Medical Social Workers Are Essential, but Under-Appreciated
A lack of support from the medical establishment for those practicing the profession has led to a high attrition rate and tough psychological problems.
Hospitals
When Hospitals Mistreat Disabled Patients
Patients diagnosed with an intellectual disability can often have a hard time getting their doctors to believe them.
Health-Care Costs Are Growing in the U.S., Thanks in Large Part to Private Insurers
Three charts that show how health-care costs are rising, especially for people with private insurance.
Collaboration Is Helping Underserved Communities Receive Better Health Care
Forging strong partnerships between hospitals, community organizations, and patients is crucial to successfully facilitating more fundamental shifts in health care.
These 14 Figures Show the Sources of Soaring Health-Care Costs in America
A new report shows rising costs for prescription drugs and emergency room visits.
How Damaging Data Breaches Are on Hospitals
They can be a big hindrance on hospitals' reputations—and their wallets.
A Cost-Benefit Analysis for Giving Birth at Home
Some data to follow up on our story last week about a home birth gone wrong.
A Conversation About the Surprisingly Serious Role of Medical Clowns
Filmmaker Sasha Kapustina is capturing this unique profession as it becomes an integral part to hospitals in Jerusalem.
'Not Everything Is Made for TV'
After a reality television show filmed the death of a man without getting his family’s approval, New York City hospitals have decided to put an end to filming patients without consent.
Doctor, Could You Turn the Music Down?
New research suggests music may distract surgeons and create tension in the operating room.
Why Surgeons Make Catastrophic Mistakes
A new analysis codes the reasons behind mistakes like operating on the wrong leg, or leaving a tool behind in a person's body.
Doctors Seem to Schedule Births So They Can Make It Home for Dinner
And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
A New Kind of Emergency Preparedness
How hospitals are getting ready to face a rapidly changing climate.
Needed: Clean Water, Toilets, and Soap in Hospitals
A new report highlights low- and middle-income countries' need for basic hospital infrastructure and supplies.
Should It Be a Felony for Doctors and Hospitals to Film Patients Without Prior Consent?
A bill has been filed in New York that would make it one. State Assemblyman Ed Braunstein was inspired by a story about a man whose death was recorded by the real-life medical series NY Med without permission. His widow recognized her husband while watching the show on TV.
When a Patient's Health Problems Are Used as Hospital PR
In a recently filed lawsuit, Ebola-infected nurse Nina Pham says that a colleague videotaped her without her permission and then the hospital she was treated in released the tape to the media, violating her privacy.
Why Isn't the Department of Health and Human Services Penalizing More Hospitals for Failing to Protect Medical Records?
Federal health watchdogs say they are cracking down on organizations that don’t protect the privacy and security of patient records, but data suggests otherwise.
Hospitals: Stop Suing Poor Patients
Senator Charles Grassley has asked a Missouri non-profit hospital to explain why it seizes the wages of thousands of its patients.
How Hospitals Can Help Stop the Cycle of Youth Violence
...and save money at the same time.
New Rules for Non-Profit Hospitals That Sue Patients
Non-profit hospitals get big tax breaks for providing care for patients who can’t afford it. Under new IRS rules these hospitals must take extra steps to inform poor patients they may qualify for financial assistance.
Why Is Medicare Paying for Visits and Patient Evaluations?
The findings by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services complement a recent review that found many doctors bill for services very differently than their peers.
Bringing a Therapy Dog Into a Children's Hospital Might Be a Bad Idea
Despite the popularity of animal therapy in American pediatric hospitals, a new research review reveals that there's little support for its health benefits.