Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD: The medical checklist concept to reduce adverse events

By Steven Greer, MD

(Viewable in full screen 1080iHD)

Dr. Peter Pronovost, Professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, discusses his paradigm changing medical checklist concept that has greatly reduced adverse events in hospitals. Starting with reducing central line infections dramatically, the concept was expanded to reducing ventilator pneumonias and then to reducing mortality in the operating room.

Dr. Pronovost was named one of Time Magazine’s “Most Influential People in the World” and is a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” award. Dr. Steven Greer took a tour of his ICU and discussed his advances.

 

Doctor violates embargo rules

April 28, 2010

The CATT trial data (Lucentis v Avastin in wet AMD) were surprisingly released from embargo today ahead of schedule. It has the press world “In a tizzy” according to one media relations person. The NEJM confirmed that they made this move as a result of the data being leaked to the New York Times yesterday.

The doctor who leaked these data on the CATT trial demonstrated poor judgment. He/she is apparently unaware of what happened to a famous cardiologist when he leaked COURAGE trial data to press. That doctor was banned from the NEJM for many years. Also, in the news now are doctors who have been arrested for leaking trial data via “expert networks”.

The doctor in this case likely took the risk because he/she was leaking to the press rather than an expert network. However, the SEC is even clamping down on that after decades of major M&A deals being leaked to the financial press and the stocks involved moving ahead of the official news.

All doctors in possession of clinical trial data should be advised to not speak to the press or anyone about those data prior to the official presentation. Practices that have been borderline legal but commonplace in the past are no longer acceptable to the SEC and DOJ.

Eugene Major, PhD: JC virus levels and the risk for PML with Tysabri

The HCC interviewed the Chief of the labs at the NIH that tests samples of patients who develop PML while on Tysabri, Dr. Major. This lab gives data and advice to the FDA. Dr. Major wrote the recent perspective in the NEJM. Viremia of JC virus is currently not a risk factor for PML and serial testing for JC levels is not part of the TOUCH risk management program.