Medical Ethics Advisor – October 1, 2009
October 1, 2009
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Vision of health care gets lost in special interest debates
Rationing. Responsibility for immigrant health care. Socialism. Death panels. Individual responsibility. Single-payer option. Malpractice reform. -
Who should own electronic medical records?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), signed into law earlier this year by President Obama, contained within it about a $20 billion allocation to increase provider utilization and networking of electronic medical records (EMR). -
The evolving policy on physician-assisted suicide
Calling it "a significant turning point in American society's evolution to empower terminally ill patients with information and choices about how they will die," an article by the director of legal affairs for Compassion & Choices points to four medical professional and health policy organizations that have adopted policy to support physician-assisted suicide. -
For the best outcomes, consider patients' culture
In an increasingly diverse society, case managers must be aware of the cultural beliefs and practices of the people they serve in order to effectively coordinate their care and help patients or clients adhere to their treatment plan, says Catherine M. Mullahy, RN, BS, CRRN, CCM, president and founder of Mullahy & Associates, a case management training and consulting company. -
Diversity training helps CMs understand patients
Increasingly, health plans and provider organizations are taking steps to understand the beliefs and values in the populations they serve and help gear their treatment plan to accommodate them. -
Film educates Latinos on home health services
Eldery Mexican-Americans have higher rates of chronic illness than their non-Latino counterparts, but many don't receive the care they need because they and their caregivers resist home care services, says Janice Crist, RN, PhD, associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing.