CPAP for CHF instead of ETT?

From USA Today
For more than 30 years, paramedics have been saving the lives of these patients by inserting, through the vocal cords, a breathing tube about the width of a small garden hose and then pushing air into the lungs with an inflatable bag. Called intubating, it’s the street version of a hospital’s mechanical ventilator.
But [...]

Negligent Credentialing?

From the American Medical Association
Hospital can be sued for credentialing doctor with questionable qualifications, Minnesota high court rules
Physicians fear that a recent Minnesota Supreme Court decision could compromise statutory peer review protections and taint physicians in medical liability cases that are tied to negligent credentialing claims.
For the first time, the high court recognized that patients [...]

House Bill Aims to Modernize 911 Systems

From Washington Technology:
Proposed legislation in Congress that would promote implementation of IP-based 911 services is picking up support from public safety groups and disability organizations.
The 911 Modernization and Public Safety Act of 2007 (H.R. 3403), sponsored by Rep. Barton Gordon (D-Tenn.), seeks to facilitate rapid deployment of IP-enabled 911 services and IP-enabled enhanced wireless [...]

Depletion of Nitric Oxide in Bank Blood Spells Trouble

Great summary of this important finding at Medgadget
It has been long known that people who receive blood transfusions have a higher chance of having all kinds of medical problems following the transfusion. Research coming out of Duke now shows that stored blood loses a great deal of its nitric oxide content which is critical in [...]

HIPPA In Action

From the WSJ Health Blog
Hospital Suspends Workers for Peeking at Clooney’s File

Patient Refuses to be Seen by a Muslim Doctor

From the NY Times “The Ethicist” Column
A patient came to the E.R. where I work, and a nurse gave him a preliminary evaluation. When the patient saw my name, he refused to be examined by a Muslim doctor. I couldn’t reach his primary physician, and the other physician on call was also Muslim. A physician [...]

Interesting Teaching Model

From Unbounded Medicine
This surgical model is made of glass fiber and has abdominal and thoracic compartments separated. A selective bronchial intubation can be done in this model. It also has a structure that simulates a diaphragm. You can perform both laparoscopy and thoracoscopy.
The organs of a pig are placed within the model.

Study Presented at ACEP Symposium: EM Physicians Risk Takers?

From the WSJ Health Blog:
….she wanted to find out whether the ER really did draw thrill seekers or it was just a medical myth. So they gave a test called “Are You a Risk Taker?” (it’s something like this) to 87 emergency medicine residents and 77 family medicine residents to find out. (They chose family [...]

LUCAS™ Chest Compression System

From Medgadget:
Physio-Control, Inc., a subsidiary of Medtronic, Inc., has announced that the LUCAS Chest Compression System is now available in the United States through an exclusive distribution partnership with JOLIFE AB, a Lund, Sweden company. The device is designed to deliver consistent CPR chest compressions without the off intervals, and to deliver direct current cardioversion [...]

Blogger Takes HealthVault for a Test Drive

The Medical Quack leads us through registration and initial use of the site.
Microsoft Health Records - Special Review and Basic Information
I have included what I hope to provide is some extensive information on the new Health Vault. If you read this blog regularly, you know I am a big advocate of privacy, and [...]