This week in #patientsafety, we shine the spotlight on respiratory therapists for all the work they do in keeping patients safe. We also look at whether bundled payments for hip and knee replacements are potentially risky when it comes to safe care. From around the web, we feature a great article highlighting stories of patients found “dead in bed”, possibly from providing too much pain medication (long-time PPAHS supporters will be familiar with most of these stories). Continue reading “Patient Safety Weekly Must Reads (November 25, 2016)”
Tag: Matt Whitman
‘On April 17, 2003, I Died’ – The Case for Continuous Patient Monitoring
In this thoughtful article published in Forbes, Robert J. Szczerba discusses what happened to Matt Whitman on April 7, 2003, the need for continuous electronic monitoring of all patients receiving opioids, and what the National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids is doing to improve health outcomes and patient safety. Continue reading “‘On April 17, 2003, I Died’ – The Case for Continuous Patient Monitoring”
Patient Stories Shared at First Meeting of National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids
The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health and Safety today released the patient stories it shared at the inaugural meeting of the National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids.
“We hope that the adverse events and deaths of patients who have suffered opioid-induced respiratory compromise may serve as inspiration to encourage the adoption of continuous electronic monitoring of all patients receiving opioids,” said Physician-Patient Alliance Executive Director and Founder Michael Wong, JD. Continue reading “Patient Stories Shared at First Meeting of National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids”
Campaign to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients Receiving Opioids
The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety enthusiastically applauds the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Foundation’s newly launched campaign to promote continuous monitoring of all patients receiving opioid analgesics to manage their pain. Continue reading “Campaign to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients Receiving Opioids”
Matt Whitman Letter on “My Near Miss”
by Matt Whitman, Retired Michigan State Trooper
In her recent op-ed article “My Near Miss” (New York Times Op-Ed, May 28), Dr. Danielle Ofri makes several convincing points about what caregivers should do to address one of the most important issues in their profession: medical errors. After reading it, I felt compelled to share my story. Continue reading “Matt Whitman Letter on “My Near Miss””
State Trooper’s Life Saved by Nurse: Why Hospitals Need a Monitoring Technological Safety Net
Retired Michigan State Police Officer, Matt Whitman, tells his story of how his life was miraculously saved by a nurse and why hospitals need a monitoring technological safety net to not rely upon miraculous interventions.
by Matt Whitman (Retired Michigan State Police Officer, Law Enforcement Teacher, Van Buren Technology Center)

Amanda Abbiehl and I share a similar story. Both of us were on patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps to manage our pain.
However, the difference is that, by the grace of God, an observant nurse who just happened to walk by my room when I stopped breathing, called a “Code Blue”, and that ultimately saved my life. I would have been just another statistic if it wasn’t for that nurse. Unfortunately, Amanda was not so lucky. Continue reading “State Trooper’s Life Saved by Nurse: Why Hospitals Need a Monitoring Technological Safety Net”