“Never Events” continue to be common events in U.S. operating rooms. Hospital group estimates 40 “wrong-site” surgeries performed each week in U.S. hospitals and clinics.
Being in a hospital at night or over a weekend can be hazardous to your health, and even has a name: “the weekend effect.” To improve the quality of night time and weekend care, hospitals from Syracuse to Seattle are hiring a new breed of subspecialist called a “nocturnist”.
Studies of hospitalized patients have found higher rates of errors and poorer outcomes for those treated at night or on the weekend compared with the day shift. Here are some suggestions offered by experts to help patients and families protect themselves.
Many patients cannot understand their health providers advice or the labels on their prescriptions, leading to higher rates of hospital readmission, expensive and unnecessary complications, and even death–all at an estimated annual cost of $238 billion.
But under the new health reform law insurers will have to cover proven preventive treatments.
Cancer patients are being denied access to newer oral drugs or are required to pay hefty out-of-pocket costs for the pills.
New law means higher deductibles, steeper co-pays and other restrictions are no longer allowed for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
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
View Calendar
✔ Subscribe
Add to Google
Seattle Times Health News
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.
Recent Comments