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People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
Tag: Surgery
Baby boomers trigger jump in knee replacement surgeries
Whether it’s music, lifestyles, or a refuse-to-age outlook, Baby Boomers think of themselves as trailblazers. Now, that generation born between 1946 and 1964 can claim credit for another “first”—a dramatic increase in knee replacement surgeries.
FDA targets gastric band weight-loss claims
“I lost 90 pounds with the Lap-Band!,” read the billboards. Sounds tempting, doesn’t it? But there are serious risks with the weight-loss surgery promoted by these ads.
Insurance often does not cover weight-loss surgery for teens
As obesity among young people continues to rise, a growing number of clinicians say that weight-loss surgery may be their best chance to take off significant weight. But although health plans frequently cover bariatric surgery in adults, coverage for patients under age 18 is spotty.
For some surgeries, more is better — safer
Planning to have surgery? Well, you might want to find out just how frequently hospitals in your area are perform the operation before deciding where to go.
Having surgery? How to avoid an infection.
Ask your healthcare provider to clean their hands with soap before they examine you or check your wound — and other tips to avoid surgical infections from the CDC.
Panel formed to give consumers reliable treatment information
Patients want to be partners with their doctors in determining the course of their care. But for many conditions, there are no good guideposts.
Effort to end surgeries on wrong patient or body part falters
“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.
Medicaid to stop paying for hospital mistakes
Medicaid will stop paying for about two dozen “never events” in hospitals, such as operations on the wrong body part and certain surgical-site infections, federal officials said today.
Picking a treatment for a rotator cuff tear
Tears in the rotator cuff are not a huge health setback. But they can limit movement and cause serious pain. There are several ways to treat rotator cuff tears, including surgery and non-surgical treatments. You’ll want to understand your options before you make a decision.
Swedish opens new specialty clinic for low-income and uninsured
Surgeons and medical specialists from Swedish and other participating physician groups will provide their care at no charge to clinic patients.
Valley Medical Center adds eight new physicians
Specialists in Family Medicine; Pediatric Neurology; General Surgery, and Ear, Nose & Throat.
Swedish surgeons take lead in robotic-assisted surgery
Surgeons at Swedish have performed more than 2,000 robotic-assisted procedures, more than any other surgical robotics program in the Pacific Northwest.
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