Hospital Care (Health Care) « Health Care – General

Articles & Publications About Hospital Care

• 14 Worst Hospital Mistakes to Avoid (NBC news – 6/25/12)
  All told, as many as 98,000 deaths occur each year due to all kinds of medical mistakes–the equivalent of a fully packed 747 crashing every other day. According to a congressionally mandated study on Medicare recipients, during 2008, 1 in 7 hospital patients experienced at least one unintended harm that prolonged his or her stay, caused permanent injury, required life-sustaining treatment, or resulted in death. So what can you do to make sure this doesn't happen to you or someone you love? Plenty, say doctors, nurses, and researchers.
• CMS Gives Consumers Access to More Details About Infection Rates at Americas Hospitals (CMS – 2/7/12)
  Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are among the most serious of all healthcare-associated infections, resulting in thousands of deaths each year and nearly $700 million in added costs to the U.S. healthcare system.  Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Hospital Compare will now include data about how often these preventable infections occur in hospital intensive care units across the country.  This step will hold hospitals accountable for bringing down these rates, saving thousands of lives and millions of dollars each year.
  Patti's Comments:  I know all too well from personal experience how important this is. 
• Don't Come Back, Hospitals Say (Wall Street Journal – 6/7/11)
  With hospital stays shorter than they used to be, patients may be sent home in frailer states. They may not understand instructions on how to take care of themselves and face unexpected medical problems after leaving the hospital. More than a third of patients don't get the lab tests, specialist referrals or follow-up care they need.
  Patti's Comments: As someone who spends lots of time coordinating services for folks on Medicare, I have very personal real life experiences with hospitals rushing folks out of a hospital too quickly, refusing to speak to more than one family spokesperson, refusing or taking forever to give family members medical records so they can make informed decisions related to the level of supports needed to successfully transition a person to another setting. Most importantly, the hospitals need to learn to be respectful of family decision makers, and make assess to medical records easy and quick.
• Sonoma Co. Settles Gay Discrimination Suit (SignonSanDiego.com)
  Sonoma County has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a lawsuit by an elderly gay man who said social workers kept him from seeing his dying partner in the hospital. Clay Greene, 78, of Guerneville filed a lawsuit earlier this year, claiming the county's Public Guardian program discriminated against him because of his sexual orientation. Greene accused social workers of denying him hospital visitation rights to see his partner, Harold Scull, despite signed wills, medical declarations and powers of attorney naming each other as spouses. The couple was not married nor registered as domestic partners.
  Patti's Comments: This can also relate to heterosexual unmarried partners.
• Patients, Beware (Walletpop.com)
  731 nurses reveal what to watch out for in the hospital.
• Reimbursement Penalties Did Not Reduce Hospital-acquired Infection Rates (McKnight's – 10/15/12)
  Financial penalties did not reduce healthcare facility-acquired infections in acute-care settings, a new study finds. Researchers say harsher sanctions might help. Harvard Medical School investigators examined infection rates in hospitals affected by a 2008 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services policy that denied additional payments to hospitals whose patients acquired bloodstream or urinary tract infections. The penalty did not reduce infection rates, which were already declining due to several pre-existing infection control campaigns and interventions, according to study authors.

Organizations & Services  re: Hospital Care

• Air Ambulance
  A membership program that provides air ambulance services to its members, anywhere in the world, anytime.
• Angel Flight
  A volunteer group of pilots who arrange free air transportation for any legitimate, charitable, medically related need.
• Aviation Charities (Flying Mag.com)
  Aviation related charities are staffed by individuals who are dedicated to providing care, kindness, and frequently transportation. Some services are health-related, some are prompted by emergencies, and some are related to fostering emotional well-being.
• Rankmedical.com
  A medical publication geared towards offering information on hospitals while also covering other issues within the medical field.
• Institute for Family-Centered Care
  Provides leadership to advance the understanding and practice of patient and family centered care in hospitals and other health care settings.
• Not On My Watch
  Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) issue is one of critical importance to every healthcare facility and every healthcare consumer.
  Patti's Comment: This is an important issue for me as I did get a serious infection at a hospital.
• Partnering to Heal: Teaming Up Against Healthcare-Associated Infections (HHS.gov)
  A computer-based, video-simulation training program on infection control practices for clinicians, health professional students, and patient advocates.