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Advice on how you can choose between captives and large deductible policies

(This is the second month of a two-part series on large deductible policies and captive insurance companies. In last month’s issue, Zuckerman discussed the basics about the two most popular options for risk financing: large deductible insurance plans and captive insurance companies. Part two of this report further explores captives and large deductibles, and it discusses how to reach a risk financing decision that suits your organization.)

The Joint Commission: Hospitals make strides on core measures with more achieving “top performer” status

With all the challenges that frontline health care providers have faced this year, from Ebola and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) to the sweeping implementation of the Affordable Care Act, news from The Joint Commission (TJC) that hospitals are continuing to make significant strides on key quality measures was certainly welcome.

Study: New approach to handoffs slashes errors, preventable adverse events; other medical centers move to implement the protocol

A new approach to hospital handoffs has shown it can significantly reduce medical errors as well as preventable adverse events. The approach, dubbed the I-PASS bundle, uses a mnemonic to alert providers to all the issues that need to be covered during a handoff, but also includes a written handoff tool, communication training, a sustainability campaign, and a process for feedback.

Intriguing model significantly reduces boarding of psychiatric patients, need for inpatient hospitalization

Developers of the approach urge other communities to devise similar approaches, but funding is an issue

Statins and the Neuromuscular System

Statins inhibit the function of 3-hydroy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and are widely used for risk reduction of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. It is estimated that about 10% of patients will discontinue statins due to muscle-related symptoms.

Predicting Efficacy of IVIG in CIDP

In a retrospective chart review of 281 treatment-naïve patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, lack of response to intravenous immunoglobulin was predicted by 1) presence of painful neuropathy and 2) strength differences between arm and leg muscles.

Progesterone in Acute Traumatic Brain Injury

ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: Administration of progesterone after acute traumatic brain injury does not improve neurological outcome nor reduce mortality.

The Clinical Spectrum of Encephalitis

Encephalitis is a serious neurologic condition caused by acute inflammation of the brain. Patients typically present acutely with any combination of confusion, fever, seizures, headache, focal neurologic deficits, and abnormal involuntary movements. Diagnosis is typically made by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and serologic studies on CSF and blood.

Can Answering a Phone Call Give You Cancer?

In the past decade, cellular phone usage has grown exponentially worldwide, and this use is prevalent in all age groups, including children.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Platelet Transfusion

The American Association of Blood Banks has six recommendations of varying strengths based on the availability of quality evidence.