Triad Group Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of All Lots of Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs, and Alcohol Swabsticks Due to Potential Microbial Contamination

Posted on April 29, 2011 by David Cohen

The Triad Group has initiated a voluntary recall for several of their products, including alcohol prep pads, alcohol swabs and alcohol swabsticks. The recall includes sterile and non-sterile products produced by Triad Group and was initiated due to concerns from a customer about potential contamination. The products are thought to contain an objectionable organism, Bacillus cereus. The Triad Group is issuing the recall in order to ensure that they are not the source of the contamination issues.

 

If consumers use the contaminated products, it could lead to life-threatening infections, especially in immune suppressed and surgical patients. To date, there have only been reports of a non-life-threatening skin infection.

 

The affected products were packaged by Triad Group, and third party companies including: Cardinal Health, PSS Select, VersaPro, Boca/ Ultilet, Moore Medical, Walgreens, CVS and Conzellin. These products were distributed in the United States, Canada and Europe.
 

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The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Now Publically Reports Safety Issues in Hospitals Including Bed Sores and Falls and Trauma

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Michael A. Brusca

Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made certain information regarding safety issues in hospitals public information. Data tracking “hospital acquired conditions” - injuries/conditions a patient suffers that they did not enter the hospital with - are now available to the public. They are serious conditions that if proper procedures are less likely to occur. They have been deemed “never events” and CMS does not pay for services related to these injuries. The injuries include:

  • Foreign object retained after surgery
  • Air embolism
  • Blood incompatibility
  • Pressure ulcer states III and IV
  • Falls and trauma
  • Vascular catheter-associated infection
  • Catheter-associated UTI
  • Manifestations of poor glycemic control


You can download the most recent results online here. Now, you can now know your area hospitals before you become a patient in regards to these serious conditions.

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Staggering Costs of Medical Errors

Posted on April 11, 2011 by David Cohen

A new study analyzed insurance claims from the past several years and noted that in 2008 alone, there were more than 1.5 million medical errors reported which accounted for over $19.5 billion. That averages out to roughly $13,000 per error.

The report states that medical errors led to more than 2,500 otherwise avoidable deaths and more than 10 million missed workdays. Five common medical errors accounted for 55% of the total amount of medical error costs in 2008:

  • Pressure ulcers - $3.86 billion ($10,288 total cost per error)
  • Postoperative infections - $3.66 billion ($14,548 per error)
  • Mechanical complications of devices, implants, or grafts - $1.13 billion ($18,771 per error)
  • Postlaminectomy syndrome - $1.12 billion ($9,863 per error)
  • Hemorrhages complicating a procedure - $960 million (12,272 per error)

Some of the other top ten medical errors include: infection following infusion, injection, transfusion, or vaccination; pneumothorax; infection due to central venous catheter; other complications of internal (biological) (synthetic) prosthetic device, implant, and graft; and ventral hernia without mention of obstruction or gangrene.

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