MedStaff Update: October 2014

Patients and Families Share Their Stories to Improve Care

In an effort to collect qualitative, unfiltered patient feedback, the Cancer Center launched the Sharing Your Stories program as part of its multifaceted Transformation Project. Patients and families are invited to call a dedicated phone line to record their perspectives about their experiences to help improve patient care at Stanford.

Stanford Implants First Responsive Neurostimulator to Treat Intractable Epilepsy

For many of the three million epilepsy patients in the U.S., medications are ineffective at controlling their seizures and standard surgery is not an option. For this group, there is a new option—the responsive neurostimulator system (RNS). Last month, Michael Edwards and Josef Parvizi implanted the first possibly life-enhancing device in a patient with intractable epilepsy at Stanford.

Training the Next Generation of Doctors in Ultrasound

Recognizing the increasing utility of ultrasound in all types of medicine, Stanford hosted its second annual ultrasound education symposium for medical students. Known as UltraFest, the all-day program allowed participants to learn and practice ultrasound skills in a variety of medical applications.

Patient Safety: Lessons Learned - The Second Victims

In the past, whenever an adverse patient care event occurs, we have focused on taking care of the patient and secondarily, the patient's loved ones. Social services, spiritual services, nursing services and others are often called in to provide support and comfort to those involved. Patients and their families expect us to demonstrate compassion and caring. But what about the team that was involved in taking care of the patient? How do they respond? How do they cope?

Stanford Medicine X: From an "Annual Meeting to a Global Movement"

Medicine X founder Larry Chu recaps this year's conference, and shares the ways in which emerging technologies can enhance the practice of medicine, improve health and empower patients to participate in their own care.

Featured Guest Contributor
Larry Chu, MD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Executive Director of Stanford Medicine X.