Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas has closed its inpatient psychiatric unit, eliminating nine beds reserved for mental-health patients. Advocates for mental-health patients say the loss of Baylor's psychiatric unit will exacerbate an already serious shortage of psychiatric hospital beds in Texas. However, a Baylor spokeswoman noted that the medical center's psychiatric unit had been underutilized, perhaps because of the growth of specialty psychiatric hospitals.
Since 2006, an obscure panel of 11 citizens has been serving as Washington's scientific watchdog on medical issues. Its mission is to review clinical evidence on potentially questionable medical technologies and decide whether their track records and costs merit coverage by state agencies. The Health Technology Assessment program has so far ruled against covering three procedures: the virtual colonoscopy, the upright MRI, and discography. Two other procedures, pediatric bariatric surgery and lumbar-fusion surgery for back pain, were approved with restrictions.
A special panel concluded four months of investigation by unanimously recommending that San Francisco-based St. Luke's Hospital be rebuilt as an acute-care community hospital. The panel is suggesting that the new facility, housing 60 to 80 beds, be constructed next to the existing site. The old facility would remain open during the building process, and will come down only after the new hospital is built. The new hospital would cost an estimated $120 million to be paid by California Pacific Medical Center, which runs St. Luke's.
With an unprecedented boom in California hospital construction, many healthcare organizations are trying to build greener, more environmentally conscious medical centers. California hospitals are trying to build facilities that will use less energy, reduce the amount hazardous waste produced and promote a more healthful atmosphere for patients and staff. But there are several obstacles, including costs, for the green-seeking facilities to overcome.
Four public interest groups have unveiled a campaign to expand Texans' ability to buy private health insurance.The consumer and religious organizations said they hope to broaden a review of the Texas Department of Insurance's inner workings so lawmakers will consider several changes, such as giving mom-and-pop businesses more clout in the small-group health insurance market.
Nashville, TN-based Saint Thomas Health Services is expanding its network of chest pain centers to Kentucky. Currently, St. Thomas includes 11 hospitals accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. Accreditation is pending for the expansion to Monroe County Hospital in Tompkinsville, KY.