HealthLeaders Media Global - May 19, 2009 | US, UK Physicians Team Up to Improve Ortho Quality


US, UK Physicians Team Up To Improve Ortho Quality Ben Cole, Associate Online Editor British healthcare leaders recently visited a prominent U.S. hospital to share orthopedic best practices and workforce development—a partnership that both sides say could ultimately benefit their national health systems. [Read More]
		May 19, 2009

Editor's Picks

Poll: Americans consider medical travel
Results of a Gallup Poll may provide proof that the high cost of U.S. healthcare may increase the likelihood of seeking treatment options overseas. The poll found that up to 29% of Americans would consider traveling abroad for a variety of medical procedures that are routinely done in the United States, and 24% would seek cancer diagnosis and treatment abroad. Healthcare coverage is an important factor in the likelihood that Americans would consider getting health treatment abroad, the poll found: Those who reported that they don't have health insurance were more likely to consider going abroad for medical treatment. [Read More]

Patient survey finds NHS hospitals improving infection control
A survey of more than 70,000 inpatients across England conducted by the Care Quality Commission found significant improvement in infection control when compared to a similar survey done in 2008. Patients said wards and bathrooms were very clean and more noticed doctors and nurses washing their hands between patients, the survey found. The patients were not entirely satisfied in other areas, however: One in 10 said they were not involved as much as they wanted to be in decisions about their care, and 57% did not receive copies of letters sent between hospital doctors and GPs. The hospitals may want to listen to these criticisms: UK officials have promised that patients' opinions about the quality of care they experience in hospital will become a more important factor in deciding how the facilities are rated and paid. [Read More]

Comparative effectiveness study evaluates potential savings
A study by Deloitte profiling the comparative effectiveness systems of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Germany was released at the 2009 BIO International Convention in Atlanta. The findings of the report conclude that "if implemented correctly, comparative effectiveness has the potential to improve care and reduce healthcare costs for Americans," according to a Deloitte release. Deloitte examined three clinical examples of comparative effectiveness studies across the four countries' national programs. "Comparative effectiveness can be seen as an engine for renewed innovation in the design and delivery of evidence-based care," said Paul H. Keckley, PhD, executive director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. "Healthcare information technology, such as electronic health records, may also play a critical supporting role in its evolution." [Read More]

Danish researchers say simulators make surgeons better
Researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital recommend that the use of simulators be part of the surgical training process after monitoring the performance of 24 junior doctors. The researchers put the surgeons in two groups—one that had the traditional training of working alongside doctors and tutoring and another that supplemented this with seven hours of simulator training. They found that those that used the computer simulators were twice as quick as those who did not, taking just 12 minutes to complete the operation on a patient. The doctors trained with the simulators also carried out better procedures according to a points system used to judge the quality of the work. [Read More]

Editor's Note
From all of us at HealthLeaders Media, have a safe Memorial Day holiday. HealthLeaders Media Global will not publish next week, but will be back with a new issue June 2.

Global Health Headlines

New tool in the MD's bag: A smartphone
Washington Post - May 19, 2009

Health outcomes driving new hospital design
New York Times - May 19, 2009

Iraq's once-envied healthcare system lost to war, corruption
McClatchy News Service/The State - May 19, 2009

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	Audio Feature Joint Ventures Far From Dead: Karen Gledhill, a partner with the law firm of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, says joint venture deals hospitals are striking with their physicians are still a popular choice, even in these dark economic times. [Listen Now]


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