Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Increased Vigilance Under Hospital Inspectors' Watchful Eyes Results In Fewer Deaths
Every couple of years, unannounced visits by inspectors from the Joint Commission trigger a frenzied response in hospitals, in which clinicians are instructed to do everything by the book to avoid potentially embarrassing violations. (Ross, 3/20)
In other news —
VIP patients may receive extra niceties, from an airy private room with a view to a special menu. But what about their medical treatment, and how do physicians see caring for these VIPs? A new study from the Journal of Hospital Medicine looked at hospital VIP care, and found that it may come at a cost: VIP patients may demand uncalled-for tests or treatments — and get them, possibly to their own detriment. (Rellosa, 3/20)
