Man Loses Testicles to Medical Mistake
Many hospitals are now using safety practices developed in commercial aviation to avoid the nightmare of similar errors.
Memphis, TN (PRWEB) July 31, 2007 -- Relieved when his doctor told him his cancerous testicle could be successfully removed, a Los Angeles man opted for the potentially life-saving surgery. When he awoke after the procedure, he was devastated to discover that surgeons had mistakenly removed his good testicle and then later removed the one with cancer.
Experts say the man’s experience is all too common in U.S. hospitals. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, one in three Americans have been affected by medical error.
To stop the growing tide of mistakes, many hospitals are implementing the simple safety checks and protocols used by commercial pilots. The U.S. commercial aviation system is the safest transportation system in the world and hospitals are taking note of the improvements in passenger safety – and using many of the same safety tools used by the nation’s airlines to improve the safety of their patient’s care.
LifeWings Partners LLC, a Memphis, Tenn. company with pilots, former astronauts, physicians, nurses and risk managers among its ranks is one of the organizations helping hospitals learn to use the aviation-based safety tools. LifeWings has experienced rapid growth as the notion of adopting aviation’s best practices has caught fire.
Capt. Stephen Harden, LifeWings President and former Top Gun instructor, says he is not surprised the idea has caught on among the nation’s hospitals. “Both industries are technically advanced, complex, take a lot of teamwork to do right, and are unforgiving of errors. It makes total sense the safety checks that help aviation can also help healthcare.”
One of the key results of the LifeWings system is the “Pre-Procedure Briefing” conducted before surgical cases. Much like the pilot’s “Before Take-Off Briefing,” it ensures the surgical team has the right patient, is operating on the right part of the patient’s anatomy, has the right equipment, and is ready to safely proceed. “I believe the surgical team at that hospital would never have made that horrendous mistake had the LifeWings safety system been in place,” adds Harden.
About LifeWings Partners LLC:
LifeWings Partners LLC was founded by a former U.S. Navy Top Gun instructor, a commercial airline pilot, and two physicians who are former NASA astronauts. The firm specializes in applying aviation-based teamwork training and safety tools to help healthcare facilities save patients’ lives and reduce costs. LifeWings has helped over 70 facilities nationwide provide better care to their patients.
Contact:
Stephen W. Harden, President
LifeWings Partners LLC
901.413.8598
9198 Crestwyn Hills Drive
Memphis, TN 38125
www.SaferPatients.com
901-413-8598
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