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.
Patients
Brand-Name Drugs Increase Cost, but That May Be All They Do
As presidential candidates focus more on drug prices, new data from the website Iodine shows that generics scored highest among users in three popular drug categories.
Tackling the Hidden Crisis in Men’s Health Care
A new focus on reproductive health services for adolescents and young men might be what it takes to get them to see a primary care physician more regularly—not to mention the other obvious benefits.
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.
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.
Doctors Are Not Prescribing the Right Kind of Drugs for the Flu
If you come down with the flu, your doctor is more likely than not to write out a prescription for the wrong type of drug.
Why You Should Be Alarmed About Pediatric Emergency Care
The vast majority of doctors working in emergency care have received only four months of training in pediatrics, and what they learned about treating full-grown adults rarely translates well.
Is the Quest to Build a Kinder, Gentler Surgeon Misguided?
Surgery is a fundamentally messy and stressful activity. When being a few millimeters off target can be life-changing, a surgeon needs to possess fierce concentration, unrelenting perfectionism, and, above all, staunch self-assurance.
The Decline of the Physical Exam in Modern Medicine
Doctors today are too uncomfortable with uncertainty.
Billing Outliers Often Have Disciplinary Problems, Too
As news organizations analyze data on Medicare payments, doctors with disciplinary records keep popping up.
I’d Never Admit That to My Doctor. But to a Computer? Sure
New research finds patients are more likely to respond honestly to personal questions when talking to a virtual human.
Meet the Docs Who Charge Medicare Top Dollar for Visits
Medicare paid for more than 200 million office visits for established patients in 2012. Overall, health professionals classified only four percent as complex enough to command the most expensive rates. But 1,800 providers billed at the top level at least 90 percent of the time. Experts question whether the charges are legitimate.
The Dangerous Rise of Social Media in the Operating Room
Surveys suggest most doctors and nurses understand the significant safety issues associated with the use of cell phones and laptops during surgery. But that’s not stopping them from pulling out the distracting devices.
A Better Way to Pick the Doctor That's Right for You
For years, patients have had few ways to compare doctors beyond their reputations. With a huge Medicare data release, that may soon change.
So You've Become a Patient Safety Statistic—Now What?
Six recommended steps to take if you’ve suffered harm in a medical facility.
One Third of Patients in Nursing Facilities Harmed by Treatment
A study by Medicare’s inspector general of skilled nursing facilities says nearly 22,000 patients were injured and more than 1,500 died in a single month—a higher rate of medical errors than hospitals.
10 Patient Stories: When Attorneys Refused My Medical Malpractice Case
"Dad's life was worth nothing because he was old."
Patient Harm: When An Attorney Won't Take Your Malpractice Case
Studies show that nine of 10 patients seeking a medical malpractice attorney won’t find one—women, children, and the elderly in particular.
Medicare's Failure to Track Docs Wastes Billions on Name-Brand Drugs
The failure to track doctors who shun cheaper generics racks up huge costs for taxpayers in Medicare Part D, which fills one of every four U.S. prescriptions.
Why Doctors Stay Silent About Mistakes Their Colleagues Make
Telling a patient about another doctor’s medical error can mean losing business or suffering retribution. Now, some physicians are looking for ways to break the code of silence.
The Horrible Condition of Assisted Living Facilities Across America
An examination of the multibillion-dollar industry reveals a mishmash of minimal state regulation and no involvement by federal officials.