Another Look at Aviation as a Healthcare Model

By William A. Hyman

It has been popular to compare aviation’s safety record and procedures to similar processes in healthcare, usually with the notion that healthcare lags aviation in adopting a firm safety-oriented methodology (Carr, 2006; Pronovost et al., 2009; AHA, 2011). There can be considerable challenges when making such cross-discipline comparisons including staffing, training, mission scope, and perhaps personal risk.

Read More »

Getting a Feel for Better Infection Control

Getting a Feel for Better Infection Control

 

For every 100 patients admitted to U.S. hospitals in 2002, 4.5 patients developed a nosocomial infection, also known as a hospital-acquired infection (HAI) (Graves & McGowan, 2008), and many experts believe the percentage has risen in recent years. Under new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines, healthcare providers may risk partial or full denial of reimbursement for procedures where staff medical errors such as infections arise from a lack of training.

Read More »

athenahealth Announces Strategic Collaboration with Medley Health

athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based practice management, electronic health record (EHR), and care coordination services to medical groups, announced a collaboration agreement with Medley Health, a leading provider of membership practice marketing and communications services for independent primary care physicians and their patients.

Read More »

Obama Takes Action to Reduce Prescription Drug Shortages and Fight Price Gouging

Oct. 31, 2011—President Obama today signed an Executive Order directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action to help further prevent and reduce prescription drug shortages, protect consumers and prevent price gouging. The President’s order directs FDA to broaden reporting of potential shortages of certain prescription drugs and to further expedite regulatory reviews that can help prevent or respond to shortages. Under the President’s order, FDA will also work with to the Department of Justice, which will examine whether potential shortages have led to illegal price gouging or stockpiling of life-saving medications.

Read More »