EndoNurse

Photodynamic Therapy

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:07:55 PDT

What is Photodynamic Therapy? Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapy that is used to treat advanced esophageal cancer, Barrett’s esophagus with high-grade dysplasia and some forms of lung cancer. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on use of PDT in gastroenterology. This therapy involves an intravenous injection ...(1991 words)

BOWEL PREPS: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:54:34 PDT

Over the past decade or so, the medical community and patients have become increasingly aware of the advantages of colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy, and the number of screening colonoscopies for asymptomatic average risk individuals has risen. However, patients have often heard horror stories from family and friends regarding the ...(1894 words)

Medication Safety: What You Can Do to Prevent Errors

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:53:32 PDT

Defining Medication Errors In order to resolve the problem of medication errors, it must be understood. We can start by defining what a medication error is. Several definitions exist, but for our purposes, a medication error is “...any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or ...(1948 words)

Transbronchial Needle Aspiration: A Bronchoscopy Procedure That Stands the Test of Time

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:48:15 PDT

Flexible bronchoscopy is a key diagnostic and therapeutic procedure performed by most pulmonologists.¹ Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is the only technique that allows the bronchoscopist to sample tissue from beyond the confines of the endobronchial tree, such as enlarged lymph nodes, extrinsic compression, peribronchial disease and certain deep submucosal lesions. ...(2067 words)

Embrace & Interface: Healthcare Information Technology

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:44:16 PDT

Let’s talk about the electronic medical record (EMR). There is no halfway with this modern medical tool. Like bathing your private parts in an icy pond, EMR requires that you jump in with both feet. Of course, you might claim to be a Neo-Luddite. The Luddites in England of the ...(966 words)

New Technology and Policies Improve Clinic Safety

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:15:09 PDT

Patient safety in healthcare is a complex endeavor with simple solutions that must be followed fastidiously on a daily basis. A certain infamous healthcare event that occurred earlier this year in Nevada shows that a singular act can have exponential consequences. In March 2008, the Southern Nevada Health District received ...(2072 words)

Veterans Get Best of Care From Dedicated GI Unit

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:11:11 PDT

What makes the special procedures unit at the Veterans Administration Medical Center located in La Jolla, Calif., so outstanding is its highly professional team that comes together every day of the week to serve our country’s veterans. The team includes talented nurses, technicians and support staff. “I nominated this team ...(547 words)