Money Management

Medical Residents Need Revised Work Hours To Prevent Mistakes

hareyan — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:15:21 -0600

Revised hours and workloads for medical residents are needed to prevent fatigue-related mistakes, but altering hours alone will not guarantee patient safety.

Health Professionals At Risk Of Bloodborne Viruses

ruzik_tuzik — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:25:51 -0600

Healthcare workers are still being put at risk of bloodborne viruses through occupational exposure and a significant number of these incidents are preventable, according to a report released today by the Health Protection Agency.

'Eye of the Needle', the Agency's bi-annual report into the occupational exposure of healthcare workers to bloodborne viruses, reviews the trends and number of incidents involving exposures, via needlestick injury or sharp objects, to patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Hospital Finances Show Troubling Trends

ruzik_tuzik — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:20:14 -0600

Nearly half of the state's hospitals - 47 percent - posted overall losses at the end of 2007, according to new audited financial data contained in the 2008 edition of the New Jersey Hospital Association's Financial Status of New Jersey Hospitals report.

The data shows that New Jersey's hospital industry was on shaky financial ground long before the recent economic meltdown.

People Forced To Choose Between Medical, Home Payments

ruzik_tuzik — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:21:39 -0600

The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined how the U.S.

Future Shortages Of Registered Nurses Predicted For New York

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:20:26 -0600

New York is projected to face a shortage of registered nurses (RNs) by the year 2020, according to a new report by UAlbany's Center for Health Workforce Studies. By 2020, New York will require 204,087 RNs to remain consistent with national benchmarks, but the estimated supply will be more than 8,400 -- or four percent -- short.

Washington Revokes, Suspends Licenses Of Health Care Providers

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:19:10 -0600

The Washington State Department of Health has revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of health care providers in our state. The department has also immediately suspended the credentials of people who have been prohibited from practicing in other states.

The department's Health Systems Quality Assurance Office works with boards, commissions and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 70 health care professions (e.g., medical doctors, nurses, counselors).

Recruiting More Minority Students To Medical Careers

ruzik_tuzik — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:51:20 -0600

The national not-for-profit group Mentoring in Medicine on Saturday hosted a conference in Harlem, N.Y., aimed at encouraging minority students to pursue careers in medicine, the AP/Staten Island Advance reports. According to a 2006 American Medical Association survey, less than 4% of the nation's more than 920,000 doctors are black, while 5% are Hispanic and 12% are Asian.

How To Pay For The End-of-Life Care

hareyan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:14:15 -0600

How to pay for the rising costs of health care? Concerns over these costs are shared not only by elected officials but by almost every family across the country. Many baby boomers are providing care for their aging parents just as they are facing their own health care issues.

Yet, for more than 25 years, the Medicare Hospice Benefit has provided a model for financing end-of-life care that can bring great relief and support to families during one of life’s most difficult times.

Half Of UK Nurses Have Experienced Needle Stick Injuries

ruzik_tuzik — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:24:31 -0600

A recent report by the United Kingdom's Royal College of Nursing found that 48% of the 5,000 nurses polled had been injured by a needle previously used on a patient during their careers, with about one-third fearing risk of exposure to bloodborne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, BBC News reports (BBC News, 11/19).

Washington Disciplines Health Care Providers

ruzik_tuzik — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:59:48 -0600

The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against health care providers in our state.

The department's Health Systems Quality Assurance Office works with boards, commissions, and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 70 health care professions (e.g., medical doctors, nurses, counselors).