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New York has agreed to allow a 14% increase in the medical malpractice premium rates. This was to "prevent a perhaps irreversible crisis." The state believes that the insurers financial condition is rapidly eroding. However, so is the physicians and they can not raise their rates. Top
In another case of how well government is as the people that run hospitals, the physicians at the Stroger Hospital in Chicago are leaving. This hospital used to be called Cook County and was considered one of the best in the country for one to get a residency. Then the pols decided to reduce the size, change the name to a person that does not engender respect in the medical field and cut the funding. Gee, this sounds like the LA King Hospital. Most of the physicians who answered a survey were on their way out or considering it strongly. The County is not willing to pony up more money but is "hoping" for more federal or state money to throw at the dissatisfied physicians. There has been a decline in the working environment with difficulty in obtaining services needed for the patients. The spokesliar for the County did the usual double speak and told the cosmetic changes that they have or are will be making. I hope the pols like emptying bed pans because soon that's all that will be left to run the once proud institution.
The LA Times has an article on physician/entrapaneur Prem Reddy. The cardiologist has purchased eight hospitals in the last two years. His company has after the purchase of a hospital cancelled all insurance contracts to collect the higher price non-contracted rates. The company, Prime Healthcare Services, Inc., has also stopped all non-lucrative hospital services. The hospitals have also had problems meeting Medicare standards and has been accused of turning away uninsured patients. The article went on to detail the personality problems of Dr. Reddy and the multiple non-malpractice lawsuits against him which have been settled or lost. He just had the state AG reject a bid to purchase a hospital in Anaheim.
Kaiser, the quality institution, is again in the news for apparently dumping another patient in skid row in Los Angeles. This is after their big show of cooperation with the state and the county. Kaiser states the patient was to be dropped somewhere else and the transporter dropped the patient in skid row. Top
Viagra has been found to help right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary hypertension. I knew there was a reason I don't have the disease. Top
Since Texas changed its med mal laws there has been a deluge of applications to practice there. The State Board cannot keep up with the demand and it is taking over a half year to get a license. Since the new law went into effect in 2003, med mal premiums have gone down just over 20%. It does show the effect of a good med mal climate. Top
An article in the Archives of Internal Medicine has shown the thing that many physicians have known, electronic medical records do not improve the quality of care. This is a major blow to the policy makers who do not treat patients. 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.