Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center ousts executives following reports of safety lapses
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center has replaced its president, chief nursing officer and a top doctor amid reports of significant safety lapses, including high mortality and complication rates in its heart transplant program.
The hospital board chose to oust the leaders following an error in its emergency department that led to a patient’s death. They were given a transfusion of the wrong blood type and later died.
State and federal investigators visited the hospital last week to review safety and determine next steps. (ProPublica)
Report: Americans more likely to die of a drug overdose than in a car accident
Opioid overdoses have overtaken car crashes as the most likely accidental cause of death in the U.S., according to a new report.
Americans have a 1 in 96 chance of dying from an opioid overdose, compared to a 1 in 103 chance of dying in a car crash, according to data from the National Safety Council. It’s the first year on record where opioid overdoses carry a higher risk than car wrecks.
Heart disease and cancer, however, are the leading causes of death overall, with a 1 in 6 and 1 in 7 risk, respectively, according to the report. (National Safety Council)
Nurses, St. Charles Health System reach contract agreement
Nurses and Oregon-based St. Charles Health System have reached a tentative contract agreement, after months of negotiation.
The two sides had been working on a deal since June. An information picket by members of the nurses’ union, which includes about 900 nurses, was scheduled for Jan. 21 and has been called off.
The nurses still need to ratify the agreement, and a vote is expected in the next several weeks.
“This agreement is a win for our community’s health,” David Hilderbrand, local nurse leader and Oregon Nurses Association bargaining unit chair, said. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)