Several of New York City's most troubled hospitals are partially or completely uninsured for malpractice, state records show, forgoing what is considered a standard safeguard across the country. Some have saved money to cover their liabilities, but others have used up their malpractice reserves, meaning that any future awards or settlements could come at the expense of patients' care, and one hospital has closed its obstetric practice, in part out of fear of lawsuits. Executives of these hospitals, most of which are in poor neighborhoods, say their dire financial circumstances and high premiums make it impractical to pay millions of dollars a year for insurance.
As right-leaning states such as Texas and Florida redouble their opposition to President Obama's healthcare law in the wake of last month's Supreme Court decision, Kentucky is joining the list of states that will establish its own insurance exchange in 2014, implementing a central pillar of the Affordable Care Act.Gov. Steven L. Beshear, a Democrat, formally told Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday that he would sign an executive order to create an exchange "so Kentucky will be prepared to operate it."
Voices clamor to be heard in the discussion about end-of-life care. Patients prefer to die at home and in comfort. Physicians struggle to speak to patients they have been trying to save but worry about legal issues. Politicians debate the best way to curb rising health care costs and shun "death panels." Amid this fervor, researchers in Sweden found last year that conversations about imminent death are associated with improved care and less pain and suffering. Now, a team at Harvard Medical School reveals more detail about the social and psychological factors that affect quality of death.
In January, Nationwide Children's Hospital began requiring new nursing hires to have a bachelor's degree or earn one within five years. Nurses already employed were grandfathered. Research suggests nurses with more advanced degrees are associated "with better rescue of patients who are deteriorating," said Linda Stoverock, Nationwide Children's chief nursing officer. Mount Carmel, OhioHealth and Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center are setting timetables to reach an Institute of Medicine goal that 80 percent of nurses have a bachelor's degree by 2020. That goal won't be reached through hiring practices alone, said Gingy Harshey-Meade, CEO of the Ohio Nurses Association. Working nurses would have to return to school.
Although some industries still struggle to find their footing, healthcare providers are moving ahead with new and expanded West Valley facilities—welcome news for the region. From Goodyear to north Peoria, heavy hitters in the healthcare industry are boosting facilities in anticipation of resumed growth the West Valley. For too long, many West Valley cities have lacked necessary healthcare services. As growth returns to Arizona, it's critical that facilities are in place to serve the current and expected population. The addition of new and expanded facilities is needed to address that deficiency.
Sinai Hospital, which opened its milk bank in May, is part of a growing movement in the Maryland health community to make breast milk donated by other mothers more available in hospitals. So far only three hospitals—Sinai, Johns Hopkins and Saint Agnes—are licensed by the state to use donated milk. In 2010, Maryland hospitals provided donor milk to just nine babies. A state legislative work group recently presented recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to increase those numbers. Supporters of its use say donor milk can help save dozens of babies' lives.