient, patient advocate and the author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://mypatienthandbook.com
- TRUST
- CARING
- COMMUNICATION
- COMPASSION
- EDUCATION
- INFORMATION
- KNOWLEDGE
A patient advocate is someone who cares for and helps monitor patient's medical care. You should be your own patient advocate as well as an advocate for loved ones, friends. Doctors should act as their patients’ advocates. This seals the patient-doctor bond and assures them that they will get everything they need in a timely manner.
My health care providers are trusting communicators with caring compassion that provide education, information, and knowledge.
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family practice doctor, patient, patient advocate and the author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://mypatienthandbook.com
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