Medical errors may occur in different health care settings, and those that happen in hospitals can have serious consequences. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which has sponsored hundreds of patient safety research and implementation projects, offers these 10 evidence-based tips to prevent adverse events from occurring in your hospital.

1. Prevent central line-associated blood stream infections. Be vigilant preventing central line-associated blood stream infections by taking five steps every time a central venous catheter is inserted: wash your hands, use full-barrier precautions, clean the skin with chlorhexidine, avoid femoral lines, and remove unnecessary lines. Taking these steps consistently reduced this type of deadly health care-associated infection to zero in a study at more than 100 large and small hospitals.ⁱ Additional AHRQ resources on preventing health care-associated infections are available at http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/patient-safety-resources/resources/hais/index.html.
2. Re-engineer hospital discharges. Reduce potentially preventable readmissions by assigning a staff member to work closely with patients and other staff to reconcile medications and schedule necessary followup medical appointments. Create a simple, easy-to-understand discharge plan for each patient that contains a medication schedule, a record of all upcoming medical appointments, and names and phone numbers of whom to call if a problem arises. AHRQ-funded research shows that taking these steps can help reduce potentially preventable readmissions by 30 percent.ⁱⁱ
3. Prevent venous thromboembolism. Eliminate hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE), the most common cause of preventable hospital deaths, by using an evidence-based guide to create a VTE protocol. This free guide explains how to take essential first steps, lay out the evidence and identify best practices, analyze care delivery, track performance with metrics, layer interventions, and continue to improve.  Preventing Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolism: A Guide for Effective Quality Improvement (AHRQ Publication No. 08-0075).
4. Educate patients about using blood thinners safely. Patients who have had surgery often leave the hospital with a new prescription for a blood thinner, such as warfarin brand name: Coumadin®), to keep them from developing dangerous blood clots. However, if used incorrectly, blood thinners can cause uncontrollable bleeding and are among the top causes of adverse drug events. A free 10-minute patient education video and companion 24-page booklet, both in English and Spanish, help patients understand what to expect when taking these medicines. 
5. Limit shift durations for medical residents and other hospital staff if possible. Evidence shows that acute and chronically fatigued medical residents are more likely to make mistakes. Ensure that residents get ample sleep and adhere to 80-hour workweek limits. Residents who work 30-hour shifts should only treat patients for up to 16 hours and should have a 5-hour protected sleep period between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.ⁱⁱⁱResident Duty Hours: Enhancing Sleep, Supervision, and Safety is available at http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12508&page=R1 .
6. Consider working with a Patient Safety Organization. Report and share patient safety information with Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) to help others avoid preventable errors. By providing both privilege and confidentiality, PSOs create a secure environment where clinicians and health care organizations can use common formats to collect, aggregate, and analyze

Bringing aboard new employees is time-consuming and expensive, and these costs increase if you make a bad hire. Engaging the services of a staffing agency such as Robert Half may be just what you need to help achieve your goals. And you can increase your chances of finding a candidate who is the right match for the job and your organization — on the first try — by choosing a reputable staffing firm that specializes in the field where you’re looking for talent. 

There are benefits of using a staffing agency for companies of all sizes. Small firms, for example, can compete more effectively for top talent. These businesses often lack a human resources department or even an HR professional on staff, so they don’t have dedicated resources for finding and securing great hires.

Staffing agencies help bigger companies save time and money by letting them tap into the broad networks of job candidates the specialized recruiters cultivate. Those connections are particularly important in today’s hiring environment, where skilled talent is in high demand and hard to find.

Although there are fees associated with using an agency, working with staffing experts to hire the right person in a short time frame can be more cost-efficient than engaging in a long, drawn-out hiring process — or making a hurried choice. The ripple effects of a poor hiring decision can be especially disastrous for companies or departments where there are fewer employees to pick up the slack.

The potential to build a long-term relationship

So, what are other benefits of using a staffing agency that your business might expect? A recruiting firm not only helps you find the best candidates but also advises you on staffing strategies to support your company through inevitable ups and downs. By working with the right firm, you have the opportunity to gain a long-term partner for recruiting and hiring — one that truly understands your business. That’s true whether you’re looking for temporary or full-time employees.

Temporary or seasonal placements — Interim employees are a go-to staffing solution for many companies when they don’t need to hire full-time replacements. You might engage skilled professionals to cover for team members who are on medical leave, for example. Or you might want to provide extra support to your core team during hectic and work-heavy times of the year, like tax time or summer vacation season.

A staffing agency can also connect your business with temporary-to-full-time employees. The arrangement begins with a short-term assignment that has the potential to lead to longer-term employment. During this initial trial period, your company has a firsthand opportunity to evaluate a worker’s skills as they tackle your projects. And you also see just how well the person fits into your office culture. This approach is another way that a staffing firm can help your business avoid making a costly bad hire.

Full-time hiring — When you need to expand your full-time roster of employees quickly, a specialized staffing agency …

Pharmaceuticals have been used to treat illnesses for thousands of years. The early days of medication included plants and herbal remedies to treat a variety of diseases and traumas. Today, the long and complex journey to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a compound and bring it from the laboratory into the hands of patients in need is a multi-billion-dollar global industry.  

Pharmaceutical companies continually strive towards innovative new treatments that help people live longer and healthier lives. These therapies are developed, manufactured, marketed and distributed around the world by pharmaceutical companies every day. Here, we look at some of the key contributions of the industry, and the reasons why pharmaceutical companies are so important to patients, society and the life sciences industry: 

1. Treatments increase life expectancy

The pharmaceutical industry has greatly contributed to the increase in life expectancy for men and women across the world. It has been reported that pharmaceutical advancements accounted for 73% of the total increase in life expectancy between 2000 and 2009, across 30 developing and high-income countries. In 1900, global life expectancy was just 32 years; thanks to advancements in medicines, this has more than doubled and today the average life expectancy stands at 72 years.

Japan and Hong Kong have the highest average life expectancy, with people living to 85 years old on average. Pharmaceutical innovation has not just benefited richer nations, developing countries have also been positively impacted and global inequality in life expectancy is starting to decrease. 

2. The industry strives to eradicate and eliminate diseases

Disease eradication is the ultimate goal when developing treatments, as this benefits ecosystems on a global level. To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared smallpox as the first – and so far only – human disease to be eradicated globally.

There are 7 diseases that are almost eradicated, including: measles, rubella, polio, guinea worm and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis). Eradication is extremely hard to achieve as it requires vaccination and a true global effort.

3. Reduced pain and suffering

Although many pharmaceuticals do directly cure conditions, they can also be used to manage pain, symptoms or side-effects of other treatments, helping to relieve discomfort. A study by the WHO showed that individuals who live with persistent pain are four times more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and twice as more likely to have difficulty working than those who do not suffer with pain. By providing treatments to manage pain, symptoms and side-effects, pharmaceutical companies can improve patients’ quality of life, allowing them the freedom to live healthier and more fulfilled lives.

4. Vaccines save money

By preventing disease, vaccines not only help to save millions of lives, they save money too. Vaccines are widely accepted as a cost-effective public health intervention, reducing healthcare spending and prevent productivity loss, curbing the wider impact on the economy. According to the WHO for every $1 the US spends on childhood vaccinations, over $10 in disease treatment costs is saved.

5. Hospital stays are shorter

In the US, 50 years ago, the average hospital stay was 8 days. With innovation and …

You visit your doctor, and they write you a prescription for a brand-name medication. You take the prescription to the pharmacist, and they tell you there’s a generic version of the drug available. Which one should you choose? In many cases, the generic may be the better choice. But not 100% of the time. 

Do generic drugs work the same way as brand-name drugs?

Some people hear “generic” and think of generic cereals that taste funny or get soggy too soon. They often don’t stack up against the original and are usually considered “knock-offs.” Generic drugs are different. 

Generics are made to work the same way as brand-name drugs. They have the same active ingredient and are the same as brand-name medications when it comes to:

• Quality
• Dosage (how much and how often you take it)
• Strength
• Route of administration (how you take it)

For example, amphetamine salt combo is the generic version of Adderall, a medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These 2 prescription drugs are available in the same strengths, are prescribed in the same quantities, and have the same instructions for how to take them. The same is true for metformin, the generic version of Glucophage, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Are generic drugs less effective?

No. Generic medications are just as effective as brand-name drugs. According to the FDA, drug makers must prove that generic medications can be substituted for brand-name drugs and offer the same benefits as their brand-name counterparts. 

In other words, in many cases, you can swap a generic drug for a brand-name one and get the same effect—unlike those generic Frosted Flakes.

Why do brand-name drugs cost more than generics?

There are a few reasons for this.

First, the manufacturers of brand-name medications have to conduct tests, known as clinical trials, to prove that their drug is safe and works the way it’s supposed to. These tests are expensive, and manufacturers pass on some of these costs to the consumer. 

Second, while a brand-name drug is only sold by one manufacturer, several companies will usually sell the same generic drug, which leads to competition in the marketplace and lower costs for consumers. 

How much cheaper are generic drugs?

Generic medications typically cost about 80% to 85% less than the same brand-name drug. According to 1 study, generic drugs saved the U.S. healthcare system $1.67 trillion from 2007 to 2016.

How do I tell them apart?

If you’re worried about picking up the wrong prescription, you can relax. Telling the difference between a generic and a brand-name drug isn’t too hard.

Due to trademark laws, generic and brand-name medications cannot look the same. In many cases, the name of the generic drug will be the same as the active ingredient, such as omeprazole (the generic version of Prilosec, a medication used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD). 

The generic and brand versions may differ on:

• Shape
• Color
• Packaging
• Flavorings
• Inactive ingredients

However, these differences don’t mean …

Job hunters around the world have all through misunderstood the core functions of Life science staffing agencies at large. Most people have opted to make direct applications to employers when searching for jobs, but then, there is an added value these agencies can put on candidates and clients at large. Even though, in some situations, direct applications seem more appropriate, it will be beneficial getting in touch with the life science recruiters at large.

Life science agencies have an expert have all through dedicated themselves in several fields to provide candidates relevant and efficient experience. They ensure candidates settle at a job that fits them right. Herein are some of the services a Life Science Agency offers and industries they are best suited.

Services they offer

Telehealth services

Whether you’re looking for Televet, Telemedicine, Teledentistry, and other services in the health industry, you will have the services of a life science agency to navigate through. You will be guided with a tailored approach through the entire transformation process from the assessment and analysis stage to its implementation and ongoing support stages. With the help of a Life Science Agency, you’re assured of proper practice alignment with all requirements of those you serve.

Network and infrastructure services

There is a need to implement smart decisions for a business to move to a better place. A Life Science Agency has physical infrastructure experience in all areas at large. This is right from the overall designing stages, selection of equipment, and deployment of structured cabling all through to the comprehensive project management stages. Life Science agency experts also recognize that past technology is still used in many corporate data centers. The experts help clients with services like data center redesigning from its physical space to offering them reliable power to making improvements to performance, architecture, and management.

Transformation services

Change is the only existing step that leads to a transformation. Life Science Agency specialists employ different value-based strategies, operational and delivery excellence, and capability is driven planning to ensure they influence successful outcomes from existing transformation initiatives. They do best to work across different organizations to help design and transform business units, enterprises, and all existing operating models.

Digital and technology service

Life Science Agencies have expert architects and software engineers experienced at designing and developing different enterprise applications. They have the expertise to create high-performance web, collaboration, and mobile and other business intelligence solutions in all industries they operate. They employ different tools, patterns, and components to quickly create apps that are tailored to suit your operational needs.

Consulting services

Life Science Agency has professionals, tools, infrastructure, and processes that help enterprises go to top levels. The experts provide clients various insight and services around all technical aspects that enable them to choose, design, create, manage, and also implement all IT resources of an organization. They provide solutions in outcome-based and business insight solutions in all technical aspects like process optimization and project management to digital strategies execution, application development, and infrastructure …

When using over the counter drugs, it is important that you use them properly. Using them improperly can lead to major health problems. So many people end up in the hospital due to the misuse of over the counter medications. The first thing you need to do before taking any medication is you need to read the label. Only after you have talked to your doctor is when you should take medication and follow each instruction carefully to avoid complications.

You will also want to talk to a health care professional. You need to be sure you are in proper condition to take any medication. You will also want to talk to the pharmacist about any questions you may have concerning the medication. The pharmacist is knowledgeable about the chemicals and anything else that may be in the medication, so be sure you ask if you have any questions.

Do not mix any medication with alcohol. Most medications will have a negative effect when mixed with any amount of alcohol. Do not keep using a medication for more than you are instructed by your doctor. This can lead to addiction and overdose.

You do not need a prescription for over the counter medications, so be careful how you use them. There can be many complications if you do not use them correctly. There are fewer side effects in over the counter drugs than in prescription drugs, but they still occur. Be aware of these side effects.…