Patients can help too. We are all patients. Our health is at risk if good physicians are at risk. Peer review affects safety. By finding and keeping talented physicians, patients will receive the best care possible; but if physicians are distracted from their work in hospitals that engage in biased peer review, the quality of care will fall.
Would you like to be a patient at a hospital that uses profit and loss reports to gauge the level of care given? Rarely does biased peer review enhance the level of care. Write your legislator, talk to your doctor.
These articles show how DUE PROCESS and FAIR PEER REVIEW will raise the level of patient care.
ARTICLES
September 24, 2004
Quality care data designed to benefit hospitals full story...
Poor Medical Treatment Kills Thousands in U.S., Says New Report on Health Care Quality
full story...
Responses by other bloggers: Galen's Log
September 11 2004 Health Care Cost Increases Might Have Negative Effect on US Economy, Labor Department Says
full story...
Washington state gubernatorial candidates discuss how peer review can help to alleviate the conflicts in medical malpractice suits
full story...
Health Leaders Speak Out August 20, 2004
Robert Wachter: The Word on Medical Mistakes
Until hospitals commit to investing as heavily in providing quality care and making cultural changes as they do in other projects and endeavors, Wachter says, they are at risk of omitting critical pieces of the scaffolding on which the future of medicine will be built.
full story...
Does this peer-review driven system of catching errors, educating and disciplining doctors and throwing out the "bad apples" really work as promised by the establishment?
full story...
Communication problems often initiate "cascades" of errors: A report shows that miscommunication, rather than incompetence, usually figures into errors at the primary care level.
full story...
Health Leaders Speak Out , Robert Wachter: The Word on Medical Mistakes Until hospitals commit to investing as heavily in providing quality care and making cultural changes as they do in other projects and endeavors, Wachter says, they are at risk of omitting critical pieces of the scaffolding on which the future of medicine will be built.
full story...
Medical errors, PEER-REVIEW & the NPDB, By Dr. Ron A. Virmani
Does this peer-review driven system of catching errors, educating and disciplining doctors and throwing out the "bad apples" really work as promised by the establishment?
full story...
Are patients safe now? Reviews mixed on progress. There's been a lot of talk and even some action. But safety advocates say people are still dying and much more remains to be done.
full story...
Insurers, not just lawyers, inflict real pain on doctors: By Marc Siegel
When you go to a doctor's office, you expect to be seen in a timely manner by a qualified professional. Your concern is your health, certainly not a distant issue such as the malpractice-insurance debate. It's an industry issue that doesn't affect you. Right?
full story...
Peer review: The case for absolute immunity . This is an
editorial opinion by AMEDNews that stresses the importance of absolute immunity for peer reviewers. But if there is to be absolute immunity for peer reviewers who may be issuing lies, there must be due process for physicians to protect themselves. full story...
Conflicts of interest for physicians. How Tightly Do Ties Between Doctor and Drug Company Bind?
full story...
Public Citizen takes US Dept. of Health to court. Of course the AMA is not behind the suit
full story...
