Patient safety and medicine; docs and the ballot box; the law of the land – Morning Medical Update

World Patient Safety Day

Today is World Patient Safety Day. If your colleagues, practice or institution need a shot in the arm to boost patient safety, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has a number of resources. Start with this blog by Director Robert Otto Valdez, PhD, MHSA, with Craig A. Umscheid, MD, MS, and visit the National Action Alliance for Patient and Workforce Safety.

National Voter Registration Day

Today is National Voter Registration Day. In case you missed it this month, Medical Economics spoke with Alister Martin, MD, MPP, founder of the advocacy group Vot-ER, about why it’s so important for doctors and patients to cast their ballots.

‘We, the people …’

Today is Constitution Day, the anniversary of the 1787 signing of the document that outlined the form of federal government of the United States. At least two signers practiced medicine: James McHenry of Maryland, an Army surgeon who later served as secretary of war for Presidents George Washington and John Adams; and Hugh Williamson of North Carolina, who would serve in the House of Representatives. And there’s still plenty left to argue about in that document, which leads to court rulings that affect the practices of medicine today. (By the way, last week’s presidential debate was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.)