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Medical malpractice insurance premiums are 17.1% lower in states that have capped court awards, although the lack of such tort reform measures in other states does not fully explain recent jumps in what physicians pay to cover the cost of malpractice suits, says Kenneth E. Thorpe, PhD, chairman of the health policy and management department at the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta.
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A young man went to an emergency department in the afternoon complaining of discomfort in his throat. Surgery was performed to address an abscess. That evening, after his family had gone home, he suffered from cardiac arrhythmia, went into a coma, and died three days later. His wife and two sons brought suit for wrongful death.
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A post-kidney transplant patient was admitted to a hospital with urosepsis and was placed in the intensive care unit. He was intubated; but when his airway became obstructed, efforts to correct the situation were unsuccessful, and he died. The case settled for $800,000.
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Nearly every document that makes any mention of a patient in your facility can be considered protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), says Veronica A. Marsich, JD, a shareholder with the law firm of Smith Haughey in East Lansing, MI, specializing in health care issues.
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This case reinforces the basic notion that all health care providers have a responsibility to assure that their patients are receiving appropriate care in a timely manner.
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Here is what you need to know about the class action lawsuits filed against some of the largest nonprofit hospitals in the United States.
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The newly released 2005 National Patient Safety Goals indicate that the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) will put special emphasis on efforts to reduce patient falls, infections, and misidentification of patients.
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Because the majority of perinatal death and injury cases reported root causes related to problems with organizational culture and with communication among caregivers, JCAHO offers these recommendations.
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Do you know what actions you can take to protect your tax-exempt status? And does your staff know about the many alternative services available to help the needy? Thomson American Health Consultants is offering an audio conference to help you learn where your hospital may be exposed, what policies and procedures you need to reform to preserve your tax-exempt status, and how to continue to provide necessary care for the uninsured.
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This case exemplifies the importance of establishing and utilizing express, written policies and procedures.