Corona virus test given at drive-through medical station.

Early Coronavirus Testing Failures Will Cost Lives

The U.S. has been slow to roll out testing, leaving communities in the dark about the spread of the virus. It was a lost opportunity to stop the virus in its tracks.

Hospital bed in a hospital corridor.

Emergency Rooms Shouldn't Be Parking Lots For Patients

Patients in hospital ERs can wait hours for inpatient beds to open up. The delays can be maddening. A solution for this long-standing problem has been elusive in the U.S., despite progress elsewhere.

A man bowing his head, while standing out in the rain.

When Temperatures Rise, So Do Health Problems

Heatstroke tends to get the most attention during extreme heat waves. But other diseases are affected by high temperatures as well.

A female doctor is walking down a hallway in a hospital.

Keep Limits Intact On Medical Residents' Work Hours

Caps on shift lengths for medical residents were implemented to improve patient safety. Given the effects of sleep deprivation on emotional capacity and residents' well-being, why risk longer hours?

CT scans are displayed on computer monitors.

Are The Risks Of Drugs That Enhance Imaging Tests Overblown?

A contrast agent doesn't make you feel better or treat what's ailing you. But by making CT scans clearer, contrast might be crucial in helping your doctor make the right diagnosis.

A class of bacteria known as Clostridia, displayed up close.

Dangerous Infection Tied To Hospitals Now Becoming Common Outside Them

Infections with Clostridium difficile can be difficult to treat and life-threatening. Once a problem seen mainly in health care facilities, the infections are now occurring often in the community.

IV bags hanging in front of a bright light.

Why Did Sterile Salt Water Become The IV Fluid Of Choice?

IV bags filled with what's called normal saline are used to treat problems ranging from vomiting to lightheadedness. But evidence for the use of saline over other intravenous options is scant.

Drawing of a person on their hands and knees with pills stacking around them.

When Opioids Make Pain Worse

For some people, something as simple as having an IV line inserted can be excruciating. An emergency room doctor noticed a strange pattern. Many of these sensitive patients were regular opioid users.

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