Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Increased Vigilance Under Hospital Inspectors' Watchful Eyes Results In Fewer Deaths
Stat: When Hospital Inspectors Are In Town, Fewer Patients Die, Study Says
Every couple of years, unannounced visits by inspectors from the Joint Commission trigger a frenzied response in hospitals, in which clinicians are instructed to do everything by the book to avoid potentially embarrassing violations. (Ross, 3/20)
In other news —
WBUR: Study Looks At The Special Pressure Of Treating A VIP (Very Important Patient)
VIP patients may receive extra niceties, from an airy private room with a view to a special menu. But what about their medical treatment, and how do physicians see caring for these VIPs? A new study from the Journal of Hospital Medicine looked at hospital VIP care, and found that it may come at a cost: VIP patients may demand uncalled-for tests or treatments — and get them, possibly to their own detriment. (Rellosa, 3/20)
