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By: Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media, November 10, 2009
Following the House health reform vote (HR 3962) on Saturday, Obama acknowledged that he will have to tread carefully on several controversial parts of the legislation—including the amendment addressing abortion funding. While no Senate version yet exists, the bill passed in October by the Senate Finance Committee calls for insurers to keep federal subsidies separate from any funds used to pay for abortion.
By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, November 10, 2009
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of Los Angeles said Monday that in reviewing the cases of patients who received eight times normal doses of radiation during CT brain perfusion scans, it appears some patients have an enhanced risk of developing cataracts. In making that statement yesterday, Cedars-Sinai officials say they are offering to pay bills for future medical care if needed "should the CT brain perfusion scans cause any specific health problem."
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, November 9, 2009
Nearly three out of four physicians say they have less control over the way they practice medicine than they did five years ago, according to a new Internet survey from Jackson Healthcare.
By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, November 10, 2009
Pay for performance may be the rage, and the future of physician reimbursement—but it doesn't come cheap. Responding to all those requests for data, proper planning, training, coding, data entry, and modification of electronic systems cost physician practices between $1,000 to $11,100 in implementation costs per doctor, and from about $100 to $4,300 per year per clinician after the program was launched, according to a survey of eight physician practices participating in four quality reporting programs in North Carolina.
By: Scott Wallask, for HealthLeaders Media, November 9, 2009
If a hospital staged a disaster drill for a hurricane, chances are the exercise would focus on the actions of caregivers. But would the drill also include a medical center's IT technicians? It should.
By: Debra Beaulieu, November 9, 2009
Despite the rave reviews, open access—reserving a number of appointment slots for same-day appointments—is not wildly popular in practice. Here are six steps to help ensure open access success.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, November 10, 2009
Complaining about lousy, dangerous, and illegal healthcare practices in Florida just got a little easier with word today that the state has launched an online healthcare facility complaint form. "We are always looking for ways to empower Floridians to be more involved in their healthcare and the care of their loved ones," said Thomas Arnold, the newly appointed secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
By: Karen Minich-Pourshadi, for HealthLeaders Media, November 9, 2009
Hospital CFOs have been raking for the last two years to get their financial yards in order. But with a host of other challenges ahead, including healthcare reform, it looks like the forecast is calling for snow.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, November 9, 2009
We hear a lot about patient safety, and rightly so. But what doesn't get as much attention is healthcare worker safety.