Kathy Quan 's Blog

Posted by Kathy Quan

There are 35 million Americans who wear dentures. How many of them fit well? And if you lose or gain a little weight, they can stop fitting well. So how do you fix the rubbing and the slipping? Use a lot more denture cream? Did you know that can be dangerous?

The FDA has had a hard time doing its job over that past years because of a political climate that didn't believe in funding their programs. (Without funding, how can you do your job?) So here we are again faced with an issue like peanut butter being recalled for salmonella. How insane is that? The latest news on this is that a sister plant of PCA in Texas was never even inspected at all!

In areas where we think we are protected, we aren't. Something as simple as denture adhesive cream is not required to have the ingredients listed on the label. So how do we know what's in it? Well we trust that the company who produces it might tell us, but they don't have to.

And all those people whose dentures rub and slip and fall out when they eat things like corn on the cob and apples think they can solve the problem by using more and more of the adhesive. Makes sense doesn't it? But how safe is it? Apparently, if you use the normal amount, it's pretty safe, but if you use a lot to fix dentures that don't fit right, you could become sick from it. And how do we know this?

A few weeks ago I was discussing some issues with Eric Chaffin, Esq. one of the partners in a consumer advocacy firm. He enlightened me to the fact that denture cream has been shown to cause neuropathy in a number of patients because of the zinc these adhesives contain. I did some research and have written a new article about the effects of zinc and denture adhesive cream: Neuropathy From Zinc in Denture Creams.

As a nurse, Do No Harm is a motto that is near and dear to my heart. You think something as benign sounding as denture cream would be safe, and if it isn't that the manufacturers would do the right thing and let the public in on it. Apparently that isn't happening. And they don't have to. So consumer advocate attorneys are filing lawsuits to force them to take some responsibility for their product and not telling the public about these issues.

If you have dentures and they don't fit right, see your dentist, please. Don't try to fix the problem with more adhesive and subject yourself to health issues.

Posted by Kathy Quan

Pain management is an important aspect of nursing. We learn how to use comfort measures to help ease pain and how and when to administer medications to control the pain at an acceptable level for the patient. We strive to teach patients how to use these tools to control their own pain. But when something goes wrong, it can ruin the whole process for many.

Last year my family experienced the tragic death of a young man who grew up with my son. They both loved baseball more than most things in life and they played the game from Little League through college. A car accident brought significant pain issues to this bright, active, terrific contributor to society and he became addicted. Apparently he wasn’t given appropriate professional help to deal effectively with the pain and how to safely use the medications. Consequently, one day he accidentally overdosed.

His was not an isolated incident. Pain management is not an easy concept to teach, much less to understand, but health care professionals must take care to prescribe and utilize pain control tools safely. Effective pain management is a team effort and manufacturers have the responsibility to ensure that physicians, nurses, and therapists who use and prescribe these tools are informed of potential safety risks and issues.

I recently spoke with Eric Chaffin, Esq., a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, about the general subject matter of several of his cases involving consumer injuries. One of the issues that hit home with me was the risk of PAGCL from pain pumps which deliver anesthetic medication to surgical sites.

Chaffin and his firm represent injured patients in shoulder pain pump lawsuits which allege that the manufacturers have not informed health professionals about the risks that these pumps present. Without this information, patients obviously cannot be informed of potential risks, and the quality of care is being compromised.

From my standpoint as a health care professional, this is a huge issue. Patients as well as health care professionals need to be informed of this potential risk. Read more about PAGCL and the Risks of Shoulder Pain Pump Therapy.

Another important point that Chaffin raised during our interview is that,“the likely first significant cut off date for statutes of limitations are coming up in July of this year [2009]” and those who have experienced PAGCL should move quickly if they wish to seek restitution.

Posted by Kathy Quan

Are you a high school or college student trying to figure out what you want to be when you grow up? The Bureau of Labor Statistics has produced a guidebook speciically to help students make informed decisions about their future.

The trend for growth in service industries as opposed to gods and manufacturing, will continue well into the next decade. With the growing and aging population, health care will continue to expand and provide job security.

Registered nurses will see the largest growth in employment during this time frame. Other health care jobs in the top 20 include home health aides, personal care aides and nursing assistants. Social workers, and teachers also rank high in the growing needs in the service industries.

Health care also provides opportunities for computer technology, IT, engineering and support positions such as food services, and hosekeeping. Management and executive positions will continue to grow as well. Degrees in science, math, and business can open opportunities in the health industry.

As advances in automation and technology continue, many jobs such as cashiers will dissapppear. On the other hand, technology continues to create jobs in health care as new diagnostics and treatment options become available. Students today have many more opportunities to consider.

Posted by Kathy Quan

This past weekend my neighborhood experienced yet another Internet and cable TV outage as our server worked on the unreliable lines. We all missed watching Michael Phelps earn his seventh gold medal in the 100 meter butterfly.

Locked out of our access to the world, I was reminded that although electronic records can be an excellent choice, having access can be challenging at times. There are numerous options available for developing and storing your own electronic health records online.

This helps to assure that in the event of a disaster like Hurricane Katrina of 2005, displaced persons could access medical records easily and not suffer the consequences of having to be re-diagnosed and possibly be without vital medications for days.

Being able to access these records can be a challenge in the event of power outages and server downtime. In a true emergency, power backup systems would be available and alternative server options may be as well.

It’s also a good idea to have your own back up copy and to keep it up to date. Paper copy may not be practical or secure, but a copy on your own hard drive as well as on a CD with passwords would be recommended. A portable generator may be handy as well if your computer is a desktop variety. Access to a laptop powered by battery would be a preferred option.

This can be especially important in the event you are in charge of the care for an elderly or ill relative and need to access the information frequently for hired caregivers. Don’t rely completely on technology. It is after all, controlled by fallible human beings.

Posted by Kathy Quan

The Olympics begin in a few days which will likely keep more people indoors for a few days, but in the meantime, be sure take care if you are outdoors. If you’re attending the games, be sure to protect yourself from the elements.

Heat exhaustion and sunburn are common issues when enjoying summer activities and events. If you’re attending an event, take care to ensure you remain safe from the elements. Sunscreen is an essential item. Be sure you have several containers of it. Keep it cool. Some refrigerate it so it provides a cooling sensation when applied.

If you keep an extra sunscreen in the car, protect it from getting too hot. It can actually cause a burn if you apply sunscreen that has been sitting in a hot car for a long time. Be sure the lid is on tight and the outside of the container is clean. Stick it in a cooler when you travel to the beach or other outdoor activity. You might want to put it in a plastic bag to separate it from your food and drinks.

Be sure you drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Try to remain in the shade as much as possible. If you’re attending a ball game for instance, and your seats are in the direct sun, get up and go for a walk under the cover at least a couple of times.

A trip to the bathroom can provide you an opportunity to splash yourself with cool water or wipe your face, neck and arms with a wet paper towel. You might take a wet towel with you back to your seat to place on the back of your neck or to wipe down your arms again. Enjoy and be safe.