In a democracy it’s your vote that counts; in feudalism, it’s your Count that votes.

But I digress…….

The FDA is demonstrating a new activism in these days of Obamaism.  It’s launching a program to try and prevent millions of accidental drug overdoses that occur each year due to medication errors, misuse and other problems.  Under the plan announced Wednesday, the FDA will work with physicians to identify the types of drugs that pose the greatest risks to patients.  Proposals to improve safety include: simplifying drug labeling, standardizing dosage cups for cold medicines and requiring risk-management plans of drug manufacturers.

http://omniphysicians.com/2009/11/07/fda-curbing-accidental-overdoses/

Ohio state officials have backed out on previous support of CDC requirements that recommend N95 respirators for healthcare workers treating patients with suspected H1N1, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. State requirements will now permit the use of surgical masks.   

http://omniphysicians.com/2009/11/06/ohio-surgical-masks-trump-n95s-after-bogus-study-exposed/

Here are the latest CDC recommendations and websites about using antivirals with suspected H1N1 patients.

http://omniphysicians.com/2009/11/06/key-issues-for-clinicians-concerning-antiviral-treatments-for-2009-h1n1/

This is a MMWR report on a case of human rabies from Missouri.   On November 19, the man aged 55 years experienced pruritus on his left ear that spread to his left face and arm. On November 21, he began experiencing mild chest pain and went to a local ED. He was evaluated by electrocardiogram and cardiac enzymes; findings were negative for acute myocardial infarction. He was discharged with instructions to return if symptoms worsened. On November 22, the patient returned to the ED with panic attacks and anxiety associated with swallowing water. He reported that he had been bitten by a bat on the left earlobe 4–6 weeks earlier. He was treated with rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) consisting of 15.4 mL of rabies immune globulin and 1 mL of rabies human diploid cell vaccine, administered a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine booster, and released.  Released?   Yep, released.

http://omniphysicians.com/2009/11/06/a-case-of-human-rabies/

They did a study on behavioral problems between doctors and nurses.  We’re talking about degrading comments, yelling, cursing, inappropriate joking and refusing to work with one another.   The survey included “13,000 nurses and physician executives,” of which 67 percent were nurses and 33 percent were physicians.  When asked who most often exhibits behavior problems, 47.9 percent said it was an even mix; 45.4 percent said doctors; and 6.8 percent said nurses.    Whatever happened to Marcus Welby and Florence Nightingale?

http://omniphysicians.com/2009/11/07/degrading-comments-yelling-cursing-inappropriate-joking-and-refusing-to-work-with-one-another/

Paul R

Modern Healthcare (11/4, Robeznieks) reported, “Behavior problems between doctors and nurses were reported by more than 97 percent of the nurses and doctors who participated in an American College of Physician Executives’ survey.” Among “the most common complaints” reported “were degrading comments, yelling, cursing, inappropriate joking and refusing to work with one another.”

The survey included “13,000 nurses and physician executives,” of which 67 percent were nurses and 33 percent were physicians. “When asked who most often exhibits behavior problems, 47.9 percent said it was an even mix; 45.4 percent said doctors; and 6.8 percent said nurses.” ACPE noted that “the survey results paint a picture of ‘treachery and backstabbing’ as doctors and nurses try to undermine each other, often right in front of bewildered patients.”

Link:  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgoLn8_UqqdW-7KIGstuXZzdRCXAD9BORPR00

By MATTHEW PERRONE (AP) – 2 days ago

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is launching a program to try and prevent millions of accidental drug overdoses that occur each year due to medication errors, misuse and other problems.

Under the plan announced Wednesday, the FDA will work with physicians to identify the types of drugs that pose the greatest risks to patients.

Proposals to improve safety include: simplifying drug labeling, standardizing dosage cups for cold medicines and requiring risk-management plans of drug manufacturers.

The agency will hold several public meetings to gather comments and plans to start its first initiatives within the next 12 months.

“All participants in the health care community have a role to play in reducing the risks and preventing injuries from medication use,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s drug center.

The FDA says medication errors send 4 million Americans to the emergency room each year, resulting in 117,000 hospitalizations.

Federal regulators have made numerous attempts to curb drug overdoses in the past. Earlier this year, the FDA sent letters to the makers of two dozen powerful painkillers — including morphine, codeine and methadone — ordering them to develop plans to reduce the misuse of their drugs.

But the agency said Wednesday its so-called Safe Use initiative will take “a more coordinated, systematic manner, with interventions across all sectors of the medication distribution and use system.”

One problem the agency hopes to address is liver damage caused by acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol and other over-the-counter pain relievers. Those medications cause an estimated 55,000 trips to the emergency room annually, according to federal data. Other issues include preventing operating room fires started by alcohol-based surgical solutions.

“Too many people suffer unnecessary injuries from avoidable medication misuse, errors and other problems. The FDA is launching the Safe Use Initiative to develop targeted solutions for reducing these injuries,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said in a statement.