January 1, 2012 Recent News
 | |
|
On average just less than 40% of US physicians practice in the same states from which they graduate medical school. This is a problem for states, especially those with poor med mal laws or poor reimbursement. Some states are opening new medical schools or expanding existing schools. Also, they are offering scholarships or loan repayments to those who stay in state. The range is from a low of 15-30% in DC and New Hampshire. the highest retention is from 60%-75% in Alaska, California and Montana. Iowa is below average in keeping physicians so they are trying something unique. They have made a database of people throughout the county of people with a touch to Iowa. They are looking to those who were born or went to school in the state. They then do target advertising to them to come home.
The Harvard Medical School has a study that shows physicians do not want to give patients their notes on them but the patients want them. The doctors are afraid the notes would confuse the patients and lead to many unnecessary phone calls. The patients want the records so they may be more empowered. The physicians also fear the patients would post the notes on social media sites and ask what the others on the site think about the notes, what does it mean.
Healthwatch reports that 4/5 of British physicians agree that the cuts in funding by the NHS harmed patient care. This goes against the former HHS head's socialistic philosophy. Top
The People's Republic of Massachusetts has a large amount of medical schools and teaching hospitals. They also have a large amount of hospital errors and these have not been decreasing. The worst offender are hospital falls. The Republic doesn't allow hospitals to bill for any results of problems such as a broken hip post fall. Another biggie is pressure sores, which speaks directly to nursing care.
Hooray for Boise, Idaho's, St. Luke's Hospital. For the past 20 years they have given back to the community. This year they paid off $118,000 of hospital bills owed to them. They do this for patients who are attempting to pay their bills over time.
Wykoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, was taken over by the state and the CEO fired. A new CEO was appointed. The hospital is located in a poor section of the city. It is stated that the ouster and appointment of the new CEO was done by the hospital Board. There is no guarantee that the hospital will continue to provide inpatient care. Top
DISCLAIMER: Although this
article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the
time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers
should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the
information presented.