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According to the Millennium Research Group (MRG), medical errors are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. The report states that there are approximately 98,000 deaths caused by medical errors annually. MRG conducted the analysis through the acute care clinical information system (CIS). CIS is a computer based inpatient system that is designed to collect, store, manipulate, and make available information that is important to the health care process. When medical professionals use CIS they are able to access and use information pertaining to a patient’s medical history and profile.

David Plow, a senior analyst at MRG stated, “Medical errors in the healthcare system arise from miscommunication, physician order transcription errors, adverse drug events, or incomplete patient medical records.” He goes on to say, “Generally, medical errors are caused by overcrowded, understaffed clinical areas with complex workflow patterns and incomplete or inefficient communication between clinic areas.” According to MRG, the use of CIS will help medical facilities provide adequate, timely care and help to reduce the amount of preventable errors.

Article Source: http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/health/8133207.html

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Starting August 10th the Department of Transportation (DOT) will close two to three lanes of Interstate 5 northbound between the West Seattle Bridge and the 1-5/1-90 interchange. The lane closures will last all day and continue through August 29th. These closures are expected to slow traffic on I-5 and cause congestion on I-405, the I-90 Bridge, Highway 99, and on surface streets throughout the area. According to Jamie Holter, a DOT spokeswoman, this will be the largest-scale DOT highway closure ever in Seattle.

About 130,000 drivers daily use the stretch of I-5 where the construction will take place. The DOT is hoping that about half of those driver’s will find alternate routes during the lane closures. The agency is encouraging drivers to plan their alternate routes now. They say if people do not find alternate routes, the backups on I-5 could extend to Tacoma and congestion in the area could last from 4:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. In order to help drivers, the DOT will provide alternate route maps and updates on traffic conditions on their web site.

During the closures, DOT crews will be replacing metal joints on the roadway. Currently the joints are outdated and may pop up into the middle of the freeway. The crews will also repave the highway. Holter stated that replacing the joints is a very time consuming and complex job and that is why weekend or night closures were ruled out.

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A father and his infant baby were taken to the hospital July 7th after their vehicle hit a pole while fleeing a road raged driver. The incident began when the two drivers’ were involved in an accident on South Gold Street in Centralia. Reportedly, one of the drivers exited their car and began yelling at the second driver. The hostile driver kicked the other’s car and even threatened to shoot. The second driver, with his 8 month old child in the car, attempted to get away from the aggressive driver by leaving the scene and running a red light. The hostile driver followed the fleeing car. The two vehicles were reportedly seen ramming each other’s cars. The chase ended when the fleeing driver either lost control or was forced off the road hitting a light pole. Both the father and his baby were treated and released from a local hospital. Police later found the hostile driver’s vehicle and arrested the driver and her passenger for second degree assault and reckless endangerment.

Article Source:http://www.komotv.com/news/local/8380277.html

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The Approve 67 campaign announced today that Washington consumers, progressives, seniors, firefighters and labor leaders have officially endorsed the Approve 67 campaign. The group is working to pass new consumer protections against unfair insurance industry tactics and trends to deny legitimate claims.

“Thousands of honest, hard working people in Washington are forced to fight insurance companies over legitimate claims each year,” said Sue Evans, spokesperson for the Approve 67 campaign. “Referendum 67 says the insurance industry must treat people fairly. It’s a law that is long overdue.”

Referendum 67 would require insurance companies to pay legitimate claims in a timely manner and holds them accountable if they do not. If voters approve 67 in November, insurance companies would face penalties for unfairly treating consumers with valid claims.
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A Glendale Superior Court jury decided 9-3 to award $15 million to a child who developed a serious neurological disorder caused by untreated jaundice. Aidan, born March 24, 2003 at Verdugo Hills Hospital in California, reportedly exhibited several risk factors for a neurological disorder called kernicterus when he developed jaundice after birth. Jaundice is a sign of the buildup of bilirubin, a yellow bile pigment. Aiden’s parents were told that the jaundice would go away by itself and were handed a pamphlet that stated that jaundice did not produce a serious medical risk. Aiden’s attorney’s stated that the hospital and Aiden’s doctor should have been attentive and given him appropriate treatment to reduce the buildup. Lawyers for Verdugo Hills Hospital argued that Aidan was born healthy and was still in excellent health when he discharged from the hospital. Aidan was no longer the hospital’s responsibility.

Aidan, now four 4 years old, has normal intelligence but can’t control a single muscle in his body. He is unable to do such things as walk and feed himself and is in need of constant medical attention. His lawyers argued in court that this was all preventable. The current value of the award, $15 million is expected to reach $96 million over the course of his life to cover all future medical treatment. Lawyers for both Verdugo Hills Hospital and Aidan’s doctor said they would appeal the award. California does have a $250,000 cap on medical malpractice awards so it is now unclear how this would affect the jury’s award.

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Whiplash is one of the most common injuries caused by rear end collisions. Considering that there is a rear end crash every 17 seconds in the United States, according to Consumer Reports, it is unfortunate that most vehicles offer little protection against such injuries. Most whiplash injuries could be prevented or minimized with better head restraints and seatbelts. However, even if a vehicle has proper head restraints and seat belts, most people don’t know how to properly position them and do not take the time to do it.

Whiplash, the rapid snapping back of someone’s head during a collision, hyperextends and can damage nerves and ligaments in the neck. There are roughly 2 million reports of whiplash every year and an estimated 200,000 of these are serious enough to cause long term problems. In order to protect yourself, one must make sure that the seat/head restraint combo is properly positioned so that your torso, neck, and head move in the same plane. Good positioning of the head restraint is critical. Studies have shown that drivers tend to have the restraint positioned too low. The top of the restraint should reach at least to the top of your ears and be 3 inches or less behind the back of your head. Most vehicles have head restraints that are adjustable. However, they are only effective when the driver or passenger takes the time to adjust them properly.

Article Source: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/safety-recalls/rear-collisions-8-07/overview/0708_collide_ov.htm

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A bicyclist was struck by a truck in Gig Harbor on July 5th. The 58 year old woman was riding her 10 speed bicycle at about 11:30am when a furniture moving truck hit her. Paramedics were transporting Lavick to Madigan Army Hospital when they confirmed her death. The driver of the moving truck passed a field sobriety test at the scene. The accident is still under investigation by the State Patrol.

Articl Source: http://www.komotv.com/news/local/8345692.html

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Gabriel Koloszar, Paulo Aguilar, and two friends were driving home Labor Day weekend 2002 when the U-Haul trailer they were pulling caused their Ford Explorer to flip and roll off the side of the freeway. Both Koloszar and Aguilar were severely injured in the accident and required multiple surgeries. The two were left with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. Koloszar and Aguilar proceeded to sue U-Haul citing that the trailer they had rented had a worn tire that suddenly deflated causing the Explorer to veer left. After months of attempts made by Koloszar and Aguilar’s lawyers to examine the trailer’s parts, U-Haul finally reported that the parts had gone missing. The company stated in court documents that a former employee had stolen the tire and rims. Unfortunately, this was not the first time U-Haul had lost evidence pivotal in a suit against the company.

Over the last 20 years, U-Haul has been sued more than 10,000 times. Out of those suits, the Los Angeles Times found 11 instances where U-Haul had lost, altered, or discarded important evidence. In some cases, U-Haul scrapped or repaired the damaged parts despite court orders to keep the evidence preserved. U-Haul defends its practices stating that it has strengthened its evidence protection policy in recent years; however, they did not provide a copy of that policy when it was requested by the Times.

Koloszar and Aguilar’s lawyers stated that the missing evidence was “convenient.” Citing past cases where the company had lost important evidence, Koloszar and Aguilar’s lawyers asked the Kern County Superior Court Judge Louis P. Etcheverry to punish U-Haul. The Judge cited U-Haul with extreme negligence and said he would impose sanctions before the trial. With the threat of trial sanctions, U-Haul decided to settle with Koloszar and Aguilar one week before trial was to begin.

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A bus carrying passenger’s home from a family reunion crashed the morning of June 25th killing one and injuring sixty six others. The bus accident, which happened on interstate 65 in southern Kentucky, occurred at around 4:20am when the bus driver fell asleep. The bus veered off to the right side of the highway striking a concrete culvert and slamming into a bridge pillar. Three of the passengers, along with the driver, were critically injured, fifty two of the other passenger’s injuries were considered urgent and ten were considered minor. One female passenger died. The bus was rented by a family returning home from a reunion at Niagara Falls. According to the Department of Transportation, the bus rental company had a satisfactory safety rating when it was recently reviewed and had not reported any accidents or injuries during the last two years.

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Seven people were injured and one was killed June 19th when a water supply truck lost control and hit eight pedestrians. The truck accident happened around 4 p.m. at the intersection of SR 522 and 73rd Ave NE in Kenmore. Brian Stambuk, a witness to the accident, stated that a front-loader was stopped a traffic light. When the light turned green it entered the intersection to turn left and was struck by a water supply truck. The water supply truck lost control and struck pedestrians who had just gotten off a bus. The truck ended up smashing into a light pole.

The most seriously injured, a 33 year old man, the 20 year old driver of the water supply truck, and a 58 year old woman taken to Harborview Medical Center. They were reported to have not life-threatening injuries. The rest of the victims were rushed to other area hospitals. According to Sambuk, the woman who died was pinned between the water supply truck and the light pole. SR 522 was closed down for most of the evening for investigation.

Source: http://www.komotv.com/news/8079487.html

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