The hottest Patient Safety Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

Hospitals are killing patients because they don't feel like doing infection control

The Gauntlet • 2908 implied HN points • 23 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Infection Control Medical system Long Covid Patient Safety
  1. COVID is fully airborne and hospitals need to implement proper infection control measures to protect vulnerable patients.
  2. The WHO's initial guidance on COVID transmission was based on outdated science and hindered early control of the pandemic.
  3. Hospitals are failing to prioritize infection control due to financial interests, putting patients and healthcare workers at risk.

UnitedHealth Group: vulnerable and ill-equipped to defend against modern threats like cyberattacks

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 599 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Reform Cybersecurity Patient Safety Corporate Influence Regulation
  1. UnitedHealth faced a serious cyberattack, showing that even big companies can be vulnerable to cybercrime. This situation highlights the risks of having too much sensitive data controlled by a few large corporations.
  2. The healthcare system is focused more on profit than patient care. This has left it weak against modern threats like cyberattacks, which can disrupt services and harm patients.
  3. To fix these issues, we need stronger rules to protect patient data and make sure healthcare companies prioritize patient safety over making money. It's important to shift our focus from profits to genuine care for patients.

Massachusetts Wakes Up to a Hospital Nightmare

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 679 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare system Private Equity Medical education Patient Safety Regulatory Oversight
  1. Private equity firms, like Steward Health Care, have been negatively impacting hospitals by cutting resources and making false promises. This has led to unsafe conditions for both staff and patients.
  2. Steward Health Care has a history of financial mismanagement and failed commitments, which has raised concerns among local leaders and health officials. They’ve been accused of prioritizing profit over patient care.
  3. Many hospital employees and doctors are frustrated with the situation, as it puts patient safety at risk. They feel helpless in trying to provide good care amidst the company's failures.

Achoo

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Medicine Health Risks Public Health Patient Safety
  1. Just like any medication, sneezing can have surprising side effects, some of which might seem extreme. It's funny to think about how silly the side effects of something natural like sneezing could sound if listed like a drug's.
  2. Holding in a sneeze can be harmful too and might lead to serious injuries like broken bones or damage to the windpipe. It's a reminder that our bodies have their ways of reacting, and sometimes we should let them do their thing.
  3. Reports about weight loss drugs like Ozempic highlight the complexity of medications and their side effects. It shows that we often overlook the risks connected with common actions, like sneezing or taking a medication.

Book review: "Innovation Breakdown"

More is Different • 3 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness FDA Regulations Patient Safety Regulatory Challenges Healthcare Technology
  1. Innovation Breakdown tells the story of a startup harmed by FDA actions, highlighting the challenges of bringing a new medical device through the FDA.
  2. Medical device approvals at the FDA involve complex processes with regulatory uncertainties and the potential for regulatory roadblocks.
  3. The book raises questions about regulatory transparency, advocating for policy reforms to speed up approvals, reduce uncertainty, and balance strictness and effectiveness testing.
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A Monopoly on Poop

Eat Shit and Prosper • 1 HN point • 14 Dec 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare access Regulations Pharmaceuticals Public Health Patient Safety
  1. The FDA approved Rebyota, a new treatment for serious gut infections that is basically just processed poop, but it comes with a very high price tag of around $9,487, sparking concerns about its affordability compared to existing fecal microbiota transplants.
  2. Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) have been used effectively for years but face regulatory challenges, leading to limited access and insurance coverage, which leaves patients with expensive options like Rebyota.
  3. The FDA's new rules seem to restrict the use of lower-cost stool banks for FMTs, creating a monopoly for companies producing expensive versions, which raises questions about priorities in healthcare and profit vs. patient care.