Category Archives: Uncategorized
Pasadena hospital broke the law by not reporting outbreak, health officials say
Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital broke state law by not quickly reporting a suspected deadly outbreak last year, according to a letter by city officials.
The hospital released the letter this week, as well as the results of the city’s investigation into the outbreak caused by dirty scopes, which sickened 16 patients, including 11 who died.
City health officials did not investigate the cause of the patients’ deaths, many of whom were seriously ill. The officials noted in the report that only one patient’s death certificate listed as a cause the dangerous drug-resistant bacteria that contaminated the scopes and sickened the patients.
Hidden cameras to catch a thief might nab a PR disaster
As reported here May 5, Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s goal was to catch whoever was taking sedatives from anesthesia carts and work to curtail their license. But former chief of anesthesiology Dr. Patrick Sullivan, said in his screed — in so many words — that Sharp’s operation was outrageously, morally and ethically bereft.
Senate Nixes Bill Requiring Disclosures From Disciplined Doctors
Senate Nixes Bill Requiring Disclosures From Disciplined Doctors
The state Senate this week rejected legislation that would have required medical practitioners to notify their patients if they were on probation for serious infractions. The bill’s supporters said consumers were ill-served by the Senate’s decision.
“Today’s vote means that most Californians will remain in the dark when their doctor is on probation for offenses that could jeopardize their health,” said Lisa McGiffert, manager of the Safe Patient Project at Consumers Union.
Opponents of the bill, including the California Medical Association, had argued that, as written, it would undermine physicians’ rights to due process and amount to a de facto suspension by severely restricting their ability to practice. They also noted that information about doctors’ offenses is already available on the internet.
Making The Business Case For Investing In Community Health
http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2016/06/02/making-the-business-case-for-investing-in-community-health/
In recent years, many businesses have put a premium on improving employee health—often through investments in workplace wellness programs, onsite clinics, or the availability of fruit and vegetables on the premises.
Ostensibly, these programs are intended to generate a return on investment (ROI), with the thought that healthier employees are more productive employees, less likely to miss work, and more prepared to fulfill their potential. To date, though, research from the field has been mixed on whether workplace wellness programs and clinics deliver the ROI they promise.
Cartoon – Litigation Today
The corporation denied any wrong doing, but agreed to settle the allegations and pay the government 100 billion dollars.
Most hospitals fall short in following best practices for antibiotics use, study finds
Of the hospitals studied, only 39 percent had an action plan in place.
Biggest healthcare frauds in 2016: Running list
http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/slideshow/biggest-healthcare-frauds-2016-running-list?p=0
Healthcare fraud is not new to the pages of Healthcare Finance. In a $3 trillion industry, Medicare, payer and patient fraud is bound to happen and the responsible parties are also bound to be caught.
Pennsylvania hospitals see nearly 35 percent jump in operating income in 2015
From FY2014 to 2015, the statewide operating income for Pennsylvania hospitals jumped 34.7 percent, from $1.7 to $2.3 billion, report says.
The U.S. Health Disadvantage And The Role Of Spending
http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2016/06/01/the-u-s-health-disadvantage-and-the-role-of-spending/
Each week it seems, more evidence emerges regarding the poor health of Americans. We first documented a “U.S. health disadvantage” as chair and study director of the panel on understanding cross-national health differences among high-income countries at the National Academies in 2013.
Our panel’s report Shorter Lives, Poorer Health showed that, as long ago as 1980, the United States began to take a different path in terms of the health and survival of its population. We found evidence that the U.S health disadvantage compared to other countries existed among Americans at every age below 75, among all races/ethnicities, and among both men and women—but especially among women. We even found evidence of a health disadvantage among white, college-educated, non-obese, non-smoking, and health-insured Americans.
