While some of the key features don’t kick in until 2014, the still-controversial law has a number of consumer benefits that have already changed the rules of health care for consumers.
Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., the Cleveland Clinic and Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., are just some of the prestigious academic medical centers that didn’t make HealthGrades’ cut. No Seattle hospital made it into the top 50.
Last interview with a doctor who fought for the right-to-die. Young doctors are turning away from careers in primary care. A solo practice sells out to the local hospital.
How big is the constitutional challenge to the Obama health care law, which the Supreme Court will hear on March 26-28? It’s big enough for the justices to schedule six hours of arguments — more time than given to any case since 1966. Stuart Taylor, Jr. provides a primer on the key issues.
In addition to requiring free contraceptive coverage, this year the new health law will require premium rebates and clearer descriptions of health plan benefits and will lower out-of-pocket Medicare drug costs.
The U.S. leads the world in advanced medical technologies, but when it comes to electronic communication, American medicine remains a backward culture. Farzad Mostashari’s mission: Move U.S. doctors from the Age of Gutenberg into the 21st century.
Santorum once wanted more government involvement in health care, not less. Electronic health records and medical malpractice. Making the best of old age. Talking about AIDS and sex.
Oregon pioneered the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form, which offers patients many more detailed options for end-of-life care than a simple “do not resuscitate” directive.
A nurse, a doctor and six computer monitors help raise the standards of care for critically ill patients in Anchorage and in rural hospitals.
As anyone who has been a patient or a visitor at a hospital knows, they’re often confusing, chaotic places.
By the time you learn the routines and the rules, with any luck you’re recovered and on your way out the door.
Elizabeth Bailey’s father wasn’t that fortunate . . .
When and why did Romney change his views on abortion? Will we ever grow new organs? What launched HIV and the AIDS epidemic? How will the DSM handle PMS? Photo: Sanja Gjenero
Six in ten Americans, including Catholics, said they support a requirement by the Obama administration that health plans supply free contraceptives as a preventive benefit for women.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Lost in translation: Lack of trained interpreters can lead to medical errors
Interpreter services at hospitals and other medical settings are often inadequate, forcing family members, including children, to step in, or the task falls to medical staff members who may not speak the language well.
Some insurers deny ER coverage to people who have been drinking
Laws in more than half the states permit insurers to deny payment for medical services related to alcohol or drug use. Faced with the prospect of not getting paid for care, some ER personnel sidestep the problem by simply not testing patients’ blood or urine for alcohol.
Travel insurance can protect your wallet — and your health on vacation
Think your regular health insurance policy will cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas?
Don’t bet on it.
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