Playing Spring Sports While Social Distancing — How to Have Fun AND Stay Injury-Free

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Apr 15, 2021

  Competitive and recreational sports are starting to return after a long COVID-prompted break. Athletes are eager to hit the field, but even in outdoor environments, some element of risk remains. Still, it’s possible to get involved in spring sports without compromising your health, as we explain below: Avoid Locker Rooms So far, evidence suggests that limited spread occurs during actual athletic events. The bigger problem? Indoor settings such as restrooms and locker rooms, where athletes are more likely to be in close contact — often without masks. While changing prior to and after events may seem inconvenient, it’s the…

Read More

COVID Burnout Among Health Care Workers: How It Puts You At Risk

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Apr 06, 2021

Burnout has long been a huge source of concern throughout the health care profession. Long hours, stressful situations, and limited support leave doctors and nurses scrambling to keep their patients safe. Over time, this takes a toll, leaving health care workers not only physically exhausted, but also, susceptible to mental health problems. Unfortunately, burnout harms not only medical professionals, but also, the patients they treat. Stressed, tired, and preoccupied, health care workers may make mistakes during simple procedures that, under ordinary circumstances, would not cause problems. The following concerns are especially alarming: Charting Mistakes Nurses, PAs, and other health care…

Read More

How to Keep Track of Doctor’s Notes and Prescriptions When You Feel Ill Or Overwhelmed

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Apr 02, 2021

Doctor appointments can feel like a whirlwind even at the best of times. Now, add exhaustion or confusion in the midst of illness or injury. In such cases, it’s easy to see why keeping track of notes or prescriptions is such a struggle. While many clinics offer digital solutions, these sometimes are so difficult to navigate that they make matters even more confusing. Still, it’s crucial that you stay on top of your doctor’s notes, as even a small misstep could compromise your recovery. These suggestions should help: Ask For a Print-Out Many doctor’s offices are happy to provide print-outs…

Read More

Adjusting to Society Opening Up After COVID — Tips for Staying Safe And Sane

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Mar 31, 2021

  The light has finally arrived at the end of the long tunnel that is the COVID pandemic. The vaccine rollout is going better than expected — and millions of the most vulnerable individuals have already been inoculated. Variants remain a concern, but we can finally begin to think about returning to the activities we took for granted prior to the pandemic. Nothing is risk-free, however, and even when the threat of spread is minimal, returning to normal life can feel scary. Keep these suggestions in mind as you make the adjustment: Wear Your Mask It should go without saying,…

Read More

Supreme Court Makes Suing Corporations Over Defective and Dangerous Products Easier

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Mar 29, 2021

  The Supreme Court recently released a unanimous 8-0 ruling that will help individuals injured by defective and dangerous products overcome jurisdictional hurdles in filing a lawsuit. The case, Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial District Court, involved two car accidents – one occurring in Montana and another in Minnesota. The first accident involved a driver traveling near her home when her Ford Explorer’s tread suddenly separated from a read tire. The second incident stemmed from a Ford vehicle with an air bag that failed to deploy. The consolidated lawsuits were each brought in the states where the respective…

Read More

The Biggest Doctor-Related Safety Issues of 2021: Part II

Posted By Regan Zambri Long PLLC | Posted on: Mar 25, 2021

  There’s finally light at the end of the tunnel, but even as we approach the end of the COVID pandemic, doctors and their patients face a variety of alarming risks. In our previous blog on 2021’s most significant safety concerns in health care, we detailed a few of the more obvious issues sparked by COVID. Now, we’ll delve into a few of the hidden, yet equally problematic matters that threaten today’s medical workers and patients alike: Staff Burnout After months of working long hours in stressful environments — and often while understaffed and under-equipped — health care professionals are…

Read More

How Prevalent Are Psychological Issues Among Doctors And Nurses — And How Dangerous Are These For Patients?

Posted By Regan Zambri Long PLLC | Posted on: Mar 22, 2021

  Today’s doctors, nurses, and other health care workers face a variety of stressors. Issues such as understaffing and overwork can exacerbate existing mental health concerns or even prompt the development of such problems where they might otherwise not exist. The following are among the most prevalent psychological issues in the health care industry: Depression Depression is rampant throughout the medical profession. A meta-analysis from JAMA reveals that over one-quarter of doctors experience depressive symptoms — rates three times as high as those among the general population. What’s more, one in ten medical students have contemplated suicide. Nurses are also…

Read More

Understanding the Key Differences Among the Main Vaccines

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Mar 22, 2021

With three main vaccines available in the United States, Americans are now being inoculated at a staggering pace. Some, however, are wary of the vaccines simply because they don’t understand the options. We’ve highlighted a few of the main differences below: How Many Shots? Perhaps the most noteworthy difference between the vaccines: how many times you need to show up. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine stands out due to its single-shot capacity. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two doses, spaced a few weeks apart. Vaccine Side Effects Many people are understandably worried about the potential side effects associated with…

Read More

How March’s Fast-Changing Weather Can Create Unique Hazards on the Road

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Mar 18, 2021

The month of March brings newfound optimism at the end of a long winter, but that doesn’t mean that the harsh weather is over. This highly changeable month can bring both warm temperatures and blizzards — often in the span of a few days. This brings a variety of hazards to local roads, including the following: Overconfidence Many of the biggest driving problems in March have little to do with specific weather issues, and instead, stem from overconfidence among otherwise cautious drivers. Suddenly, after months of slow speeds and other adjustments, drivers feel that they can remove their snow tires,…

Read More

Surprising Dangers of Physical Rehab Centers

Posted By Regan Zambri Long PLLC | Posted on: Mar 15, 2021

Physical rehab centers promise to promote long-term recovery, but research suggests that, for some patients, they may cause more harm than good. A 2016 report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed that nearly one-third of patients staying in these centers suffered adverse events, often due to negligence. Nearly one-quarter of these patients were ultimately sent to acute care hospitals. Common issues cited in this report include: Medication Errors Nearly half of the rehab center incidents referenced in the 2016 HHS study involved medication errors. Mismanaged drugs included everything from blood thinners to narcotic painkillers. Errors can…

Read More