The government-backed movement toward electronic medical records and the adoption of other advances in information technology in hospitals, doctor's offices and health care facilities in New York and around the country might not be proceeding as smoothly as had been expected. Reports are now surfacing about wrong-site surgery and, in some cases, fatal medical error incidents occurring because of electronic health record systems being down.A news report about doctors and hospital officials denying responsibility and shying away from offering apologies to patients who were victims of a doctor error or a surgical error has drawn attention to a little-known cause of medical malpractice. According to the report, medical mistakes have been attributed to the inability of doctors to access electronic patient records at critical stages during treatment. It is claimed [...]

New York employees do not have to be involved in manual labor to face a risk of musculoskeletal disorders at their jobs. Although manual labor can pose high risks of MSDs, there are certain risk factors that can affect office workers and others whose jobs are not physically demanding. It is important for employers to recognize the importance of good ergonomic practices to ensure that employee absences and workers' compensation claims are minimized.Training is an important preventive tool, allowing an employer to familiarize workers with optimum practices for limiting the risk of suffering MSDs on the job. As injuries are reduced, productivity can also be improved. Some of the most serious issues that can lead to musculoskeletal injuries include repetition, force, vibration, contact stress and awkward postures. It is important [...]

New York families may be surprised to learn that a study conducted in Massachusetts indicates that many parents catch medical mistakes when they take their children to the hospital. The researchers say that this suggests that parents could provide complementary details that may help make health care safer.The study assessed data from 383 children who were hospitalized in two pediatric units at a Boston facility in 2013 and 2014. The children's parents filled out written surveys to detail any safety issues that their kids experienced. Two doctors reviewed the incidents and classified them as either medical mistakes, quality issues or non-safety problems.The researchers found that about one in every 10 parents detected medical mistakes that doctors and nurses did not and 34 parents reported 37 safety issues, 23 of which [...]