Solid Organ Transplant Litigation at One of Europe's Largest University Hospitals

Due to its intrinsic complexity and the principle of collective solidarity that governs it, solid organ transplantation (SOT) seems to have been spared from the increase in litigation related to medical activity. Litigation relating to solid organ transplantation that took place in the 29 units of the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris and was the subject of a judicial decision between 2015 and 2022 was studied. A total of 52 cases of SOT were recorded, all in adults, representing 1.1% of all cases and increasing from 0.71% to 1.5% over 7 years. The organs transplanted were 25 kidneys (48%), 19 livers (37%), 5 hearts (9%) and 3 lungs (6%). For kidney transplants, 11 complaints (44%) were related to living donor procedures and 6 to donors. The main causes of complaints were early post-operative complications in 31 cases (60%) and late complications in 13 cases (25%). The verdicts were in favour of the institution in 41 cases (79%). Solid organ transplants are increasingly the subject of litigation. Although the medical institution was not held liable in almost 80% of cases, this study makes a strong case for patients, living donors and their relatives to be better informed about SOT.

Sharing ICU Patient Data Responsibly Under the Society of Critical Care Medicine/European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Joint Data Science Collaboration: The Amsterdam University Medical Centers Database (AmsterdamUMCdb) Example

OBJECTIVES

Critical care medicine is a natural environment for machine learning approaches to improve outcomes for critically ill patients as admissions to ICUs generate vast amounts of data. However, technical, legal, ethical, and privacy concerns have so far limited the critical care medicine community from making these data readily available. The Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine have identified ICU patient data sharing as one of the priorities under their Joint Data Science Collaboration. To encourage ICUs worldwide to share their patient data responsibly, we now describe the development and release of Amsterdam University Medical Centers Database (AmsterdamUMCdb), the first freely available critical care database in full compliance with privacy laws from both the United States and Europe, as an example of the feasibility of sharing complex critical care data.

SETTING

University hospital ICU.

SUBJECTS

Data from ICU patients admitted between 2003 and 2016.

INTERVENTIONS

We used a risk-based deidentification strategy to maintain data utility while preserving privacy. In addition, we implemented contractual and governance processes, and a communication strategy. Patient organizations, supporting hospitals, and experts on ethics and privacy audited these processes and the database.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

AmsterdamUMCdb contains approximately 1 billion clinical data points from 23,106 admissions of 20,109 patients. The privacy audit concluded that reidentification is not reasonably likely, and AmsterdamUMCdb can therefore be considered as anonymous information, both in the context of the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the European General Data Protection Regulation. The ethics audit concluded that responsible data sharing imposes minimal burden, whereas the potential benefit is tremendous.

CONCLUSIONS

Technical, legal, ethical, and privacy challenges related to responsible data sharing can be addressed using a multidisciplinary approach. A risk-based deidentification strategy, that complies with both U.S. and European privacy regulations, should be the preferred approach to releasing ICU patient data. This supports the shared Society of Critical Care Medicine and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine vision to improve critical care outcomes through scientific inquiry of vast and combined ICU datasets.

Assessing of policies and practices for occupational exposure to blood-borne viral infections in Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt

One of the best ways to investigate and improve the effectiveness of polices for prevention and control of infections is through systematic and rigorous evaluation of the structural, functional, and practical elements of these polices. To assess the policies for managing occupational exposure to blood-borne viral infections in Tanta University Hospitals. A cross-sectional survey was carried out. A checklist was used to collect data related to the hospital policy regarding occupational exposure to blood-borne viral infections which was filled by direct personal interviews with the members of infection control (IC) committee of Tanta University Hospitals where the percentage of those in compliance with specific occupational management policies were reported. All studied participants reported lack of access to written infection control manual and only 14.3 % reported that infection control policies and procedures are updated yearly. Only 32.5 % of studied healthcare workers (HCWs) were not aware by the availability of a needle injury clinic. Only 28.6 % of the members of IC committee reported that pre-placement screening of HCWs for baseline blood tests for HBV, HCV, or HIV was conducted; however, periodic screening for these infections was not conducted as reported by all of the members. Among the members of IC committee, 57.1 % recorded availability of post-exposure evaluation. Only 42.8 % of the members of IC committee reported ensuring HCWs' confidentiality when reporting their exposure incidents. Both exposure management policies and practices were not aligning with the national guidelines.

[Prevention of accidental needle sticks before the Directive 2010/32/EU in a sample of Italian hospitals]

INTRODUCTION

Needlesticks and cuts are the most common occupational injuries in healthcare workers (HCWs). Directive 2010/32/EU defines principles and preventive interventions.

OBJECTIVES

To assess, in hospitals participating in the Italian Study on Occupational Risk of HIV (SIROH) project, which are very active in prevention, the degree of application of the measures provided for by the Directive, prior to its incorporation into Italian law.

METHODS

An open questionnaire covering the 9 focal points of the Directive, as a guide for a presentation at the SIROH meeting in 2013.

RESULTS

Of 100 SIROH hospitals, 97% and 96% respectively provide specific information and education initiatives (54% and 73% of which expressly for new employees). All centres reinforce the ban on recapping, and 30 monitor its application by inspecting sharps containers; all hospitals place containers on mobile trolleys and 78 provide operating procedures for their replacement; all introduced at least one needlestick-prevention device (NPD; 4 on average, range 1-11), most frequently intravenous catheters (91%) and winged needles (87%), but 39% only in selected units; 14 centres implemented initiatives to eliminate unnecessary needles. Regarding hepatitis B, all centres screen and vaccinate HCWs but only 78% monitor their response: 89% of HCWs were immunized. Post-exposure management protocols, although based on the same rationale, differ significantly causing considerable differences in  costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the preventive interventions covered by the Directive were implemented in SIROH hospitals. It is necessary to invest in NPD availability and dissemination, elimination of unnecessary needles, and streamline post-exposure protocols. The situation in the remaining Italian facilities should be investigated.

The Swedish duty hour enigma

BACKGROUND

The Swedish resident duty hour limit is regulated by Swedish and European legal frameworks. With a maximum average of 40 working hours per week, the Swedish duty hour regulation is one of the most restrictive in the world. At the same time, the effects of resident duty hour limits have been neither debated nor researched in the Swedish context. As a result, little is known about the Swedish conceptual framework for resident duty hours, their restriction, or their outcomes: we call this "the Swedish duty hour enigma." This situation poses a further question: How do Swedish residents themselves construct a conceptual framework for duty hour restrictions?

METHODS

A case study was conducted at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm--an urban, research-intensive hospital setting. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 34 residents currently in training in 6 specialties. The empirical data analysis relied on theoretical propositions and was conducted thematically using a pattern-matching technique. The interview guide was based on four main topics: the perceived effect of duty hour restrictions on (1) patient care, (2) resident education, (3) resident well-being, and (4) research.

RESULTS

The residents did not perceive the volume of duty hours to be the main determinant of success or failure in the four contextual domains of patient care, resident education, resident well-being, and research. Instead, they emphasized resident well-being and a desire for flexibility.

CONCLUSIONS

According to Swedish residents' conceptual framework on duty hours, the amount of time spent on duty is not a proxy for the quality of resident training. Instead, flexibility, organization, and scheduling of duty hours are considered to be the factors that have the greatest influence on resident well-being, quality of learning, and opportunities to attain the competence needed for independent practice.

Compounding practices in Iran

This article has been presented by pharmacists of the Razi Hospital Pharmacy, which is located within the Dermatology Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, and by members of the staff at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Discussed within this article are the legalization and regulation of pharmaceutical compounding in Iran, the restrictions on pharmaceutical compounding, the general equipment used in Iran pharmacies, beyond-use dating/expiration dating, the required pharmacy education, as well as information related specifically to Razi Hospital Pharmacy.

2013-2014 National Health Law Moot Court Competition Best Brief

This document was judged Best Brief submitted to the 2013–2014 National Health Law Moot Court Competition. The brief was submitted by students Jessica Robinson DeShon, Brandon Jackson, and Matthew Ward on behalf of Faulkner University School of Law in Montgomery, Alabama. Address correspondence to Professor Joe Lester at Jlester@Faulkner.edu.

Patients' knowledge and exercise of their rights at the University College Hospital, Ibadan

BACKGROUND

Patient rights have recently become the centre of national attention in the healthcare practice and Nigerians are becoming more aware of their rights. Despite this awareness, there is gap between their knowledge and ability to exercise their rights. The study was designed to assess University College Hospital patients' knowledge and exercise of their rights.

METHOD

This descriptive, cross-sectional study utilized a 45-item and self-administered questionnaire to gather information from three hundred and sixty (360) patients. The sample size was statistically determined and the respondents were randomly selected from Out-Patient Department. Ethical issues were duly considered. Data collection spanned four weeks. Data were analysed through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version17.

RESULTS

Most of the respondents (94.2%) have good knowledge of rights and few (37.2%) of them denied being actively involved in making decisions on issues concerning their care. However, about half (50.8%) claimed they were not fully informed about the diagnosis and treatment plans regarding their health conditions. About 75.0% of the respondents reported that they would seek redress if their rights are infringed upon.

CONCLUSION

Patients have good knowledge of their rights, yet they are not fully exercising these rights. Patients should be encouraged to participate in the decision making process on their health issues because it is a channel towards achieving positive patient outcomes. Adequate information about care including the risks of procedures, cost implications of care and possible outcomes of care among others should be provided. Provision of more information by health care providers may enhance patients' decision making and exercise of rights.

University psychiatry in Italy. Organisation and integration of university clinics and the National Health Service

INTRODUCTION

In the Italian psychiatric system, community-based care has become increasingly important and widespread since the national reform of 1978. This report aims to provide an overview of the involvement of university medical schools in this process, considering their responsibility for teaching and training specialist practitioners and professionals.

METHODS

The study was carried out between early 2010 and February 2011. An 18-items, self-administered, questionnaire was designed to investigate the number of faculty members that are responsible both for running a clinical ward and for providing communitybased healthcare.

RESULTS

Nine out of 53 faculty members (17%) manage a Mental Health Department, 9 (17%) manage a University Department, and 2 (3.8%) manage both types of department. Less than half of the teachers have full responsibility (hospital and community); however the percentage reaches 73.2% if we include the hospital wards open to the community emergencies. The remaining 26.8% have no responsibility for community psychiatry. Moreover there were undoubtedly still too many universities with specialisation schools that are without an appropriate network of facilities enabling them to offer complex psychiatric training.

DISCUSSION

As expected, there were several types of healthcare management that were not uniformly distributed throughout Italy and there were also marked differences between mental health care provision in the North, Centre, and South of Italy. The university involvement in clinical responsibility was great, but at the management level there was a lack of equality in terms of clinical care, which risks being reflected also on the institutional functions of teaching and research.

[Who limit vaginal birth for breech presentation: medical practice or Law? Discussion between a medical doctor, a lawyer and the head chief of an university hospital]

The mode of delivery of breech presentation still remains a debate in France. Despite the medical arguments, themselves in debate, exists a legal pressure felt by medical practitioners. Our study highlights the different opinions of medical practitioners, lawyers and medical teachers faced with breech presentation.

[Clinical and medico - legal aspects of sexual aggressions at Gabriel Toure teaching hospital]

AIM

The sexual aggressions pose an important medico - legal problem. The implication of several services is often indispensable to determine the future of this aggression. Our survey objectives were to determine epidemiological and clinical characteristics of sexual aggressions and to specify the judicial continuations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We did historical cohort survey while recruiting all cases of consultation in the service for sexual aggressions. This survey spreads on a period of 60 months going from January 2004 to December 2008. A systematic health evaluation (HIV test, vaginal screeming, lever inflammatory deseases) is asked to every sexual abuse patients.Data have been recorded from patients' clinical files, cards of requisition and accounts returned of verbal suit of auditions and police custodies. khi 2 test has been used to appreciate relationship between variables, significativity doorstep P value < 5%.

RESULTS

The sexual aggression frequency in relation to admissions to emergencies is 3.12%. The age group <15 years were the more represented with 59.18%. The police authority referred the patients with a requisition in 65.17% of cases (p<0,005). Presumed aggressor was known by the patient in 63.67% of cases (p<5%) and in 72.28% of cases the aggression has been made by night (p=0,001) It was about one aggressor in 65.54% of cases; they were 2 and 3 numbers in 17.23%. (p=0,002). We noted a sexual penetration notion in 80.52% of cases against 19.48% of sexual attouchements. The threat has been noted in any case: 40.82% by weapon and 30.71% by stroke of point. More of the half of the patients (60.30%) had had sexual intercourse before the aggression. The clinic exam was normal in 76.40% of cases (P<5%). The main types of lesions were: hymeneal injuries (13.48%), vulva injuries (7.87%). The judicial continuations have been marked by 10.48% of condemnations, 46.06% of acquittal and 40.06% of friendly regulation (P<5%).

CONCLUSION

The number of sexual aggressions, although under valued, is raised in our country. The collaboration between the judicial, police and medical services should permit to reduce the frequency of these aggressions.

Distinctiveness of management in a university psychiatric hospital as a public health institution

The distinctiveness of management of a university psychiatric hospital which has the status of a public health institution is manifested in the following ways: * Distinctive features and characteristics of managing service provider organizations compared to those whose operational results involve tangible products; * Distinctive features of management which originate from its role as a regional hospital and a tertiary research and educational institution in the field of psychiatry, with special importance for the Republic of Slovenia as a whole; * Distinctive features of management that are defined by the social and legal framework of operation of public health institutions and their special social mission. This paper therefore discusses the specific theoretical and practical findings regarding management of service provider organizations from the viewpoint of their social mission and significance, as well as their legal organization, internal structure and values.

[Extraction of management information from the national quality assurance program]

BACKGROUND

Starting with clinically motivated projects, the national quality assurance program has established a legislative obligatory framework. Annual feedback of results is an important means of quality control.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The annual reports cover quality-related information with high granularity. A synopsis for corporate management is missing, however. Therefore, the results of the University Clinics in Greifswald, Germany, have been analyzed and aggregated to support hospital management.

RESULTS

Strengths were identified by the ranking of results within the state for each quality indicator, weaknesses by the comparison with national reference values. The assessment was aggregated per clinical discipline and per category (indication, process, and outcome).

CONCLUSION

A composition of quality indicators was claimed multiple times. A coherent concept is still missing. The method presented establishes a plausible summary of strengths and weaknesses of a hospital from the point of view of the national quality assurance program. Nevertheless, further adaptation of the program is needed to better assist corporate management.

Impact of enforcing the Labour Ordinance, with 1-in-7-day off for hospital doctors, on weekend hospital discharge rate

BACKGROUND

After enforcing the Labour Ordinance, hospital doctors must have 1 day off-work every week. In this study, we aimed to evaluate its impact on the discharge pattern from an acute medical hospital.

METHODS

We undertook a hospital-based ecologic study with before-after design using the clinical management database of patient discharge records of all acute medical wards in a hospital from January to March 2002 (1 year before new system) and from January to March 2004 (1 year after restricted weekend service). The main outcome measures were the daily discharge rates for the two periods. The odds of being discharged on a Saturday were estimated by multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The number of patient discharge on a Saturday was substantially lower in 2004 as compared to 2002 (47.5 +/- 8.5 per Saturday versus 70.5 +/- 11.1 per Saturday, respectively, p < 0.001). A statistically significant decreased trend was noted in the weekend discharge rate in 2002 and 2004 (Poisson p-value for change in discharge rate, p < 0.001). On the other hand, the number of patient discharges on weekdays did not differ between the two periods. Consistently fewer patients were being discharged on Sundays and Mondays as compared to the rest of the week days in both periods. Compared with study period 2002, patients hospitalized in 2004 (with limited weekend service) had significantly lower multivariate-adjusted odds of being discharged on a Saturday (odds ratio of 0.70; 95 percent confidence interval 0.72-0.89, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Length of hospital stay is influenced by the health care system delivery apart from clinical factors. Restricted weekend services in an acute medical hospital setting substantially lengthen the hospital stay, and might therefore entail a major financial burden.

[Clinical governance]

The direction of health organisations requires the coordination of diversified competencies, notably in administration, management and care. In France, for university hospitals, the law (decree) of 1958 is pivotal. Other approaches have been developed in other countries, depending on their history, traditions, and the organisation of their respective health care systems. These models can enlighten our current reflexions at a time when in France, the question of a new definition of governance for university hospitals is raised.

Special features topic: the effects of limited work hours on surgical training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This paper reviews the historic events that culminated in the development of duty hour regulations, and then discusses many of the problems being encountered as the regulations are implemented.

RECENT FINDINGS

On July 3, 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) instituted duty hour requirements for residency training programs in the United States. Although these regulations should have come as no surprise to graduate medical education programs, many were nevertheless unprepared for their implementation. In comparison to duty hour restrictions currently in place in European countries, those being implemented in this country are much more lenient. Both the fiscal and the educational impact of these requirements on graduate medical education are substantial. Recent accreditation actions taken against a training program at Johns Hopkins University clearly demonstrates that the ACGME is prepared to strictly enforce these standards.

SUMMARY

The impact of the new duty-hour requirements on residency training and education will be a matter of great interest as they are implemented throughout the graduate education system in the United States.

The Duchenne muscular dystrophy population in Denmark, 1977–2001: prevalence, incidence and survival in relation to the introduction of ventilator use

Mechanical ventilation of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy continues to be a subject of study. The purpose was to estimate prevalence, incidence, mortality and use of mechanical ventilation in the total Duchenne muscular dystrophy population in Denmark between 1977 and 2001 and further, to reconstruct the introduction of mechanical ventilation to assess the role of the patient organization. Study objects were collected from five sources and verifiable cases identified. Negotiations between health authorities and the patient organization constituted main empirical data for the reconstruction. While overall incidence remained stable at 2.0 per 10(5), prevalence rose from 3.1 to 5.5 per 10(5), mortality fell from 4.7 to 2.6 per 100 years at risk and prevalence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy ventilator users rose from 0.9 to 43.4 per 100. We conclude that survival of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients has increased and ventilator use is probably a main reason. The patient organization exercised a key role but acted upon preconditions created by other players.

[Electronic distribution of patient records and images through PACS: implementation of data protection at the University Hospital in Freiburg]

In large installations of a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), data protection becomes an issue. Above all, not every employee should have access to all data stored in the system. At the Freiburg University Hospital, we developed a concept of dynamic assignment of authorization, assuring that every physician is authorized to the data of all patients under his care. We describe the technical implementation of data protection developed for the integration of PACS and electronic patient records in Freiburg. The system was installed in January 2001 and the experience of its two years in operation is reported.

[How to establish GCP-units in Denmark?]

According to a new EU Directive investigator initiated drug trials are to comply with the guidelines for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) as of May 2004. This implies that trials should be conducted according to a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and be subject to monitoring and auditing. In 2001, investigators in Denmark initiated 73 drug trials. In order to provide GCP services and guidance to the investigators it is proposed to establish 3-4 regional GCP units at the three university hospitals. The estimated annual cost for the 3-4 GCP units will be between DDK 7.5 and 10 million.

[Public GCP unit--experiences from the Aarhus University Hospital]

According to the EU GCP-directive, all clinical trials involving medical products must adhere to the GCP-standards by May 2004. This may entail difficulties for investigator-initiated trials not sponsored by the industry. A public GCP-unit was established at Aarhus University Hospital in 1995. The unit offers researchers a monitoring system including discussion of the protocol, check of formalities, and verification of data and protocol compliance. As a contribution to the future work with GCP, experience from the GCP-unit at Aarhus University Hospital is presented here.

[Certification and quality management of a complex university cardiac center according to law EN ISO 9001: 2000]

Quality management systems can improve quality in health care units. The introduction of a quality management system according to ISO 9001: 2000 in a university department of cardiovascular surgery is described. First a thorough analysis of all processes of patient treatment and clinical research was obtained. Multiple interfaces had to be defined to different departments as well as to administration units. All necessary resources were evaluated and optimised. Customer satisfaction was evaluated by surveys of patients and collaborating physicians. Quality rounds including physicians, nurses and technicians were instituted. Based on these preparatory works all processes including their responsibilities and necessary resources were redefined and described in the quality manual. After 18 months' of certification of our quality management system according to ISO 9001: 2000 was recommended by an independent, accredited organisation. In summary, certification of a university department of cardiovascular surgery according to ISO 9001: 2000 is possible and may represent the first step towards total quality management. In complex health care units the certification of individual departments may help to generate a consciousness for quality on the road to total quality management.

[Consequences of the German anticorruption law for sponsorship at university hospitals]

The cooperation between the pharmaceutical industry and clinical researchers has become an increasingly important public issue. Concerns are mainly focused around independence of clinical research and the dedication of clinical researches solely to the welfare of their patients. The declining public confidence in self-regulation has finally resulted in new legislation that has major impact on clinical research in Germany particularly at academic centers.

Focusing management in implementing a smoking ban in a university hospital in Sweden

To explore the impact of various steps when introducing a smoking ban at the Karolinska Hospital (1000 beds; 6000 employees) in Stockholm, Sweden, a multiple evaluation strategy was performed over 5 years. All heads of clinical departments (N = 41) and a random sample of employees (n = 517) and a convenience sample of hospital labour managers (n = 17) were separately addressed through questionnaire surveys at different time intervals after the introduction of the ban in 1992. An observational and interview study completed the follow-up. The implementation process was supplemented by a comprehensive information strategy over 5 years. The two most important steps during implementation were management support and focus on environmental tobacco. The ban was well known at introduction. Heads of clinical departments reported a third of staff to be satisfied with the restrictions. In contrast, the staff survey revealed 62% to be positive. A shift in favour of a radical tobacco-free hospital was perceived during follow-up. Co-operation between hospital board, heads of clinical departments and local labour managers proved successful. The consecutive evaluations served as tools in labour management and contributed to staff compliance. A total ban, including the selling of tobacco and smoking in the hospital grounds is still to be achieved.

Practical considerations for conducting effective billing audits

Healthcare organizations need to ensure that they are in compliance with government regulations, especially with the increased vigilance by the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) in investigating fraud and abuse. After an OIG audit of claims submitted to Medicare by its teaching and resident physicians, the Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania (CPUP), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered into a settlement that included significant financial penalties and a five-year corporate integrity agreement. Lessons learned from the experience may be helpful to other providers in ensuring that their billing practices are in regulatory compliance. As a precautionary measure, providers can undertake their own audits, whether routine or focused. Audits can help providers uncover areas of potential abuse and take steps to correct the problems.

The drug thief at Georgetown U Medical Center

The article gives the anatomy of a $2 billion class-action lawsuit. A drug-abusing hospital employee may have exposed hundreds of patients to HIV, hepatitis, and other viruses during his period of employment. Not only has the episode been embarrassing for the prestigious medical center, but it also has focused attention on the potential consequences for hospitals that do not screen employees for drug use.

[Risk management in the hospital milieu: needs and implications]

Medicine can be dangerous for the patients, the caregivers, the visitors and the environment. Technological progress provides devices and drugs that are always more powerful, more efficacious, but at the same time able to lead to severe side effects. This paper describes the system set up in a university hospital to fulfill legal requirements. Specialists in specific fields build up commissions, which are united in a coordination office. A general policy for the hospital has been decided, but each commission is responsible for managing the risks in its field. The overall philosophy moved from a quality assurance to a quality management system, in which the employee involved in an incident or an accident is no longer considered the only culprit except in cases of obvious violation of established procedures. In order to be efficient, the system must be as simple as possible, and well known, so that collaborators gain confidence in it. Once this cultural revolution is accomplished, quality but also security of the procedures will be improved. Its impact on cost is more questionable, as the system generates running costs which might be higher than the savings it might bring.