Latest California Healthline Stories
‘Pre-Hospice’ Saves Money By Keeping People At Home Near End Of Life
A San Diego program helps chronically ill people avoid the hospital by teaching them how to better manage their diseases and telling them what to expect in their final years. Other health providers and insurers around the country are trying similar approaches.
Video Help Is On Way For Family Caregivers Who Must Draw Blood Or Give Injections
Medical experts around the country are rolling out instructional videos for family caregivers who need help with challenging medical tasks.
Cholesterol Drug Prevents Heart Attacks — But It Doesn’t Come Cheap
A cholesterol-lowering drug called Repatha cuts the risk of heart attacks, strokes and heart-related death by 20 percent, according to a new study.
Dentistry Advocates Aim To Fill Medicare Gaps
Brushing aside a political climate that favors federal cuts in health care spending, advocates for oral health are pushing to expand Medicare to provide America’s elderly with dental benefits.
Experimental Stem Cell Treatment Leaves Three Women Blind
Researchers, who detail the women’s experiences in the New England Journal of Medicine, say it exposes the need for better regulation of clinical trials.
Where You Live May Determine How You Die. Oregon Leads The Way.
A state with integrated systems for end-of-life care offers better treatment for the seriously ill, according to a new study.
Two Words Can Soothe Patients Who Have Been Harmed: We’re Sorry
For patients killed or maimed by medical errors, doctors and hospitals still often deny wrongdoing. But newer programs offering prompt disclosure of medical errors, an apology and compensation for them or their families are growing.
HMO Doctors Take Pains To Slash Opioid Prescriptions
A Kaiser Permanente pain management program in Southern California aims to help patients taper off addictive painkillers. Some doctors and patients see it as a godsend; others complain that patients have been cut off medications they need.
A Playbook For Managing Problems In The Last Chapter Of Your Life
Many people age 75 or older can take steps to avoid a crisis in the remaining years of their lives.
Los Angeles County Finds E-Success In Managing Specialist Care
An electronic consulting and referral system adopted by the county’s safety-net public health system in 2012 has reduced waiting times for appointments with specialists and eliminated the need for such appointments in a significant number of cases, according to a new study in the journal Health Affairs.