The United States could cut billions of dollars from its healthcare bill and improve the quality of medical care by cutting the unnecessary use of these and other procedures, a high-powered national coalition said. The group of 28 national organizations, which ranges from the AFL-CIO to Consumer Reports and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, said the country doesn’t need to wait for Congress or the Obama administration to enact reform. Health insurers, they said, can cut unnecessary care by changing what they will reimburse. Hospitals can reduce serious errors, and medical groups can start educating patients on what’s appropriate care, the group said.
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel will consider three proposed antibiotics designed to treat serious skin infections, including some caused by MRSA. The bacterium has sparked concern as the super bug has moved into community settings like schools and locker rooms in recent years after once being largely confined to hospital settings. But it's not clear if any of the three drugs will reach the bar for FDA approval because of safety concerns or questions about how well the drugs work compared with other available medications.
Massachusetts General Hospital fared poorly in its last inspection by the Joint Commission, and is getting ready for the group's next visit that could come at any time within the next 13 months. The hospital recently hired consultants to perform a mock accreditation survey and is implementing new training and educational procedures. In a recent e-mail to staff, Mass. General's president said the survey showed some areas still need improvement and must be addressed "immediately."
The University of California-Davis Medical Center is one of a growing number of hospitals that dedicate a time block to creating a relaxing, peaceful environment for patients. Some medical centers, such as Montefiore Hospital in New York City, have a quiet floor around the clock. UC Davis modeled its "quiet time" on a similar program at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
With a record 140 million flu vaccinations expected to be administered this year in the United States, hospitals and health clinics have started offering drive-through flu shots. But critics say that the process is dangerous.
Cooper University Hospital serves those in need of trauma care from seven New Jersey counties. If you are critically injured anywhere from Cape May to Trenton, you'll be sent there. The trauma unit handled 2,846 cases in 2007, more than the units at Temple University Hospital, Hahnemann University Hospital, or the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, according to data provided by those hospitals.