Karen Blum

Washington, D.C., United States

Medical and Science Writer at Freelance

Contributor at Association of Health Care Journalists

Articles

Doc: ‘I Forgot I Was 7000 Miles Away’ During Surgical First

1 month ago | medscape.com | Karen Blum

On a cold Wednesday morning in January, Ruben Olivares, MD, sat down at a computer workstation in Cleveland to perform surgery on a man with prostate cancer. Olivares, a urologist at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, directed a robot to send high-intensity, focused ultrasound waves to the tumor. But this time, the patient was not in a nearby operating room, or in the same building — or even the same country.
The emergence of AI as a powerful addition to the sepsis toolbox

1 month ago | myadlm.org | Karen Blum

In sepsis management, time is of the essence. Every hour that passes before a patient is identified and started on treatment puts them at risk for organ failure or death. Knowing this, some clinicians have been trying new methods to increase earlier sepsis detection and management by developing algorithms that employ artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate laboratory values and other data to alert providers to the presence of sepsis, which affects some 50 million people globally.
Medical device manufacturers often delay reporting adverse safety events, study says

1 month ago | healthjournalism.org | Karen Blum

Medical device manufacturers are required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to report within 30 days any adverse safety events like malfunctions that could injure someone. The agency compiles these events in a centralized database called the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) and uses the information to decide whether to communicate any safety concerns to the health care community and/or the public, or pursue any other regulatory actions including recalls.
Can a blood test help close the colorectal cancer screening gap?

1 month ago | myadlm.org | Karen Blum

Last July, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a blood-based test for colorectal cancer screening, the test joined the ranks of growing options available — from traditional colonoscopy to stool-based testing — to try to detect these cancers and their precursors. While the test’s sensitivity lags behind some other screening options, it could prove to be a more attractive option for people not currently engaging in screening, experts say.
Pharmacists Play Important Role in Melanoma Education

2 months ago | pharmacypracticenews.com | Karen Blum

Counseling survivors of melanoma on sun protection and skin health is an important role for pharmacists, said Lisa Holle, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, FISOPP, a clinical professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, in Storrs. “This cannot be emphasized enough,” Dr. Holle said.
Anticoagulation End-of-Life Management Considerations

2 months ago | pharmacypracticenews.com | Karen Blum

Patient preferences, anticoagulant benefit versus risk and limited life expectancy should be considered when managing anticoagulation treatment at the end of a patient’s life. “We have a lot of guidelines that cover when to start anticoagulants, but they’re conspicuously lacking for when and how to stop them,” said Anna Parks, MD, an assistant professor and the director of thrombosis at the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City.
Practical Issues for Pharmacists

2 months ago | theoncologypharmacist.com | Karen Blum |Richard Reich |Meg Barbor |Wayne Kuznar

By Sara Erickson, PharmD, BCACP; Anna Bartoo, PharmD, BCPS; Amy Wallingford, PharmD; Susan Wescott, MBA, RPh; Chelsee Jensen, PharmD, BCPS, P-RCM, RPhBiosimilars offer a significant opportunity for cost-savings yet present logistical hurdles for optimal implementation. Biosimilar savings nationwide are estimated to be $54 billion from 2017 to 2026, but these savings hinge on industry, regulatory, and policy changes to strengthen competition and sustainability in the biosimilar marketplace.
Should You Join This Medical Technology Effort?

2 months ago | medscape.com | Karen Blum

As part of her morning routine, 74-year-old Cynthia Nolan takes a blood pressure and glucose reading and submits the information through a mobile app to her doctor with Ochsner Health. The uptown New Orleans resident, who has hypertension and diabetes, is one of over 28,500 people across the country participating in the Ochsner Health’s Digital Medicine Program.
Telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries gets another reprieve

2 months ago | healthjournalism.org | Karen Blum

A continuing resolution passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in mid-March to avoid a government shutdown also extended telehealth benefits for Medicare beneficiaries for six months, all of which were set to expire today. This action bought another few months for these benefits, which previously were set to expire at the end of 2024 but were extended for three months as part of a prior continuing resolution signed on Dec. 21.
Medical gaslighting tops list of highest patient safety risks

Mar 28, 2025 | healthjournalism.org | Karen Blum

The risks associated with medical professionals dismissing patient, family and caregiver concerns — also called “medical gaslighting” — ranked highest on an annual list of patient safety concerns compiled by the nonprofit organization ECRI. Insufficient governance of AI in health care, the viral spread of medical misinformation, and medical errors and delays in care resulting from cybersecurity breaches also were listed as significant concerns.