Medical Mistakes

Your appointments as well as your doctor’s diagnosis are extremely important; it can determine your next move. However, with medical errors being the third leading cause of death in the United States, it can sometimes be hard to trust your doctor’s opinion.

According to Dr. Martin Makary, professor of surgery and health policy at Johns Hopkins University, “People don’t just die from heart attacks and bacteria. They die from system-wide failings and poorly coordinated care.” These errors can’t be looked at as lapses in judgment or mistaken diagnoses; these are people’s lives on the line. With the number of deaths being at least 250,000 every year from medical errors, this issue needs to be addressed quickly.

Crucial Questions

Here are a few tips to help you get safer care.

› Make sure all your doctors know about every medicine you are taking. Keep an updated list, including meds and doses in your purse or wallet.

› Bring all medicines and supplements to your doctor visits.

› Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies you have.

› When your doctor writes a prescription, make sure you can read it. If you can’t read it, maybe the pharmacist won’t be able to either.

Your Job

› Ask questions about your medicine, and make sure the doc answers in terms you understand.

› If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your doctor and your surgeon all agree on exactly what will be done. Request a meeting beforehand.

› If given a choice, choose a hospital where many patients have had the same surgery.

› Speak up if you have questions or concerns. Always have a list of questions on hand before any appointment or consultation. Take notes when the doc makes suggestions or discusses ways to improve your health or condition.

› Ask a family member or friend to go to appointments with you. Maybe they will think of a good question to ask or remember facts you might have missed.

› Learn all you can about your condition and treatments.

Take responsibility for your own health. We’ve heard it all before, but it’s worth repeating. Get plenty of rest, eat a balanced diet, reduce your stress levels and exercise regularly. In addition, make sure to schedule well visits and any required tests, including blood tests and other diagnostic tests, on time. Be informed and ready to ask questions!

• Inpatient and Outpatient Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy (including vitalism)

• Specialty Cardiac and Orthopedic Rehabilitation

• Medicare and BCBS accepted

The Center for Bone & Joint Disease physicians are boardcertified and many have received specialized fellowship training in areas such as hand, trauma, spinal injuries, sports medicine, shoulder reconstruction, and advanced foot and ankle reconstruction. The Center also has a fellowship-trained podiatrist on sta .

Matthew Ragsdell, D.O., the Center’s newest full-time orthopaedic surgeon at our Homosassa location. He completed a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder reconstruction where he received training in advanced arthroscopic techniques and advanced shoulder repair. He treats a wide variety of orthopaedic conditions that include total joint replacements, revisions and ACL, MCL & PCL reconstruction and revisions. Also specializing in anterior approach total hip replacements.

A great practice requires patience, attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to quality. Try us for yourself!

What’s Good Bacteria Good For?

Thanks to their children, most parents are pretty familiar with the medicine aisle— what works for colds, upset tummies or coughs.

But when it comes to probiotic supplements, there are a lot of options and not much clarification on how they di er. Here’s what parents need to know about probiotics for their kids.

By now, most of us know probiotics are microorganisms that help keep our digestive systems on track. They’re found naturally in foods like yogurt, but supplements are the fastest way to repopulate the gut with good bacteria after, say, a round of antibiotics (a common occurrence for kiddos). And with a weak microbiome—all the microscopic organisms living in and on the body—being linked to conditions like asthma, type 1 diabetes, allergies and autoimmune diseases, probiotics are definitely worth some consideration.

However, when you find yourself standing in front of the probiotic section in your drugstore, it’s hard to actually consider which product is best for your child. Just like antibiotics, probiotics treat different ailments. The confusion arises because, for supplement brands to market their products with treatment claims and dosages, they’d have to engage in the same extensive testing as pharmaceutical drugs (which is expensive and takes forever, so they skip it).

Thankfully, there are some general guidelines for which probiotic strains are helpful and when. What kind of good bacteria are best?

Lactobacillus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii are the most studied strains. Research shows these probiotics can eliminate diarrhea about 25 hours earlier than usual during a stomach virus. With the average stomach bug lasting three days, that’s a full day of mercy. They’ve also been shown to halve the number of children who experience diarrhea while taking antibiotics. They’re found in Culturelle and Florastor, respectively.

Studies also show links between probiotics and reduced eczema flare ups, prevention of respiratory infections and decreased instances of colic in babies. Taking probiotics regularly may not be for every child, but parents who think their son or daughter could benefit from a few more microorganisms should ask their pediatrician’s advice.

Is Snacking Sufficient?

Yogurt, cheese, Kefir and more are all marketed as probiotic-populated snacks, so why bother with a supplement? A 2010 study found that after just 10 days in the fridge, 70 percent of the probiotic critters have died. Further research states food should contain 106 to 108 live cultures per gram, and no one can put away that much yogurt every day. Although these foods don’t hurt, supplements may just be worth the hype.

Note: Probiotics are not suitable for children with certain serious conditions, such as cancer. Always talk to your child’s pediatrician about supplement use.