Telehealth helpful for rural U.S. veterans, but no panacea
The Department of Veterans Affairs is using telehealth to expand access to care for veterans who live in rural settings. A November 25, 2019 NPR article explored the both the benefits and limitations of telehealth, which allows clinicians…
Study: Widely used health care algorithm has racial bias
Significant racial bias has been found in an algorithm that helps hospital networks determine which patients may need further care, with whites favored over blacks, a new study found. In an algorithm from the health services company Optum,…
Marking 15+ years of a program that saved millions
A daylong symposium explored the history of PEPFAR and showcased how it has transformed the worldwide HIV/AIDS response and global health delivery.
People with gradual heart attack symptoms slow to seek care
Among U.S. patients seeking emergency room care for heart attacks, those whose symptoms came on gradually and didn’t follow exertion took up to six hours longer to get to the hospital than those with sudden symptoms.
Concerns raised about possible Ebola cases in Tanzania
After unofficial reports about several suspected Ebola cases in Tanzania, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement rebuking the African nation for not providing more detailed information. A September 22, 2019 article in Al Jazeera noted that…
Lower child mortality can mean healthier conditions for adults
Mothers who lose fewer children tend to have fewer children, which reduces their risk of dying in childbirth and increases their ability to improve their household’s economic prospects.
To lower health care costs, Mass. commission looks at administrative spending
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission is studying the complexity of administrative expenses in an effort to find new ways to lower the state’s health care costs, according to a July 29, 2019 Boston Globe article. Ashish Jha, K.T.…
Was Neil Armstrong’s death due to a medical error?
The death of astronaut Neil Armstrong in 2012 after heart surgery may have occurred because of incompetent post-surgical care, according to recent news reports. Armstrong’s family received a $6 million confidential settlement in 2014 from Mercy Health Fairfield…
Attacks on ACA could hamper Trump’s own health policies
President Trump has used a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to pursue key policy goals, including improving access to care for patients with kidney disease and increasing transparency on drug prices. At the same time, however,…
Medical errors in Massachusetts harm patients, drive up costs
A new state survey found that nearly 20% of respondents in Massachusetts experienced a recent medical error. The analysis, from the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety, also found that there were 61,982 errors in the state in…