- © 2007 Canadian Medical Association
Adverse events documented: An analysis of adverse event surveys and patient safety indicators by the Canadian Institute for Health Information reveals that Canada still lags behind other nations in reducing risk. The analysis states that in 2005, 1 in 10 adults with health problems reported receiving the wrong medication or wrong dose in the previous year. In 2006, 10% of Canadian primary care doctors said they routinely received drug alerts via email, significantly fewer than in the United States (23%), Germany (40%) or Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (80% or more).
Physicians take the challenge: More than 100 physicians and health care professionals donated all or part of a day's income to support primary health and development in rural Africa. The Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief's World Health Day Challenge on Apr. 7 raised more than $60 000 — double what was raised during the inaugural challenge in 2006. Founded in 1984, Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief works in partnership with vulnerable communities and diverse organizations to overcome poverty and build healthy communities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.
US Medicare won't pay for adverse events: The US federal government has decided that Medicare will no longer bear the financial burden of treatments caused by preventable errors, injuries and infections in hospitals. Among the conditions “that could reasonably have been prevented” are pressure ulcers, injuries caused by falls and infections resulting from the prolonged use of catheters. The plan will save Medicare about US$20 million annually; the hospitals cannot bill patients who suffer from these hospital-acquired complications.
Expand use of mosquito nets: New World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend that long-lasting insecticide-treated nets be distributed either free or heavily subsidized and used by all members of the community in nations in which there is a high risk of contracting malaria. Previously, WHO recommended the nets for children under 5 and pregnant women. A 2-year study in Kenya shows that expanding the use of nets to all people in targeted areas can help reduce overall incidence of malaria. The nets cost about US$5 each.
WOW Web site: A portal for health consumers and practitioners has been created to disseminate information about 3 major health concerns of older women: urinary incontinence, memory loss and exercise. Launched in response to the findings of a study on older women's health needs and concerns (CMAJ 2005;173:153-9), the Web site, wowhealth.ca, provides information about prevention, lifestyle, nutrition and treatment options related to the 3 concerns. A separate portal for physicians outlines “the kinds of question that practitioners should be asking their older female patients routinely, and the ways in which they can provide prevention and improvement strategies to their patients.” — Compiled by Barbara Sibbald, CMAJ