The head of the Indian Health Service defended his agency against accusations that it lost millions of dollars' worth of equipment and tried to cover it up. A report released by congressional investigators charged that roughly $15.8 million worth of equipment vanished from the agency, which provides healthcare to American Indians, over a four-year period. Employees later falsified documents to cover up some of those losses, the investigators charged.
A jury awarded $2.58 million to an Arnold, MO, couple in a medical malpractice case where a retiree got a staph infection and lost his right leg, part of his left foot, a kidney, and some hearing. The jury found Michael Shapiro, MD, and Metro Heart Group of St. Louis to be 67% responsible and St. Anthony's Medical Center to be 33% responsible. Defense attorneys denied any liability by either the hospital or Shapiro, saying the patient could have gotten the infection anywhere.
Novant Health, North Carolina's second-largest hospital chain, is trying to shake up the competitive landscape in one of North Carolina's most attractive healthcare markets. Novant has announced plans to build a $110 million, 46-bed hospital in Holly Springs, a community in fast-growing western Wake County. Novant executives say they have eyes only for Holly Springs, and the nonprofit health-services chain will face several obstacles as it tries to win state regulators' approval. But the market's established medical providers—including UNC Health Care, Duke University Health System, and WakeMed—have reason to be nervous about a potential Novant foray into the area, experts say.
In five studies conducted in the United Kingdom, doctors did not discuss more problems, prescribe more drugs, run more tests, make more referrals, or do more examinations when they spent more time with patients. The patients in the five studies did not feel more satisfied with their care when they were able to consult longer with their doctors, according to researchers. However, in each study consultation times were only slightly longer than usual, and might have not been enough extra time to make a difference in the doctors' routine or the patients' satisfaction, the researchers write.
Congressional Republicans are trying to mend an ailing relationship with allies in the medical community after opposing legislation to block an annual pay cut for doctors under Medicare. Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri already convened a private meeting with a handful of top lobbyists for the medical community to make amends after the vote. The lingering tension, however, from that vote hints at a broader rift between doctors and the GOP as Congress prepares for a potential healthcare fight under the next president.
In a climate of deepening healthcare woes, more companies are trying to save money by opening work-site medical clinics. Toyota Nissan, Harrah’s Entertainment, and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts are among the converts. In addition, a recent study by benefits-consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide found that 32% of all employers with more than 1,000 workers either have an on-site medical center or plan to build one by 2009. An employer typically comes up with a blueprint of the services it aims to provide to its workers, then it hires an outside firm to manage the project and offers employees a major break on co-pays and other incentives if they use the center. Some companies also reward the use of in-house services by making deposits in the worker’s health savings account.