Recently in prostatectomy Category

Know Error is hosting a User's Group Luncheon Meeting prior to the Large Urology Group Practice Association's 2011 Annual Meeting. The luncheon is being held on November 3rd, from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Invitations have been extended to urologists attending LUGPA 2011.

A keynote presentation will be provided on the significance of DNA testing in the biopsy evaluation process, as well as an update and discussion on the know error® system's performance within large urology group practice settings.

"We Are Ready for a DNA Timeout"
John Pfeifer, MD, PhD, Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs, Pathology and Immunology,
Washington University School of Medicine

"Know Error Best Practices"
Ann Anderson, MD, Director of Pathology, Integrated Medical Professionals

Know Error develops and markets the know error® system which utilizes bar coding, forensic principles and DNA matching to confirm that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. Since the company's launch in 2009, hundreds of physicians in a variety of specialties, including urology, have incorporated the know error® system as a standard for their patient care.

To learn more about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

The know error® system for prostate biopsies will be showcased at the Annual Meeting of the Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA). The meeting is being held November 3-5, 2011 at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Click here to learn more about this meeting.

Know Error develops and markets the know error® system which utilizes bar coding, forensic principles and DNA matching to confirm that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. Available for a diverse range of tissue types, including prostate, the know error® system brings new levels of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process.

Since the company's launch in 2009, hundreds of physicians in a variety of specialties, including urology, have incorporated the know error® system as a standard for their patient care. To learn more about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

The know error® system for prostate biopsies is set to exhibit at the upcoming joint meeting of the New England and Mid-Atlantic Sections of the AUA. The meeting runs from November 3-6, 2011 at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel in Orlando, FL. Click here for more information on this meeting.

Know Error develops and markets the know error® system which utilizes bar coding, forensic principles and DNA matching to confirm that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. Available for a diverse range of tissue types, including prostate, the know error® system brings new levels of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process.

Since the company's launch in 2009, hundreds of physicians in a variety of specialties, including urology, have incorporated the know error® system as a standard for their patient care. To learn more about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

Starting tomorrow, the know error® system for prostate biopsies will be exhibiting at the Florida Urological Society's Annual Meeting. The meeting runs from September 1-4, 2011 and is being held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, Florida. Come visit us at Booth #353.

Launched in 2009, the know error® system for prostate biopsies brings a new standard of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. Through our innovative use of forensic chain of custody principles and DNA testing, the know error® system confirms that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. As a result, the system has identified DNA non-matches in more than 1% of the patient cases for whom testing has been performed.

To learn more about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

The know error® system for prostate biopsies is set to exhibit at three upcoming meetings of the American Urological Association (AUA).

The first is the 90th Annual Meeting of the South Central Section of the AUA being held September 14-16, 2011 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country. Click here to learn more about this meeting. Look for us at Booth #313.

The North Central Section of the AUA's Annual Meeting comes next and runs from October 18-22, 2011. This meeting will take place at The Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, CA. To find out more about this meeting, click here.

Wrapping up the AUA meetings for 2011 is the joint meeting of the New England and Mid-Atlantic Sections of the AUA. The joint meeting is set for November 3-6, 2011 at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel in Orlando, FL. Click here for more information on this meeting.

Launched in the spring of 2009, the know error® system for prostate biopsies brings a new standard of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. Through our innovative use of forensic chain of custody principles and DNA testing, the know error® system confirms that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed.

To learn more about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

The know error® system for prostate biopsies will be showcased at the Annual Meeting of the Western Section of the American Urological Association (AUA). The meeting is being held August 21-25, 2011 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, BC. Look for us at Booth #57.

The know error® system for prostate biopsies brings a new standard of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. Through our innovative use of forensic chain of custody principles and DNA testing, the know error® system confirms that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. Since its launch in 2009, the system has identified DNA non-matches in more than 1% of the patient cases for whom testing has been performed.

To learn more about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

The know error® system for prostate biopsies will be exhibiting this week at the Annual Meeting of the AUA. The meeting kicks off this Saturday, May 14 and lasts through Thursday May 19. The meeting is being held at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. Look for us at booth #3150. For more information on this meeting, click here.

The know error® system, introduced in the spring of 2009, provides an effective way to establish specimen provenance. Through the use of DNA Specimen Provenance Assignment (DSPA) and bar code technology, the know error® system brings new levels of safety and accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process.

For more information on the know error® system for prostate biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com. 

A Boston Globe article, "Mistakes That Matter," discussed the case of two men who were adversely affected by mix ups in the biopsy evaluation process. This post covers the case of the second man in the article (read previous post) who experienced an 8 month delay in his cancer treatment due to a lab mix up. The delay resulted in his cancer spreading to a lymph node and could mean radiation treatment (that would not have been necessary) in addition to the removal of his prostate.

In the article, the patient commented, "Labs are a pretty important part of the whole medical thing, and to have them screw up a fairly simple thing like that makes me wary." From a patient's perspective, it may seem like this would be a simple process, but medical experts have shown that evaluating biopsies is far from simple (read more).

In the first case from the article, the mix-up occurred when the slides were being reviewed by the pathologist (after leaving the pathology lab). In the second case, the mix up occurred at the lab when the lab technician placed the patient's tissue samples on blank slides labeled for another patient. By the time the pathologist reviewed the slides, the mix up had already occurred. Further, the mix up happened even though there were numbering and color coding quality control processes in place. This reemphasizes the complexity of the biopsy evaluation process and the need for a system that goes beyond procedural improvements.

Launched in the spring of 2009, the know error® system for prostate biopsies brings new levels of safety and accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. The system incorporates bar code technology as well as DNA Specimen Provenance Assignment (DSPA). By performing DNA testing of biopsy tissue samples PRIOR to any treatment taking place, the know error® system virtually eliminates any adverse patient outcomes due to Specimen Provenance Complications (see previous post for more on SPCs). Through these combined features, the system allows both patient and physician to proceed confidently with treatment options based on the patient's lab results.

For more information about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, please visit our website www.knowerror.com

A Boston Globe article, "Mistakes That Matter," reported on two lawsuits filed as a result of medical mistakes that led to one unnecessary prostate surgery and another delay in prostate cancer treatment. While the cases in this article are similar, they are not related and consequently, will be discussed in separate posts.

The first case involved a man who was mistakenly told he had prostate cancer after the pathologist who reviewed his slides attributed his results to those of another patient who did have cancer. This led to the unnecessary removal of his prostate, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction.

The hospital responsible for the mix-up has stated, "...it will take several simple steps, including requiring pathologists to initial biopsy reports to show they took a "time out'' to make sure the reports match the slides." While many of the cases documented in this blog discuss the mix-up of biopsy tissue samples or tissue contamination, this case is different in that the tissue samples were evaluated correctly. The complication didn't occur until the very end of the biopsy evaluation process when the pathologist applied one patient's results to another patient.

This misapplication by the pathologist is just one type of Specimen Provenance Complication (SPC) that can occur as a result of the complex biopsy evaluation process. SPCs may arise due to instances of specimen transposition, foreign cell contamination, and patient misidentification (as in this case) that occur in clinical or anatomical pathology.

In the article, Dr. Gordon Schiff, associate professor at Harvard Medical School states, "One way to prevent mix-ups with biopsy tissue, for example, is to use bar codes to match specimens and slides." While methods such as bar coding and mandatory "time outs" may be effective at reducing SPCs, they may not be enough to prevent adverse patient outcomes such as those discussed here.

Launched in the spring of 2009, the know error® system for prostate biopsies brings new levels of safety and accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. The system incorporates bar code technology as well as DNA Specimen Provenance Assignment (DSPA). By performing DNA testing of biopsy tissue samples PRIOR to any treatment taking place, the know error® system virtually eliminates any adverse patient outcomes due to SPC.

For more information about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, please visit our website www.knowerror.com.

The know error® system for prostate biopsies is being showcased at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). The meeting takes place May 14-19, 2011 Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. Look for us at booth #3150. For more information on this meeting, click here.

The know error® system, introduced in the spring of 2009 by Diagnostic ID, LLC, provides an effective way to establish specimen provenance. Through the use of DNA Specimen Provenance Assignment (DSPA) and bar code technology, the know error® system brings new levels of safety and accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process.

This innovative system dramatically reduces the incidence of Specimen Provenance Complications (SPC) which may arise due to instances of specimen transposition, foreign cell contamination, and patient misidentification that occur in clinical or anatomical pathology. By performing DNA testing of biopsy tissue samples PRIOR to any treatment taking place, the know error® system virtually eliminates any adverse patient outcomes due to SPC.

For more information about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, please visit our website www.knowerror.com.

The know error® system for prostate biopsies is being showcased at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Section of the American Urological Association (AUA). The meeting is being held March 17-20, 2011 at the Marriott New Orleans. For more information on this meeting, click here.

The know error® system, introduced in the spring of 2009 by Diagnostic ID, LLC, provides an effective way to establish specimen provenance. Through the use of DNA Specimen Provenance Assignment (DSPA) and bar code technology, the know error® system brings new levels of safety and accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process.

This innovative system dramatically reduces the incidence of Specimen Provenance Complications (SPC) which may arise due to instances of specimen transposition, foreign cell contamination, and patient misidentification that occur in clinical or anatomical pathology. By performing DNA testing of biopsy tissue samples PRIOR to any treatment taking place, the know error® system virtually eliminates any adverse patient outcomes due to SPC.

For more information about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, please visit our website www.knowerror.com.

After receiving the life changing diagnosis of cancer, some physicians may encourage a patient to seek a second opinion.  Friends and family would most certainly insist on this; perhaps even go to the lengths of seeking out an expert in the field or a world-class hospital that specializes in a particular type of cancer.

In most cases, the purpose of the second "opinion" is to verify the cancer diagnosis and more importantly, to validate the treatment plan suggested by the first physician.  For instance, if a patient seeks the second opinion of a physician taking part in a clinical study, the approach to treatment may be drastically different.  After gaining both opinions, it is then up to the patient to compare both opinions and determine which approach is right for him.

However, what if the problem to be found had nothing to do with the diagnosis but rather the fact that the diagnosis was based on the wrong patient's biopsy results?  In other words, a cancer free patient's results were switched with the results of a patient who had cancer (click here to read about such a switching error).  In this case, a second opinion (or third or fourth) would do nothing to protect the patient.  Unless a second biopsy was ordered by the physician offering the second opinion, this switching error would very likely remain undetected. At that point, a cancer free patient may have undergone an unneccessary surgery such as a double masectomy or prostatecomy.

The know error® system, introduced in 2009 by Diagnostic ID, LLC, employs a DNA matching technology that provides DNA confirmation of a positive biopsy result.  With the know error® system in place, patients and physicians alike are ensured that the first opinion and any given thereafter are based on the right biopsy results. 

For more information about the know error® system, please visit our website www.knowerror.com. 

The know error® system for prostate biopsies is being showcased this week at the Annual Meeting of the South Central Section of the American Urological Association (AUA). The meeting is being held October 14-17, 2009, at the Camelback Inn, JW Marriott Resort, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Look for us at Booth #151 in the exhibit hall. 

Through the use of DNA Specimen Provenance Assignment (DSPA) and bar code technology, the know error® system brings new levels of safety and accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. This innovative system dramatically reduces the incidence of Specimen Provenance Complications (SPC) enhancing patient safety and diagnostic accuracy.

The know error® system uncovers SPCs by matching tissue from a positive biopsy result to a reference sample taken from the patient via a simple cheek swab to confirm that the tissue belongs to the patient. By performing DNA matching prior to treatment, the know error® system virtually eliminates diagnostic mistakes due SPC.

For more information about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, please visit our website www.knowerror.com.

The know error® system for prostate biopsies will be showcased at several upcoming Section Meetings of the American Urological Association (AUA). The first stop is the Annual Meeting of the New England Section of the AUA, September 24-27, 2009, at the Rennaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. Look for us at Booth #23 in the exhibit hall. 

Through the use of DNA Specimen Provenance Assignment (DSPA) and bar code technology, the know error® system brings new levels of safety and accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. This innovative system virtually eliminates the possibililty of adverse patient outcomes due to Specimen Provenance Complications (SPC). By performing DSPA prior to treatment, the know error® system assures that SPCs will be detected prior to any unnecessary surgeries or treatment plans.

For more information about the know error® system for prostate biopsies, visit our website at www.knowerror.com.