Investigation: Johns Hopkins hospitals don’t follow safety rules

Johns Hopkins doctors invented a checklist that has saved thousands of lives, but they sometimes fail to follow the principles themselves, according to an investigation by the Tampa Bay Times.

Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Hospital and its five sister hospitals have been accused of making preventable errors or skirting safety rules in at least nine recent cases, according to the report. Namely, operating rooms in Bethesda, Maryland, were not being properly cleaned, though operations continued.

The healthcare organization previously came under fire after pediatric mortality rates rose at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Tampa Bay Times found the number of deaths for heart surgeries at the hospital tripled from 2015 to 2017, resulting in several resignations of executives.

The revelations come as Johns Hopkins has consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States.

See the full story below:

Amy Baxter

Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.