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Results for search "Hospitals".

21 Sep

ChatGPT Diagnoses Patients ‘Like a Human Doctor,’ Study Finds

A new study suggests ChatGPT performs as well as doctors in diagnosing emergency department patients and may shorten hospital wait times.

Health News Results - 474

Shortage of Primary Care Doctors Could Bring Crowded ERs: Study

TUESDAY, March 12, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Americans living in areas where primary care doctors and nurse practitioners are in short supply face a greater risk for emergency surgeries and complications, new research shows.

They're also more likely to wind up back in the hospital after they've left it.

That's because serious health issues don't get addressed until they become emerg...

Heavy Sedation Could Drive Hispanic Patients' Higher Death Rate While on Ventilators

Hispanic Americans who are hospitalized and placed on ventilators have a higher risk of death than their white peers, and new research may reveal a reason why.

The study found that Hispanic patients in respiratory failure receive heavy sedation at a rate that is five times that of white patients, according to researchers at New York University (NYU).

That could lower their odds for...

Half of U.S. Health Care Workers Say They've Witnessed Racism Against Patients

Nearly half of health care workers nationwide say they've seen discrimination against patients while on the job, a new report reveals.

While 47% of health workers said they've witnessed discrimination against patients in their facilities, 52% said racism against patients is a major problem, according to the

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 15, 2024
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  • Doctor 'Alert' Warnings Helped One Health System Reduce Unnecessary Tests

    The doctor tapped at his computer, ordering a routine prostate exam for an 80-year-old man, when a dramatic yellow alert popped up on the patient's electronic health record.

    “You are ordering a test that no guideline recommends," it warned. "Screening with PSA can lead to harms from diagnostic and treatment procedures. If you proceed without a justification, the unnecessary test will be...

    Non-White U.S. Kids Get Worse Pediatric Care

    Pediatric care for kids who aren't white is worse across the United States, a new study finds.

    Racial inequities for children of color are pervasive, extending from neonatal care, emergency medicine and surgery to treatment of developmental disabilities, mental health issues and pain, researchers say.

    “We now have more evidence than ever that pediatric care in the U.S. is not only...

    'Default' Orders for Palliative Care Speed Relief for Hospital Patients in Pain

    Palliative care is meant to ease suffering at any stage of disease, but too often many patients wait too long for this type of care to be ordered.

    Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania may have come up with a solution: Make consultations regarding the need for palliative care a "default" part of hospital care, giving more patients quick access if it's needed.

    As explain...

    Hospital Costs Soared for COVID Patients During Pandemic

    The average cost of hospital care for COVID-19 patients skyrocketed during the pandemic, outstripping what might be expected under inflation, a new study shows.

    Average hospital costs for COVID patients increased five times faster than the rate of medical inflation through the first two years of the pandemic, researchers have found.

    This is at least partly due to the pricey medical ...

    Post-Trauma Support Can Prevent Repeat Hospitalizations

    When hospitals support trauma survivors' mental health during and after treatment, patients are less likely to return in crisis, researchers report.

    There's no uniform guidance on how to offer mental health services to these patients, noted lead study author Laura Prater.

    Fewer hospital readmissions are a good sign that people's menta...

    Your Toothbrush Could Be a Life Saver in the Hospital

    A person's toothbrush could be a true lifesaver if they land in a hospital ICU, according to new evidence review.

    Regular toothbrushing is associated with lower rates of death in the intensive care unit (ICU), shorter lengths of stay, and shorter times spent on a mechanical ventilator, researchers report in the Dec. 18 issue of the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

    That's bec...

    Black Patients Less Likely to Get Home Health Care After Hospital Discharge

    Nurses are less likely to discharge still-recovering Black patients to home health care than white patients, a new study has found.

    About 22% of Black patients are referred to home health care by discharge nurses, compared with 27% of white patients, according to a report published in the January issue of the journal

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 11, 2023
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  • Majority of Workers at America's Nursing Homes Unvaccinated Against Flu, COVID

    Health care workers at America's nursing homes are woefully under-vaccinated for both flu and COVID-19, threatening their own health and that of the frail elderly patients under their care, a new report finds.

    Looking at 2023 data collected at nearly 14,000 nursing homes nationwide, researchers found that that fewer than one in every four (22.9%) health care workers had received up-to-dat...

    Black, Hispanic Patients Often Get Worse Hospital Care After Cardiac Arrest

    Black and Hispanic Americans might be receiving worse hospital care following cardiac arrest than Whites do, a new study reports.

    Only about 20% of Blacks and 22% of Hispanics admitted to a hospital after initially surviving cardiac arrest had a positive outcome, researchers found. The rest either died or suffered brain damage.

    By comparison, nearly 34% of Whites had a positive outc...

    CDC Advisors Recommend Masks in Hospitals Without Naming Type

    Advisors to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have voted to recommend that health providers wear masks during routine care for patients who are thought to be contagious.

    Still, health care workers were frustrated that the draft recommendation does not specify what kind of mask should be worn -- loose-fitting surgical masks or fitted, tightly woven N95 masks.

    The CD...

    Critics Slam Updated Infection Control Recommendations for Hospitals

    Advisors to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to approve new draft guidelines for hospital infection control this week, the first update since 2007.

    But healthcare workers worry whether the guidelines, which suggest that surgical masks are as good as N-95 masks at preventing the spread of respiratory infections during routine care, are protecting a hospital'...

    • Robin Foster and Cara Murez and Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporters
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    • November 3, 2023
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    Simple Antibiotic Switch for Pneumonia Patients Could Prevent Hospital Infection

    A new study on Clostridioides difficile infections finds that choosing an alternative antibiotic for high-risk patients with pneumonia can reduce infection risk.

    C. diff infections can be deadly, and they are often acquired by hospitalized patients taking broad-spectrum antibiotics.

    More than 450,000 C. diff infections are reported in the United States eac...

    Many U.S. Health Care Workers Face Harassment, Burnout

    Health workers are experiencing ever-increasing levels of harassment and burnout in the wake of the pandemic, a new federal survey has found.

    Reports of harassment on the job more than doubled during the pandemic years, and nearly half of health care workers often experience feelings of burnout, according to survey results published Oct. 24 in a new

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 25, 2023
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  • Smaller Blood Draws for Lab Tests Reduce Need for Transfusions

    Drawing smaller amounts of blood from patients in the intensive care unit could lead to fewer blood transfusions, according to new research.

    The large clinical trial in Canada found that making this small change could save tens of thousands of units of blood each year in that country.

    “While the amount of blood drawn per tube is relatively small, ICU patients typically require mu...

    'Boarding' Patients for Days, Weeks in Crowded ERs Is Common Now

    When Hannah, a California marketing professional, showed up at her local emergency room in March 2023 for a pregnancy-related complication, she wasn't prepared for what happened next.

    “I arrived at 2 p.m. and finally saw the obstetrics team at midnight,” she recalled.

    After an exam, doctors scheduled her for a procedure on the following day, but there wasn't a room available. �...

    COVID Triggered More Cases of Deadly Sepsis During Pandemic Than Thought

    The life-threatening infection sepsis was more common than once thought among COVID-19 patients early in the pandemic.

    Massachusetts researchers linked SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, to about 1 in 6 sepsis cases at five Boston hospitals during the pandemic's first 2-1/2 years.

    Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital said their findings suggest health care workers sho...

    Black Patients More Likely to Be Physically Restrained During ER Visits

    It seemed to some that patients of color were being restrained in the emergency room more often than others, so researchers decided to investigate.

    While physical restraints can be used to keep staff and patients safe, they may also cause injury to the patient, including aspiration, physical trauma and psychological harm.

    A new study bears out what the team from Baylor College of Me...

    Patient-to-Patient Transmission Not to Blame for Most C. Difficile Infections in Hospitals

    A deadly infection associated with hospitalization may not be the fault of the hospital, but may instead stem from the patients themselves, a new study suggests.

    Infection caused by the bacterium Clostridioides difficile, or C. diff, is still common in hospitals, despite extensive infection control procedures. The new research may help explain why that's so.

    Among mor...

    Average Hospital Bed Has a Big Carbon Footprint

    How big is a hospital bed's carbon footprint?

    Pretty big, new research shows.

    One hospital bed alone was roughly equivalent to the carbon footprint of five Canadian households, according to researchers studying a British Columbia hospital during 2019. They identified energy and water use and the purchasing of medical products as the hospital's primary energy hotspots, accounting fo...

    Cancer Care Tougher to Access in U.S. If English Second Language

    Much has been made of how a lack of English proficiency can interfere with a patient's ability to interact with their doctor and get the best health care possible.

    But language barriers can prevent cancer patients from even getting in the door for a first visit with a specialist, a new study reports.

    English speakers calling a general information line at U.S. hospitals succeeded nea...

    'Time Is Brain': More Americans Waiting Longer for Best Care After Stroke

    When people suffering a stroke need a transfer to another hospital, time is of the essence. But a new study finds that most Americans in that situation face delays.

    The study, published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at the issue of "door-in, door-out"...

    1 in 10 ICU Patients With Heart Issues Has Illicit Drugs in Their System

    More than 1 out of every 10 patients who land in an ICU with a potentially deadly heart emergency test positive for recreational drug use, a new French study reports.

    About 11% of nearly 1,500 patients admitted to a French intensive cardiac care unit for a heart crisis tested positive for cannabis, opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine or other illicit drugs, researchers said in the journal <...

    ERs Are Flooded With Kids in Mental Health Crisis, U.S. Doctors' Groups Warn

    America's emergency rooms are being flooded by children suffering from psychiatric emergencies like anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts or attempts, a new joint report from three leading medical associations warns.

    This surge in pediatric mental health emergencies has overwhelmed ERs in the United States, says the joint paper from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American ...

    U.S. COVID Hospitalizations Rise for Fourth Straight Week

    New hospitalizations for Americans with severe COVID are climbing once again.

    The number of patients being admitted to hospitals has grown for each of the past four weeks, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. Southeastern states have been hit the hardest.

    In...

    Dementia Patients Wind up in the ER 1.4 Million Times a Year, Study Shows

    Emergency rooms can be a frightening place for people suffering from dementia, yet each year 1.4 million Americans with Alzheimer's or other dementias wind up in crowded, noisy ERs, a new study finds.

    Dementia is responsible for nearly 7% of all ER visits for those older than 65, often because of accidents or mental health crises, researchers determined.

    "While dementia is thought o...

    Major Drug Shortages Not Likely After Tornado Damages Pfizer Plant, FDA says

    Tornado damage to a Pfizer drug-making plant in North Carolina is unlikely to trigger drug shortages across the country, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

    "We do not expect there to be any immediate significant impacts on supply, given the products are currently at hospitals and in the distribution system," FDA Commissioner

  • Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 24, 2023
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  • Study Delivers More Evidence of a Mental Health Crisis Among Teens, Particularly Girls

    Depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health problems sent record numbers of American kids, especially girls, to emergency rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Once there, many waited days or even weeks to be admitted to the hospital, a new study reports.

    "The system was already stretched to begin with and then the pandemic hit and more people were seeking care," said senior...

    Infectious Disease Experts Update Rules on 'Superbug' Spread in Hospitals

    “Superbug” infections are increasing in U.S. hospitals, and a coalition of medical groups has now issued a set of updated recommendations to protect patients.

    These guidelines are meant to prevent the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA, the authors of the recommendations argue.

    MRSA causes about 10% of hospital-associated infection...

    Many Hospitals Ignore Directives of Organ Transplant Waiting Lists: Study

    Many transplant centers routinely practice “list-diving,” when the top candidate among potential organ recipients is skipped in favor of someone further down the list, new research shows.

    The top candidate is ranked that way based on an objective algorithm using age, waiting time and other factors, while choosing someone else happens with little oversight or transparency. And that may...

    An 'AI' Doctor Is Helping Hospitals Predict Readmissions

    New York University doctors and hospital executives are using an artificial intelligence (AI) computer program to predict whether a newly discharged patient will soon fall sick enough to be readmitted.

    The AI program “NYUTron” reads physicians' notes to estimate a patient's risk of dying, the potential length of their hospital stay, and other factors important to their care.

    Tes...

    Are ERs Safe? Patients, Nurses and Doctors Say No in New Survey

    Emergency departments aren't perceived as safe for professionals or their patients, according to an international survey from the European Society of Emergency Medicine (EUSEM).

    More than 90% of emergency professionals surveyed said they felt at times the number of patients exceeded the capacity the emergency department (ED) had to provide safe care. Overcrowding was a problem, they said...

    VA Hospitals Offer Quality Surgical Care: Review

    While the U.S. Veterans Affairs health system has been criticized for long appointment wait times and limited access to specialists, the quality of care and access to a range of surgical services is as good as or better than at non-VA health centers on several measures, new research reveals.

    “Surgery involves many steps of care,” said lead study author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • May 11, 2023
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  • Feds Say Two U.S. Hospitals That Denied Emergency Abortion Broke the Law

    Denying a woman an emergency abortion and risking her life broke U.S. federal law, a federal government investigation contends.

    The woman, who went into premature labor after her water broke at 17 weeks was denied the lifesaving procedure last August at two hospitals that are now the center of an investigation: Freeman Health System in Joplin, Mo., and University of Kansas Hospital in Kan...

    Can Patients With Pneumonia Be Weaned Off IV Antibiotics Earlier?

    Patients hospitalized with pneumonia typically stay on IV antibiotics until they're stable, after about three days, but a new study suggests a different option.

    Researchers report that more patients who have community-acquired pneumonia could switch sooner to oral antibiotics. Antibiotics given as pills were also linked with earlier release from the hospital. They were not associated with...

    Many At-Risk Kids With COVID Can Be Cared for at Home

    A new Australian study found that children who had COVID-19 during the first couple of years of the pandemic could be safely treated at home, taking the burden off hospitals.

    Children who had COVID-19 with moderate symptoms or preexisting high-risk conditions could be treated effectively via a Hospital-in-the-Home (HITH) program, according to the study.

    The program took pressure of...

    Is It Time to End Universal Masking in Hospitals, Clinics?  Many Experts Think So

    Health care facilities remain one of the last places left in the United States with COVID-era mask requirements still in effect.

    It's time for that to end, experts say.

    A prestigious collection of infection disease experts and epidemiologists say universal masking requirements in health care settings should be lifted, according to a commentary they published April 18 in the

    About 100,000 U.S. Nurses Left Workforce During Pandemic

    During the pandemic, nearly 100,000 U.S. registered nurses called it quits, a new survey shows.

    Why? A combination of stress, burnout and retirements created a perfect storm for the exodus.

    Even worse, another 610,000 registered nurses (RNs) said they had an “intent to leave” the workforce by 2027, citing those same reasons. And an additional 189,000 RNs younger than 40 reported...

    Pope Francis Discharged From Hospital, Leads Palm Sunday Service

    Pope Francis was back delivering Mass on Palm Sunday, just one day after he was released from the hospital following a three-day stay for bronchitis.

    Francis, 86, celebrated in St. Peter's Square in Rome as about 60,000 people looked on, carrying palm fronds or olive tree branches, CBS News reported.

    Combo Steroid Treatment May Work Best When Sepsis Strikes

    Giving patients who have septic shock a combo of two steroids could potentially be a lifesaver, according to a new study.

    Researchers found that patients receiving a combination of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone had lower death rates and discharge to hospice compared to those who received hydrocortisone alone.

    “Our results provide robust evidence that one steroid regimen is su...

    Child's Hospital Stay Can Cost Plenty, Even With Insurance

    When a child is hospitalized, cost may not be the greatest worry but the out-of-pocket expense can be substantial in the United States, even for those with insurance.

    A Michigan Medicine study found that U.S. families covered by private insurance s...

    Fewer Surprise Bills: Most U.S. Hospitals Now Transparent on Prices

    Shopping for cataract surgery, a heart valve replacement or a colonoscopy?

    You're better able these days to compare what one hospital charges against the prices at another, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

    A majority of hospitals are now complying with U.S. federal rules that require them to post the prices of their procedures, Medi...

    Many Face Months of Lingering Symptoms After COVID Hospital Discharge

    Most people hospitalized for COVID-19 are taking months to bounce back, a new study confirms.

    More than 70% of patients reported experiencing lingering symptoms, including coughing, rapid or irregular heartbeat and breathlessness. About half had fatigue or physical limitations. All of these symptoms are associated with long COVID-19.

    “My clinic patients often want to know how soo...

    Kids Visiting ER in Mental Crisis Often Get No Follow-Up

    A growing number of U.S. kids are landing in hospital emergency rooms for a mental health crisis. Now a new study finds that many do not get follow-up care after they're discharged.

    Experts said the findings, published Feb. 13 in the journal

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 13, 2023
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  • How Phone Calls Could Boost Survival for Heart Failure Patients

    A phone call from a nurse may be the lifeline needed to help improve survival for heart failure patients.

    New research from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles finds that check-in calls may help save lives.

    “There's a lot of new technology and new ideas about how to manage people who have heart failure remotely, but we demonstrated that low-tech and old-fash...

    Sepsis Raises Odds for Heart Failure After Hospital Discharge

    Having sepsis -- a life-threatening response to infection -- may put patients at risk for future heart failure and rehospitalization, according to a new study.

    Sepsis is an extreme immune response to an infection in the body. It can cause that infection to spread throughout the body and lead to organ failure and possibly death.

    “We know that infection may be a potential tr...

    1 in 3 U.S. Public Health Workers Feels Threatened During Pandemic

    One-third of public health workers have endured threats, anger and aggression from the public during the pandemic, and that has come at a steep cost to their mental health, a new study finds.

    “The negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers have been documented and the research on psychological impacts is building,” said lead study author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 25, 2023
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  • What's 'Code Blue'? New Study Finds Some Hospital Staff Mistake Emergency Codes

    Hospital emergency codes are used to swiftly alert staff to something requiring a quick response, but a recent study suggests many health care workers can't accurately identify them.

    To learn more, researchers focused on five Georgia health care facilities. The study included 304 ...

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