Reform race spurs scramble for comparison

Article Abstract:

The health care industry has yet to develop an accurate system for comparing and judging physicians and hospitals. The main stumbling block is finding a way to account for the relative sickness of each patient. States with mandates to develop reform packages are hard-pressed to find an accurate system, but they fear implementing one in case the federal government institutes its own national system. Several sickness severity adjustment systems currently in use are presented and described.

Methods, Evaluation, Health care reform, Outcome and process assessment (Health Care), Outcome and process assessment (Medical care)

---

Prescription for the professionals

Article Abstract:

A Harvard study has concluded that four percent of hospital patients suffer medically-caused injuries, but that 90% of these can be prevented. However, only 1% of the injuries is caused by provider negligence. Rather, many are the result of problems in hospital management such as storing medicines in similar-looking vials. The researchers concluded that hospitals should examine the entire medical system and not just the providers involved when investigating medically-caused injuries.

Prevention, Practice, Wounds and injuries, Injuries, Hospital administration

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Valuable input? Risk-adjusted data credited for better outcomes. Rating doctors; Penn. joins trend in releasing physician-specific mortality data
• Abstracts: The implications of the 1992 presidential election for health care reform. Health care policy implications of the 1994 congressional elections
• Abstracts: Capital costs 'cut' gives hospitals boost in pay; unintended 21% raise expected to be shortlived. Clamping down on abuses; Medicaid tightens rules on state provider tax programs
• Abstracts: AMA wins set stage for reform. IRS targets doctors' role in integrated systems. Young doctors seeking seat on board; governing group member objects, quits

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.