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don’t get sick in july

a million years ago, i worked as a handyman/carpenter with my friend john. our two mottos were: ‘it’s not OUR house’ and ‘by the time we’re done with your job, we’ll have it down!’ while it was ok when we did it, it’s a bit disconcerting to think the people we are depending on to take care of us in hospitals might be doing the same thing.

each july more than ten thousand new doctors begin medical residencies in teaching hospitals, and are given more responsibility for treating patients.

a study just published in the journal of general internal medicine (jgim) provides the first u.s. evidence supporting the ‘july effect’ – a 10% spike in fatal medication errors in july of each year in counties with teaching hospitals… with no change in counties without teaching hospitals.

the co-editor of the journal, dr. richard kravitz, wrote:

the accumulated evidence on the ‘july spike’ is probably convincing enough to prompt action: for example, having attendings or senior residents ‘in house’ during extended hours, conducting rounds twice a day (as pediatrics has done for decades), or just making sure adequate help is available at the point of care. academic general internal medicine doesn’t shut down during the dog days of summer. our resolve to improve the quality of hospital care shouldn’t shut down either.

no one cares more about you than you… be prepared to be your own medical advocate.

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