Medicare Penalizes Group of 751 Hospitals For Patient Injuries
The federal government Thursday lowered a year’s worth of Medicare payments to 751 hospitals to penalize them for having the highest rates of patient injuries.
Infection Lapses Rampant in Nursing Homes But Punishment is Rare
Basic steps to prevent infections — such as washing hands, isolating contagious patients and keeping ill nurses and aides from coming to work — are routinely ignored in the nation’s nursing homes, endangering residents and spreading hazardous germs.
Doing More Harm Than Good? Epidemic of Screening Burdens Nation’s Older Patients
“In patients well into their 80s, with other chronic conditions, it’s highly unlikely that they will receive any benefit from screening,” says Dr. Cary Gross.
CDC Word Ban Gets Panned
Medical societies decry what they saw as anti-science attitude.
A Call To Recognize The Danger of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
The unintended consequences of the readmissions reduction program revealed in the JAMA Cardiology study demonstrates that the cost improvements may not be worth the consequences on quality.
In Era of Increased Competition, Hospitals Fret Over Ratings
Hospitals take their ratings seriously, despite hospital industry experts’ skepticism about their scientific methodology and studies showing that scores may not have a huge influence on patient behavior.
Don’t Downplay Physician Burnout
Burnout has the potential to threaten patient safety, lower quality of care, and ultimately increase healthcare costs.
Stopping Opioid Addiction At One Key Source: The Hospital
It’s a simple enough idea: Surgeons should give patients fewer pills after surgery — the time when many people are first introduced to what can be highly addictive painkillers.
Two Hospitals Share Their Sepsis Reduction Programs
Combination of protocols and ongoing education prove critical for early sepsis identification
Five Lessons That Have Made Hospitals Better Prepared Since Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy
Crucial changes allowed Houston hospitals to stay open during Hurricane Harvey and avoid catastrophe.