Jul 31 Quiz: How much do you know about long-term care at hospitals? By Margaret Sessa-Hawkins Take this quiz to see how much you really know about the role hospitals play in long-term care. Continue reading
Jul 29 Hospitals look to laborists to fill gaps left by on-call obstetricians By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News Despite concerns about turning obstetrics into “shift” work similar to emergency physicians, the trend of employing laborists, hospitalists who handle births and obstetrical and gynecological emergencies, is growing as hospitals seek to improve patient safety and physicians increasingly recognize they… Continue reading
Jun 02 For many patients, delirium is a surprising side effect of being in the hospital By Sandra G. Boodman, Kaiser Health News When B. Paul Turpin was admitted to a Tennessee hospital in January, the biggest concern was whether the 69-year-old endocrinologist would survive. But as he battled a life-threatening infection, Turpin developed terrifying hallucinations, including one in which he was performing… Continue reading
May 01 Medicare reveals how much it spends on prescription drugs for Americans By Jordan Rau, Kaiser Health News The data show that 14 drugs cost the federal government and Medicare beneficiaries more than $1 billion each, accounting for nearly a quarter of Medicare prescription drug spending in 2013. Most of those drugs are used to treat chronic conditions… Continue reading
Apr 08 Loony Medicare rules can turn a hospital visit into a costly adventure By Philip Moeller Whether your visit to a hospital is considered a formal admission or an observational stay is hugely important, because Medicare pays a whole lot less for observational stays. This is true even if the actual care a person receives in… Continue reading
Mar 18 Small town hospitals face increasing pressure By Guy Gugliotta, Kaiser Health News MOUNT VERNON, Texas — Despite residents’ concerns and a continuing need for services, the 25-bed hospital that served this small East Texas town for more than 25 years closed its doors at the end of 2014, joining the ranks of… Continue reading
Mar 10 Hundreds of hospitals struggle to improve patient satisfaction By Jordan Rau, Kaiser Health News SALISBURY, N.C. — Lillie Robinson came to Rowan Medical Center for surgery on her left foot. She expected to be in and out in a day, returning weeks later for her surgeon to operate on the other foot. Continue reading
Dec 02 'Ebola treatment centers' now in place at 35 U.S. hospitals By Jason Kane Dozens of hospitals throughout the United States are “prepared, trained and ready” to treat patients with Ebola, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Continue reading
Sep 23 Sharks could help hospitals prevent dangerous germ transmission By Justin Scuiletti A new study in the journal Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control examined the effectiveness of a shark skin-like material in preventing the spread of disease-causing bacteria. Continue reading
Aug 18 Hospitals reconsider free healthcare for those who could now be insured By Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News If a patient is eligible to purchase subsidized coverage through the law’s online marketplaces but doesn’t sign up, should hospitals “provide charity care on the same level of generosity as they were previously?” asks Peter Cunningham, a health policy expert… Continue reading