Tara Parker-Pope, a health blogger for the New York Times, recently wrote about the latest Dr. Pauline Chen article regarding the dangers of doctor work. Parker-Pope writes:

"When we think of dangerous work, doctoring usually isn't what comes to mind. Of course, police and firefighters, construction workers and window washers face daily risks, but doctors?"

The remainder of the column briefly explains Dr. Chen's article, relaying how Dr. Chen once cut herself during surgery on a SARS patient. Scary, for sure.

To ensure that these situations like Dr. Chen's don't occur, hospitals and doctors alike need to make certain that standards exist. Accidents obviously happen but what we do with handling those accidents makes for an occasion for a standard to be in place. Using an independent review organization like AllMed can help you set up protocol and standards.

To read the full blog and to link to Dr. Chen's article, click here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/when-patients-put-doctors-at-risk/

Make sure to check out the AllMed blog on Dr. Chen's article tomorrow.