William Bobbitt Paschall's death at Louisburg, NC-based Franklin Regional Medical Center led to three federal investigations at Franklin Regional. Beyond Paschall's case, investigators found that the hospital violated dozens of federal standards designed to keep patients safe. Nurses and doctors failed to record critical medical information, and the hospital allowed nurse anesthetists to work without required supervision, according to two federal investigations. The third investigation has found problems with the hospital's pharmaceutical and respiratory services, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Atlanta.
When it comes to kids' access to healthcare in Florida, the state ranks dead last, according to a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund. The 55-page report found that Florida's care for kids also ranked 37th for quality, 34th for costs, 43rd for equity and 38th for "potential to lead healthy lives."
Beginning in October, New York hospitals won't be able to bill Medicaid for "never events" such as mistakes during surgery, medication errors and other deadly complications caused by preventable hospital blunders. The goal is to shift the burden to hospitals, practices and doctors if they make a dangerous mistake, and the state health department expects to save $6 million from the change. New York's Medicaid program is among the most expensive in the nation, costing taxpayers $47 billion annually.
A vacuum-cleaner-like device that sucks blood clots out of the arteries of heart attack victims before angioplasty reduces the death rate in the following year by nearly half, according to researchers. By physically removing clots, the device prevents loose fragments from breaking off, flowing through the bloodstream and blocking other vessels. Cardiovascular surgeons in many large centers are already using the technique to improve outcomes for their patients.
The number of New York City residents 50 and older who have undergone a colonoscopy has risen by about 50 percent in five years, according to a survey conducted by the city from 2003 through 2007. The gains were credited to the work of a group of physicians, insurers, union workers, hospital administrators and city health officials called the New York Citywide Colon Cancer Control Coalition. The coalition emphasizes that a colonoscopy should be performed once every 10 years for anyone 50 or older without a family history or other heightened risk factor for colon cancer, and more often for those who have those risk factors.
Texas-based JPS Health Network got hit with two surprise inspections recently—one by state investigators and one by the Joint Commission. As a result of the Joint Commission inspection, JPS has already been told of a number of deficiencies that must be addressed by certain deadlines, according to interim Chief Executive Robert Earley. Earley added, however, that The Joint Commission inspectors did not indicate that there would be a suspension of accreditation due to the investigation. The state inspection is ongoing, and if it uncovers violations it could also force changes in the way the hospital and its clinics operate, said JPS representatives.