Obesity has been fingered as one of the villains of health care cost increases. A CBO analysis verifies that obese persons appear to have significantly higher annual health care costs…
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TSC/CMSA/ABQAURP: How Technology is Changing the Practice of Care Management
A new study of the association between process of care measures and health outcomes for certain hospital episodes has encouraging results for pay for reporting and pay for performance programs.
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A study of a medical home model indicates reductions in hospital admissions and readmissions and possibly a reduction in total spending. It is not clear, however, what the full economic…
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Summer nears an end, but not our Potpourris. This one includes the costs of malpractice, an innovative provider error disclosure program, employer wellness paybacks, blood pressure medication issues, the cost…
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Palliative care has been extensively researched and the results indicate greater quality of life and patient satisfaction for persons with terminal illness. New research suggests it also extends survival.
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Another Saturday, another Potpourri, featuring the acquisition of a hospital medical necessity company, Americans' online health usage, analysis of prescriptions, California workers' compensation, home monitoring of elderly parents, remote psychiatric…
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A study reported in JAMA examines the use of telemedicine techniques to improve the management of pain and depression in cancer patients.
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Medical care provided near the end of a patient's life accounts for a significant portion of total national health spending and is often inconsistent with patient wishes. New research evaluates…
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Sitting indoors seeking relief from the summer heat? Here's a montage of cool and refreshing health care items, including CPOE systems, accountable care organizations, Massachusetts' reform experience, reducing imaging, and…
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Preventive measures can help patients delay or prevent illness or can lead to early detection and usually better outcomes. Unfortunately many patients fail to take even the most basic preventive…
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A common perception is that there are too many hospital readmissions which could be prevented with better discharge planning. A new study indicates that scheduling follow-up visits may not help…
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