Latest California Healthline Stories
Report Finds Drop in Doctor Discipline in California, U.S.
The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen found that physician discipline cases nationwide have dropped by more than 20% since 2004. California fell nine places in the group’s latest rankings of physician discipline cases, but a spokesperson for the California Medical Board and other states’ physician regulators challenged the value of the rankings. Los Angeles Times et al.
New Drew Nursing School Aims To Help Underserved
Officials at the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science say the school’s new nursing and research facility will renew its mission to train medical professionals to practice in South Los Angeles’ underserved communities. KPCC’s “KPCC News,” KQED’s “The California Report.”
Bay Area Hospital Quality Initiative Saves Money, Cuts Mortality Rates
Over a 21-month period, 34 of the 39 Bay Area hospitals participating in the effort prevented about 60% of the cases of expected ventilator-associated pneumonia infections and an estimated 66% of central line-associated bloodstream infections. San Francisco Business Times.
Life Expectancy Declines in Some Geographic Areas, Study Finds
Researchers at Harvard and the University of Washington found that chronic diseases contributed to a decline in life expectancy for residents of counties concentrated in parts of the South and Appalachia. Most California counties showed an increase in life expectancy. New York Times et al.
U.S. Supreme Court Seeks Advice on State Rights in Patent Suits
A biomedical company maintains that California agencies should not have immunity from patent cases in federal court because state agencies are permitted to bring such cases against the private sector. The court can either reject the case or hear it. San Francisco Chronicle.
California Health Agency Contracts for Electronic Benefit Transfer System
With input from the state and counties, Affiliated Computer Services will design, develop and test an electronic benefit transfer system that is scheduled to be rolled out next year. The company will provide other support services to the agency. Dallas Business Journal.
Suit Over Veterans’ Benefits Begins in San Francisco Court
A federal judge in San Francisco began hearing arguments in a civil suit that seeks to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to expedite mental health services for veterans and establish new rights for veterans to appeal rejected claims. Attorneys for the federal government maintain that the court lacks jurisdiction in the case. New York Times et al.
U.S. Facing ‘Severe Shortage’ of General Surgeons
A new study published in the Archives of Surgery found that the ratio of general surgeons to patients had dropped nearly 26% since 1981. The looming shortage of general surgeons is related to a shift from general medical fields to narrow fields. Orlando Sentinel.
New Program Offers Help to Seniors With Mental Illnesses
A new Ventura County program funded with a tax on California millionaires sends specialists and other help directly to seniors with serious mental illnesses. The program, which is expected to reduce the number of seniors admitted to inpatient care, replaces a similar program that was suspended five years ago during budget cutbacks in the county Behavioral Health Department. Ventura County Star.
CHCF Chief Calls for Changes to Health Care Business Model
Mark Smith, CEO and president of the California HealthCare Foundation, recently called for changes in the way health care is organized and delivered. Possible modifications to the health care system could include expanding retail clinics staffed largely by non-physicians, increasing telephone and e-mail consultations and boosting chronic disease care. San Francisco Business Times.