Hospitals Crack Down On Tirades By Angry Doctors
For many years, hospitals were reluctant to address physicians who berated nurses, threw scalpels or demeaned co-workers. But increasingly such actions bring discipline.
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For many years, hospitals were reluctant to address physicians who berated nurses, threw scalpels or demeaned co-workers. But increasingly such actions bring discipline.
There are no mandatory retirement ages for doctors or formal evaluations of their skills, but some hospitals are now requiring older physicians to have periodic physical and cognitive exams.
Few doctors have studied alcohol or drug abuse, but the problems can be at the root of more obvious ailments that keep patients cycling through the medical system.
The volunteers, part of a program called Health Leads, help low-income families connect with social service groups providing food, clothes, housing and other services so that children can overcome some of the obstacles contributing to health problems.
The expensive medications, designed for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorders, are being prescribed regularly for common problems such as anxiety and attention-deficit disorder and are being used on children and the elderly.
The demand for new services rises as veterans flock to schools around the country and need help for health, psychological and social issues that college officials generally haven't dealt with.
Critics say there is little evidence of benefit -- and considerable risk -- from common screening tests for colon, breast and prostate cancer, particularly in people older than 70, especially those with other serious health problems.
Experts thought simple steps, such as marking the surgical site and taking a timeout to confirm the details, would end the problem. But it turns out to be more complicated to change the culture of hospitals and doctors.
These physicians, who treat patients outside the emergency room, are seeking to reverse the "weekend effect," or higher rates of death and complications.
Experts offer some tips for patients and their families to help prevent problems in the hospital.
Consumers are increasingly expected to manage their complex regimens but that is especially challenging for those who don't have the ability to comprehend health information.
Millions of Americans battling excess fat find that their insurers refuse to pay for obesity treatments but instead cover its expensive consequences.
Gaps in insurance policies make oral drugs too pricey for some cancer patients.
Many patients seeking mental health treatments, such as Denise Camp of Baltimore, have been forced to pick up a bigger share of the cost than they do with other medical bills. But a law that went into effect Jan. 1 prohibits such double standards.
Facility fees, charged to patients who get treatment in hospital-owned outpatient clinics, are used defray to hospital overhead, pay salaries and meet stringent standards, hospital officials say. Critics say the fees are a way to increase the cost of care when patients can least afford it.
Doctors across the country are reducing their charges and offering payment plans to patients who have lost health insurance or income. This helps people stay well, but it also helps doctors maintain their practices at a time when many financially struggling Americans are deferring care. Patients who don't pay their bills still run the risk of hearing from bill collectors.
The rising costs of care and a failing economy drive more Americans into medical debt.
The Clifford's struggle to pay for treatment of their serious medical problems.
Jim and Jackie Eyler, of Westminster, Md., are employed, insured and unable to pay down a $10,000 credit card balance.
For single mom, credit card was no panacea for an Orthodontist's Bill.
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