Encore: Coleman is 3rd geriatrician in 5 years to win $500,000 MacArthur award
Aging Parents and Hospital Admission for Observations
When your parents go to the hospital and need to stay over night or longer, be sure the medical staff admits them as official patients and not for observation (which means that technically they are not admitted at all). People hospitalized for observ…
Elder Parent Surgery, Part II: At UVA Hospital
My mother’s laparoscopic surgery at the University of Virginia Health System went splendidly with the best possible outcome. Part of the day’s success is due to medical skills, but it’s also due to the UVA hospital staff members who t…
A Hospital Stay—In Your Own Home
What if you could be admitted to the hospital—in your own bedroom? That’s the idea of a health care model called Hospital at Home, which is aimed at elderly patients with diseases such as congestive heart failure, emphysema, urinary tract infections, or pneumonia. According to a new study published in the journal Health Affairs, people […]
Why Won’t the Medical World Stop Trivializing My Time?
Recently I had a medical test at a community hospital with free guest wireless, and I accomplished all sorts of work while waiting. The somewhat invasive procedure was fairly quick but with a longer wait than expected. However, I barely noticed. When I…
Hospital Apology Program
In an effort to improve transparency, reduce medical lawsuits, and increase patient safety, seven Massachusetts hospitals have embarked on a “Disclosure, Apology, and Offer” program. Under the plan, health professionals and institutions will disclose adverse events to patients and if … Continue reading →
Aging Well / Elder Care Navigation 2012-05-16 16:33:19
A few posts ago I wrote about the “meaningful use” provision of the health care act that requires hospitals and other health care systems to make a patient’s record available in a short “meaningful” period of time, which in this … Continue reading →
Bargaining with Hospitals
For those of you without medical insurance or for those with high deductibles, take a look at this story from the Premium Health News Service which offers advice on how to bargain with hospitals to reduce costs for procedures. Also, look at … Continue reading →
