clinicians news from FierceHealthcare
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Case study: Beth Israel Deaconess uses 'tag' game to boost hand washing
Seeing to it that nurses, doctors, techs and attending physicians all wash their hands is a monumental task. Often, sanctions against those who violate hand washing rules aren't effective, as busy... Read more...
CMS officials say they want RAC program to be fair
To date, the CMS's Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program has done little but strike fear into the hearts of providers, many of whom say their experiences with RACs have been less than pleasant.... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: Officials consider reasons for steep mammogram drop
For reasons no one completely understands, the number of women having mammograms began to decline in 2000, with 1.1 million fewer women getting one in 2005 than 2000. Now, researchers and clinicians... Read more...
Kaiser suspends perinatologist over mistakes
Years after co-workers allegedly reported him to management for inappropriate behavior, Kaiser Permanente has announced that it has suspended high-risk perinatologist Dr. Hamid Safari. As of late... Read more...
Trend: States try to counter pharma drug marketing
As we reported last year, a small but growing number of advocates have begun working to provide their own brand of drug education to doctors--without the sales message that pharmaceutical companies... Read more...
"Behind the counter" non prescription meds considered
The FDA is looking at establishing a new category of drugs known as "behind the counter" which won't require a prescription but also, won't go out unless a pharmacist is involved. Before a patient... Read more...
ALSO NOTED: CalPERS cuts $225M deal with BC of California; D.C. retail clinic operator plans area expansion; and much more...
> The California Public Employees Retirement System, usually known as CalPERS, has agreed to pay Blue Cross of California $225 million over three years to run its self-funded PPO plans. Read more...
Hospitals let families, patients activate rapid response
Generally speaking, hospitals have assumed that clinicians, not patients or their families, should decide when a sick person is having an emergency. But lately, a small number of hospitals have... Read more...
Wash. state program increases pain med use
In a marked departure from current practices, the state of Washington developed a program 10 years ago designed to make sure doctors didn't under treat pain patients. The program seems to have... Read more...
ALSO NOTED: Senators approve CHIP expansion; Bill would give chronically-ill better insurance access; and much more...
> Despite a veto threat from President Bush, the Senate has voted in favor of a major financial expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Read more...
