Hospitals鈥 Best-Laid Plans Upended By Disaster
An onslaught of fires, shootings and storms across the country last year tested hospital readiness. Now, leaders are using their experiences to address shortcomings that surfaced amid the chaos.
Patient Safety
101 - 120 of 134 Results
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University Under Fire For Off-The-Grid Herpes Vaccine Experiments
Southern Illinois University鈥檚 medical school has halted all herpes research, one of its most high-profile projects, amid growing controversy over a researcher鈥檚 unauthorized methods offshore and in the U.S.
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Judge Orders New Olympus Trial Over Superbug Death
The Seattle jurist finds that Olympus Corp. failed to properly disclose evidence that it knew of concerns about cleaning problems with its redesigned medical scopes years before they hit the market and were linked to dozens of deaths. The company maintains the devices were not defective and intends to appeal.
By Chad Terhune -
Grassley Calls For 鈥楥orrective Action鈥 On Abuses In Herpes Vaccine Research
The Republican senator sent out letters to the Food and Drug Administration and HHS demanding an explanation about a rogue herpes vaccine trial.
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Half Of Hospitals In Conn., Del. Hit By Medicare鈥檚 Safety Penalties
Seven states saw a third or more of their hospitals punished under the federal heath law鈥檚 campaign against hospital-acquired conditions.
By Jordan Rau -
Trump Administration Relaxes Financial Penalties Against Nursing Homes
Medicare is discouraging regional offices from levying fines for 鈥渙ne-time mistakes鈥 or from using daily fines that seek to put pressure on nursing homes to make changes.
By Jordan Rau -
Infection Lapses Rampant In Nursing Homes But Punishment Is Rare
A Kaiser Health News analysis of federal inspection records shows that nursing home inspectors labeled mistakes in infection control as serious for only 161 of the 12,056 homes they have cited since 2014.
By Jordan Rau -
Unregulated Herpes Experiments Expose 鈥楤lack Hole鈥 Of Accountability
Controversial research methods by university researcher unlikely to prompt federal response or institutional change, experts say.
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In Era Of Increased Competition, Hospitals Fret Over Ratings
Hospitals are jockeying for patients and view the many different quality and safety ratings as a keen way to distinguish their services. But when those ratings nosedive, a hospital may retaliate.
By Jenny Gold -
Whistleblower: Medicaid Managed-Care Firm Improperly Denied Care To Thousands
An explosive report prepared by a SynerMed executive alleges the California firm, which oversaw care for 1.2 million patients, fabricated documents and violated state and federal regulations for years. The state says it left low-income patients on Medicaid managed care in 鈥渋mminent danger.鈥
By Chad Terhune -
University Was Tipped Off To Possible Unauthorized Trials Of Herpes Vaccine
Southern Illinois University has concluded its researcher violated university rules and U.S. law.
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Years Before Heading Offshore, Herpes Researcher Experimented On People In U.S.
Southern Illinois University鈥檚 William Halford conducted unregulated human herpes experiments in hotels near university campus, emails show.
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Desperate Quest For Herpes Cure Launched 鈥楻ogue鈥 Trial
Patients flocked to researcher who ignored usual patient protections, as university claimed ignorance.
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Heart Device Failure: Medicare Spent $1.5B Over 10 Years To Replace Defective Implants
The inspector general at Health and Human Services says defective pacemakers or defibrillators had to be replaced from 2005 through 2014, costing Medicare $1.5 billion.
By Fred Schulte and Christina Jewett -
As Care Shifts From Hospital To Home, Guarding Against Infection Falls To Families
Despite a lack of medical training, relatives increasingly are assigned complex, risky medical tasks at home, such as maintaining catheters. If done incorrectly, blood clots, infections, even death can result.
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St. Kitts Launches Probe Of Herpes Vaccine Tests On U.S. Patients
After a Kaiser Health News report on an offshore herpes vaccine trial that skirted FDA regulations, St. Kitts and Nevis officials claim they had no knowledge of the testing. An investigation is underway.
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Offshore Human Testing Of Herpes Vaccine Stokes Debate Over U.S. Safety Rules
Prominent businessmen and an American university supported offshore testing of an experimental vaccine.
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EMS Delays In Rural Areas Leave First-Aid Gap For Bystanders To Fill
Response times for emergency medical service units are about twice as long in rural areas as in urban areas, researchers say, underscoring the need for trained lay people to provide first aid until professional help arrives.
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Scope Maker Olympus Hit With $6.6 Million Verdict In Superbug Outbreak Case
In the first case of its kind in the U.S., the company was ordered to pay damages to the hospital where a patient died of an infection linked to a contaminated scope. But jurors also found the hospital negligent, and it was ordered to pay the patients' family $1 million.
By Chad Terhune and JoNel Aleccia -
Calif. Hits Nerve By Singling Out Cardiac Surgeons With Higher Patient Death Rates
The controversial practice 鈥 done by just a few other states 鈥 recently cast a spotlight on some prominent doctors. Supporters say it improves performance; detractors warn it discourages taking on complex cases.
By Anna Gorman