Patient Safety EducationInfo Center

All Coffee Drinkers Aren’t Equal
Caffeine can be a legal way to enhance athletic performance, though studies have shown mixed results. Genetic variation may be the reason caffeine does not work the same for everyone. Many studies have shown that caffeine can increase a person’s athletic performance, but these studies have also shown that these effects are not universal throughout the participants. A new study examines the link between caffeine’s effects and genetic differences between people. Caffeine may give you an extra edge in sports. Dr. Christopher J. Womack, PhD, a researcher and professor at Jam...
The Top 10 Things to Know About Snakebites
Think snakes are cool? Or terrifying? No matter what your feelings are, you'll have the same reaction to a poisonous snakebite. Not all snakes are poisonous, but venomous snake bites can kill. That's what you probably already know. But what you don't know about snake bites might help save your life. Seek medical help immediately if you're bitten by a snake. Snakes live all over the world, in close proximity to humans. The best thing to do around wild snakes is avoid them. But say you're walking out in nature, and come face to face with a threatening-looking slitherer who bri...
FDA Improves Drug Safety
Through recent program enhancements, the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research ( CDER ) has strengthened monitoring of currently available drugs and communications about drug safety issues to the public.
Diabetes Care: A Patient-Centered Approach
Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease. As such, treating the disease also has become complex. Now, new treatment guidelines are reflecting the need to personalize treatment for individual patients.
Antibiotics for Farm Animals - Not
The FDA released a report urging limited use of medically important antibiotics in farm animals. Exposure to the excessive antibiotics in food may add to resistance for people.
Grandma's Pillbox Isn't Kids' Candy
If you're heading over the river and through to the woods to grandmother's house, make sure grandma has put her medications far out of reach from the little ones.
Looking for ways to Minimize Radiation
If you're obese and scheduled for a CT scan, here's something you may not know: you're possibly receiving more radiation from the scan than those of a healthy weight would receive.
No Seizure Risk After Measles Vaccine
Children getting their second dose of the measles/mumps/rubella vaccine, with or without the chicken pox vaccine, don't need to worry about getting seizures from high fevers.
Step up to Prevent Child Stairs Injuries
Children aren't tumbling down the stairs at the same rate they used to, but a young child is still on the way to the ER once every six minutes for stairs-related injuries.
Lasting Effects of Post Surgery Pain Care
Pain medications, like opioid painkillers and NSAIDs , are often prescribed after minor surgery. The short-term benefits of good pain management are well-known. Short-term use may, however, be linked to long-term use.