Preventable hospital infections: To Err is Human, to delay is deadly

Ten years ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released To Err is Human, reporting that as many as 98,000 Americans die every year from preventable medical errors. Today, on the report’s 10-year-anniversary, Consumer’s Union Safe Patient Project is hosting a forum in Washington, DC to call attention to the fact that today, we’re no safer that we were 10 years ago and to draw attention to their report To Err is Human – To Delay is Deadly which estimates that preventable medical harm still accounts for over 100,000 deaths each year.

The event will be attended by prominent patient safety leaders to discuss what needs to happen to keep patients safe, including former U.S. Treasury Secretary, Paul O’Neill, who wrote a recent op-ed in the New York Times on medical harm; Arthur Levin, a member of the original IOM committee and Director of Center for Medical Consumers; Dr. Rick Shannon, Chairman of the Department of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, whose work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, ABC and NPR; Merrill Goozner, author of The $800 Million Pill: The Truth Behind the Cost of New Drugs; Charles Ornstein with ProPublica who co-wrote a groundbreaking series detailing serious failures in oversight by the California Board of Registered Nursing; Maggie Mahar, health care fellow at The Century Foundation, writer of HealthBeat Blog and author of Money-Driven Medicine; and leading patient safety advocates.

BPA may affect sexual function in adult men, study finds

While the Food and Drug Administration continues to review the safety of the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), a new epidemiological study finds for the first time that the ubiquitous substance may well have a serious impact on male sexual function in adults who are exposed to substantial amounts. The men affected worked in factories that manufactured BPA-containing materials and were exposed to relatively high levels of BPA.

Lower levels of BPA exposure are also a concern, and our latest tests found the chemical in just about every canned food we looked at. In that recent investigation, we found that consumers eating just one serving of the canned vegetable soup we tested would get about double what the FDA now considers typical average dietary daily exposure--though that is still far less than the occupational exposures that were noted in factory workers.

BPA is a chemical that can mimic estrogen, and it has been used for years in clear plastic bottles and food-can liners. Some studies have linked exposure to BPA with reproductive abnormalities and a heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. Use of the chemical has been restricted in Canada and some U.S. states and municipalities because of potential health effects. An FDA scientific advisory panel weighed in a year ago that the agency’s rationale for setting safety standards for BPA was inadequate. A congressional subcommittee determined earlier this year that the FDA relied too heavily on industry sponsored studies.

FDA announces review of Lasik: Are you a good candidate?

Spurred by complaints of adverse events, the Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday that they would launch a multi-year study to examine the potential impact on quality of life from Lasik laser-vision correction surgery. Lasik surgery permanently reshapes the cornea with a laser but consumers face a lack of reliable data about the frequency of troubling side-effects, such as dry eyes, halos, and blurry vision.

We think that an FDA review is a good thing. Consumer Reports Health's recent Lasik survey found that many patients (53 percent) dealt with distressing side effects—some of them for up to six months after the surgery. And while most people (about 80 percent) were satisfied with the procedure, nearly two-thirds were disappointed to find that they still had to wear glasses or contact lenses at least occasionally.

Lasik surgery and similar operations are elective, not essential, medical procedures, which makes such side effects all the more distressing—and most people have to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for it. The data for long term safety and effectiveness of the procedure is currently unknown, due to insufficient data. And much of what we do know comes from the doctors who make a living providing the surgery. The FDA just admonished 17 such providers for not keeping adequate records on adverse events.

We’ve also asked patients about the quality of life after the surgery. In addition, we’ve combed the latest studies and surveyed nearly 800 patients who have had the surgery. If you’re considering having LASIK, our Patient Power Toolkit can help you decide if the procedure is right for you.

The toolkit includes:
    * A tool to help you determine whether you're likely to be satisfied based on your expectations compared to the experience of others.
    * Detailed information from consumers who have had the surgery.
    * A safety assessment of laser vision-correction surgery based on the latest evidence.
    * A guide to choosing a surgeon, including key questions to ask and red flags that should prompt you to get a second opinion.
    * What to expect before, during, and after the surgery.
    * The costs of surgery, insurance coverage, and payment options.

—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor

How to catch the flu and how not to—surgical masks may be helpful

Hate it when somebody coughs right into your face and eyes? You're not just germ-phobic, that may be the most likely way to transmit influenza, according to a newly published study.

Researchers from UC-Berkley’s School of Public Health and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health concluded that close contact spraying of respiratory droplets with the influenza virus carried the greatest risk of infection, followed by hand contact with contaminated surfaces, and inhaling particles carrying the virus. The study was published in Risk Analysis: An International Journal published by the nonprofit Society for Risk Analysis, and used mathematical modeling to examine the theoretical risk of catching an influenza A virus—a type of influenza virus that includes the new H1N1 and several seasonal strains—through various types of exposures when a healthy person is caring for someone bed-ridden with the flu.

While these findings are theoretical, meaning they aren’t based on observations of actual people who caught the flu, they do give an idea of the best ways to prevent the flu. That starts with the flu vaccines, which should prevent your body from actually becoming infected. But evidence shows that influenza vaccines aren’t 100 percent effective, so good hand hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact with sick people are crucial—even if you’ve been vaccinated.

CU President makes "100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare" list

In a year where the state of America’s health care is at the center of a heated political debate—on the airwaves, in print media, and on Twitter—we’re excited to announce that Consumer’s Union president and CEO is making his voice heard on the issue of reform. Modern Healthcare has named Guest one of its "100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare" in 2009. Guest ranked number 11 on the annual list and is the only non-profit advocate among the top 30 prominent officeholders, business leaders, and health thinkers.

See our continuing health reform coverage and take a look at how we'd fix the broken health care system.