Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Charlotte Huff.
It may be tempting to dismiss headlines about a potential avian flu pandemic as "the sky is falling" sensationalism, but experts continue to warn that the disease is likely to show up here in the not-too-distant future. What must hospitals do to prepare for a sudden influx of patients and other huge demands such a crisis would create?
In health care, stress and sadness come with the job. Hospitals now recognize that letting clinicians and nonclinicians decompress--through talking groups, counseling or a few minutes of quiet time-is good for the soul and for the quality of patient care.
Methamphetamine use has exploded in some unexpected regions of the country, including rural areas of the West and Midwest. The crisis is testing the capacity of hospital emergency departments and public health systems. For users, the initial euphoria from the drug quickly vanishes, with toxic effects on the brain and judgment control.
Big budget deficits and soaring health care costs have states scrambling to reduce Medicaid spending. Not every governor is choosing to simply cut the program, however; some are experimenting with new ways to meet the needs of their poor residents without bankrupting their states. The federal government and others are watching closely.
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Acknowledging to a patient or his family that an error occurred during treatment is one of the hardest things a physician or hospital executive will ever have to do. But doing so promptly, truthfully and with a sincere "I'm sorry" is the right thing, experts say, and, in the process, may diffuse anger and allow for a fair financial settlement.
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Patients may flock to hospitals as physician payments for cancer treatment are cut. Is your facility ready to handle an influx of these cases?