How To Survive Your Local ER

Parade Magazine - October 29, 2006
When Taylor McCormack was 13 months old, the shunt that drained excess fluid from her skull stopped working. She needed a new shunt-a simple procedure that involved less than an hour of surgery. Read more...

Rating Hospital Heart Care (Gannett special report)

Hospitals vary in how well they treat heart attacks and heart failure. With this report, you can find your best local care providers before heart problems strike. Read more...

'Is This An Emergency?' Screening After-Hrs Calls Is Source Of Medical Errors

By Sandra G. Boodman- Washington Post Staff Writer - Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The question is often asked by the answering service when a patient calls adoctor in the middle of the night: Is this an emergency? Now a new study casts doubt on the wides pread practice of screening after-hours calls to physicians. Read more...

Dialysis clinics: Milking the system

Boston Globe - October 24, 2006
The method most dialysis clinics use to give patients a critical anti-anemia drug may needlessly cost the federal government as much as $537 million annually while generating additional profits for its manufacturer and clinics. Read more...

Squash the Bug: Why isn't the US killing off hospital infections?

Slate.com - Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006
If you are an American admitted to a hospital in Amsterdam, Toronto, orCopenhagen these days, you'll be considered a biohazard.

Is It Disease or Delusion? U.S. Takes on a Dilemma

After an avalanche of panicked inquiries from patients across the countrywho claim to have been stricken with a mysterious skin disease, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing to begin a full investigation. Read more...

Medicine In Conflict: Blurring the line between science and gain

BUSINESS WEEK - OCTOBER 23, 2006
On Oct. 22, some 5,000 physicians will convene in Washington for five daysof discussions about high-tech heart treatments. Representatives of morethan 160 medical- device companies also will be there to promote theirvalves, catheters, and stents. Read more...

Hospitals Docs Who Perform Plastic Surgery Usually Not Req'd To Be Board Certified

Kerri O'Reilly remembers waking up in the operating room last winter. The problem was that it was during her breast-reduction surgery, not after. Read more...

Survey: Not all surgeons, doctors willing to fess up to errors

Naples Daily News - Saturday, August 19, 2006
Most would admit mistake, but only 39 percent of surgeons and 57 percent ofphysicians say they'd tell whole story. Read more...

Fixing America's Hospitals

Newsweek - Oct. 16, 2006
No institution is doing everything right. But we found 10 that are using innovation, hard work and imagination to improve care, reduce errors and save money. Fresh fruit and digital record-keeping, anyone? Read more...

Under The Influence; Special Interest $$$ & Your Members Of Congress

This site ranks members of Congress according to their acceptance of several categories of campaign contributions since the 2000 election cycle: Read more...

HealthGrades Hospital Quality Study Results

Forbes.com - Before you check into a hospital, it maybe wise to check out the hospital's quality. That's because treatment outcomes at U.S. hospitals vary widely, depending on which state, city or individual hospital provides the care, a new report finds. Read more...

Website seeks doctors' take on drugs, and firms are crying foul

Boston Globe - October 14, 2006
A Cambridge company that pays doctors to post medical observations on its website, including reports of drug side effects, has quickly incurred the wrath of pharmaceutical makers. Read more...