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'Dr. Death' seeks to become Rep. Kevorkian, Antibiotics and end-of-life in dementia patients
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When the first psychiatric advance directives (PADs) began to appear in state legislation more than 20 years ago, they were largely considered to be an end-of-life tool, much like general advance directives. But as more states have passed PAD laws 25 states now have laws specifically providing for PADs their usefulness has expanded.
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The life cycle of a vaccine from discovery and production through distribution, rationing, and replacement can span a quarter-century, involve health professionals worldwide, and raise ethical issues every step of the way. But there was no centralized effort to promote policy and ethics around vaccine discovery, use, and global public health and so the Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy was created.
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Some lawmakers in Massachusetts have introduced legislation that would make the state the first in the nation to impose an outright ban on all pharmaceutical marketing gifts to physicians. The bill also seeks statewide adoption of electronic medical records.
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The health care community has long endorsed staff and patients speaking up when necessary to protect patient safety, but in the heat of the moment, a staff member can be intimidated by superiors and fearful of rocking the boat.
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Before you hand patients free samples of prescription drugs, consider that the sample that saves them money now may end up costing them in the long run, according to research that indicates patients who receive free drug samples from their doctors have significantly higher out-of-pocket prescription costs than those who don't.
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Employee retention, an ongoing need for space, and the visionary thinking of a senior vice president are among the driving factors of an ongoing focus on telecommuting at Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) in Charlotte, NC, says Chris Johnson, FHFMA, vice president for patient financial services.
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There are signs that states may become more aggressive in their regulation of provider referrals, suggests Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq., a Burtonsville, MD-based attorney specializing in health care issues.
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A new requirement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) affecting critical access hospitals and others that do not have physicians on duty 24-7 has prompted questions regarding EMTALA, says Stephen Frew, JD, a web site publisher (www.medlaw.com) and risk management specialist.
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Interest appears to be growing for the "medical home" model of care, which provides patients with a coordinated, comprehensive approach to primary care.
