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Off-label use common, not always backed by data; Study says fewer doctors providing charity care; EDs report greater shortage on-call specialist coverage
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The link between patients' spirituality and their response to medical treatment is gaining more attention, and according to a recent study, more than nine out of 10 doctors surveyed believe it is appropriate to discuss spiritual or religious issues when a patient brings them up.
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The Bush administration's projections of the potential impact of an avian flu pandemic expose the enormity of the ethical issues that come with any plan for rationing and distributing vaccine.
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An increased incidence of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) following outpatient cataract surgery has been reported recently, according to an alert issued by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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Reaction to the results of the "staff costs" category of the Ambulatory Surgery Non-Clinical Study for Cataract Extraction with Lens Insertion was mixed, with the organization that reported the lowest cost expressing surprise and the organization posting the highest cost not planning any changes. The study was conducted by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care's Institute for Quality Improvement.
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Results of the recent Ambulatory Surgery Non-Clinical Study for Cataract Extraction with Lens Insertion and Colonoscopy include the following statistics:
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Billing data, supply costs, staff costs, and patient satisfaction are top issues for all outpatient surgery managers, but benchmark studies that address these areas don't always focus on similar procedures so that comparisons can be made easily.
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Between 2% and 5% of patients undergoing surgical procedures will develop a surgical site infection that results in additional costs that range from $2,734 to $26,019 for each infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control's National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system.
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Don't think that your staff can fake their way through answers during the patient tracer section of an unannounced survey by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, says Nancy Hammes, patient care director in day surgery at Franciscan Skemp La Crosse (WI) Campus.
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Since the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations launched its unannounced surveys in January, more than 1,370 organizations have gone through the new process.
