Thursday, November 30, 2006
Libby Zion Case -- The case that shook medicine
Washington Post: November 28, 2006 Health, F01
"A Case That Shook Medicine: How One Man's Rage Over His Daughter's Death Sped Reform of Doctor Training" by Barron H. Lerner
The article recounts the emergency room visit of Libby Zorn, an 18-year old college freshman, who in 1984 presented with a fever, agitation, strange jerking body motions, and disorientation. The staff was unable to diagnose her condition, but admitted her for hydration and observation. The physician on record approved the decision by phone. Libby was evaluated by two residents, one that was working with 40 patients, and one who went to sleep in an adjacent building but was available by beeper.
Libby was not reevaluated until 6:30 am, when her temperature was 107 degrees. Emergency measures were called to try to lower her temperature, but Libby Zion suffered a cardiac arrest and died.
Libby Zion's dad learned of the circumstances of her death, and became convinced that it was not a simple "bad outcome", but negligence due to inadequate staffing at a teaching hospital. His crusade not only led to shortened hours for interns during hospital training, but helped set the stage for the medical errors movement that began in the 1990s.
"A Case That Shook Medicine: How One Man's Rage Over His Daughter's Death Sped Reform of Doctor Training" by Barron H. Lerner
The article recounts the emergency room visit of Libby Zorn, an 18-year old college freshman, who in 1984 presented with a fever, agitation, strange jerking body motions, and disorientation. The staff was unable to diagnose her condition, but admitted her for hydration and observation. The physician on record approved the decision by phone. Libby was evaluated by two residents, one that was working with 40 patients, and one who went to sleep in an adjacent building but was available by beeper.
Libby was not reevaluated until 6:30 am, when her temperature was 107 degrees. Emergency measures were called to try to lower her temperature, but Libby Zion suffered a cardiac arrest and died.
Libby Zion's dad learned of the circumstances of her death, and became convinced that it was not a simple "bad outcome", but negligence due to inadequate staffing at a teaching hospital. His crusade not only led to shortened hours for interns during hospital training, but helped set the stage for the medical errors movement that began in the 1990s.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Health, United States
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus06.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics
“Health, United States is an annual report on trends in health statistics. The report consists of two main sections: A chartbook containing text and figures that illustrates major trends in the health of Americans; and a trend tables section that contains 147 detailed data tables. The two main components are supplemented by an executive summary, a highlights section, an extensive appendix and reference section, and an index.”
National Center for Health Statistics
“Health, United States is an annual report on trends in health statistics. The report consists of two main sections: A chartbook containing text and figures that illustrates major trends in the health of Americans; and a trend tables section that contains 147 detailed data tables. The two main components are supplemented by an executive summary, a highlights section, an extensive appendix and reference section, and an index.”
Labels: Health Statistics
Household Food Security in America
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR29/
Source: USDA Economic Research Service
“Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2005, meaning that they had access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households were food insecure at least some time during that year. The prevalence of food insecurity declined from 11.9 percent of households in 2004 to 11.0 percent in 2005, while the prevalence of very low food security remained unchanged at 3.9 percent. This report, based on data from the December 2005 food security survey, provides the most recent statistics on the food security of U.S. households, as well as on how much they spent for food and the extent to which food-insecure households participated in Federal and community food assistance programs.”
Source: USDA Economic Research Service
“Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2005, meaning that they had access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households were food insecure at least some time during that year. The prevalence of food insecurity declined from 11.9 percent of households in 2004 to 11.0 percent in 2005, while the prevalence of very low food security remained unchanged at 3.9 percent. This report, based on data from the December 2005 food security survey, provides the most recent statistics on the food security of U.S. households, as well as on how much they spent for food and the extent to which food-insecure households participated in Federal and community food assistance programs.”
Labels: Food Security
