California Department of Public Health fines hospitals for medical errors

From the Los Angeles Times article:

State officials have fined 13 California hospitals for medical errors that in some cases killed or seriously injured patients, according to a report made public Wednesday.

California Department of Public Health officials have required hospital officials -- who may appeal the fines -- to submit plans to correct the problems.

Three hospitals in Los Angeles County face penalties.

Click here to access the LAT article. Click here to access the CDPH news release.

January 2010 issue of the ACCME Report (newsletter) now online

...and it contains three calls for comments; click here to access the newsletter!

Winter issue of the AMA CPPD Report now online

The newsletter contains a number of good articles (at least read the lead article) as well as a link to the 2010 edition of State Medical Licensure Requirements. Click here to access the newsletter. If you just want the updated State Medical Licensure Requirements, click here.

Patient compliance guidelines

The British National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has guidelines on medication adherence, which we all know is a problem. Click here to access the quick reference guide for these guidelines.

Pfizer to provide $3 million grant to support Stanford CME

From the New York Times article:

Stanford University on Monday will announce plans to develop new continuing education programs for doctors that will be devoid of the drug industry influence that has often permeated such courses.
...
Dr. Philip Pizzo, dean of the Stanford medical school, says Pfizer will have no say on how the three-year grant will be spent. The university plans to set up unbiased programs of postgraduate education on the Stanford campus rather than the industry-selected topics of the past that have been presented to rooms full of doctors at hotels and resorts.

Click here to access the NYT article.

Grassley press release

Don't know how I missed this, but here it is now. From Senator Grassley's early December press release:

Senator Grassley has asked 33 medical groups for information about the financial backing they get from the pharmaceutical, medical device and insurance industries.

“These organizations have a lot of influence over public policy, and people rely on their leadership. There’s a strong case for disclosure and the accountability that results,” Grassley said.

Grassley said his inquiry follows a review of industry support for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, where he questioned the organization’s national office and state chapters. The Alliance subsequently adopted a new policy of publicly releasing industry support over $5,000. “It’d be good for the system if other organizations would follow NAMI’s lead in this area,” Grassley said.

Click here to access the press release. Click here to access the Medical Meetings magazine online article. Hat tip to Medical Meetings magazine.