Although more than 80% of the state's adults turn to the Internet for health-related information, less than one-quarter have looked at physician ratings sites, according to a poll commissioned by the California HealthCare Foundation. Only 2% of those surveyed made a change in physicians based on information posted on a rating site, the survey found. The survey also found that only 1% of respondents made a change in their hospital or health plan based on ratings sites.
A new initiative at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax, England is pushing people to help stop the spread of infections at the facility. Hand sanitizer gel dispensers that look like traffic lights, have been introduced as part of the "Stop, Gel & Go!" program, which was developed after an outbreak of a "superbug" in May forced several wards of the hospital to close.
Fulton County, GA's public subsidy for ambulance service ends soon, and ambulances could be slower to respond to emergencies as a result. Physicians and hospital administrators say that the cutbacks could endanger lives or cause permanent harm to some patients, and now officials say that they haven't given up on finding some additional sources of income.
More than 100 complaints were made the Maryland Board of Pharmacy last year about patients who received either the wrong medication from a pharmacy or the wrong dosage. Officials say more such cases occur statewide, but just how many is unclear as pharmacies are not required to report them.
Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, CA, has suspended open-heart surgeries after a state report found that the facility was not protecting patients "amid an outbreak of infections" that began last year and continued through May. The hospital now plans to bring in auditors from Michigan-based Trinity Health, its corporate parent; an outside agency will also review Saint Agnes' cardiac-surgery program.
A recent study by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center shows that patients receive better care when hospitals employ more nurses. However, shortages in nursing staff is a nationwide issue, and researchers say that mandating certain staff levels could ultimately force facilities to cut back services. This could, in turn, have a negative impact on patient care.