Hospital Germs Spike Health Care Costs

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council is releasing a report that looks at the rate of healthcare-associated infections and their great influence on healthcare costs and hospital readmission.

The study found that 29.8 percent of patients who acquired an HAI were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days while non-infected patients were only readmitted 6.2 percent of the time.

Stephanie Suran, spokesperson for PHC4, says this data shows their can be an improvement in Pennsylvania’s hospitals.

“These differences suggest that reducing these infections may present opportunities for improved patient care and restraining costs,” Suran says.

Another area the study focused on was Medicare costs to those patients 65 years or older who contracted an infection during their stay. For a Medicare patient with an HAI, healthcare costs skyrocketed from an average of $6,600 to $20,000. Also, 29.5 percent of those infected were readmitted while only 8.7 percent without an HAI were readmitted.

The data found that only 1.2 percent of patients hospitalized in 2009 contracted an HAI but Suran says the profound healthcare costs mean that quality care can still be improved.

“It’s important to point out from our data that we cannot tell with certainty how much of the initial infection contributes to their readmission,” Suran says. “But it does seem to present opportunities for quality improvement and it’s an area for hospitals to take a second look at.”

This was the first year the PHC4 studied HAI’s but Suran says the council will continue to look at this data and continuing trends in the future.

Arlen Specter Talks About Health Care

Senator Arlen Specter addressed health care reform issues today and spoke about his recent series of public meetings. Specter hosted town hall forums in Lebanon County, State College and Kittanning this week. Specter said that even though the hearings have been very emotional he feels there are more opinions he is not hearing. Specter said he understands peoples concerns regarding the cost of the proposed health care plan and said that is why Congress has decided to take its time in enacting any legislation regarding health care reform. Specter said he will not vote for any reform of health care that increases the deficit and added that he thinks it is a valid point to allow people to have the choice to keep their current health care coverage and have the ability to opt in to a public plan.

Mayview Land Use

Although Mayview State Hospital closed last year, it was unsure what would happen to the 240 acres of land that the former mental institution once sat on. Last month, a task force came up with some recommendations, including putting the proceeds of the sale of the land towards services for members of the mental health community. We speak with the task force members.


Listen to the story here.

Clinton Speaks at Blogger Convention

Former United States President Bill Clinton delivered the keynote at a national liberal bloggers' convention tonight. President Clinton voiced his support for a health care overhaul and new initiatives for clean energy, while encouraging Netroots Nation members to continue being politically active. He says liberals, with the help of blogging, have become more powerful than they have in a long time, and could continue that trend for decades.

Clinton voiced his support for various congressional movements, including the "Cash for Clunkers" car program and the progressive health care initiatives. "Better than all the mechanisms of reorganizing the auto industry, Cash for Clunkers has worked great. We ought to put that on steroids when we can sell electric cars, and buy them," says Clinton.

Preceding the president were Netroots Nation contributors and a number of elected officials, including Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.

Specter Talks Health Care at Kittanning Town Hall

Pennsylvania U.S.Senator Arlen Specter holds another in a series of town hall forums on health care today. After a forum Monday in Lebanon and yesterday in State College, this afternoon's meeting will be in Kittanning in Armstrong County. Specter says the angry crowds he’s seeing at town hall meetings aren’t “representative of all America”—though he adds he’s listening to their concerns.
Specter says in the decades he’s been holding town hall meetings, he’s never seen crowds this angry. The Democrat chalks the frustration up to the bad economy, though questioners at his meetings have been more focused on the Obama Administration’s agenda, voicing distrust and concern over the president’s policies.

"And while I think we have to consider what they have to say, they’re significant, I don’t think they’re necessarily representative. But I think President Obama has the trust of the American people, although some people may not agree with that."

Specter says he’s worried about the disinformation that’s spreading about President Obama’s health care initiatives, and clarified no, there will be no “death panels” deciding who gets health care, as former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and others have contended. Specter says he’s confident the legislation will pass Congress this fall.

Boisterous Crowd at Specter Town Hall

Pennsylvania's senior U.S.Senator Arlen Specter faced a hostile crowd during a town hall meeting on health care reform in Lebanon County yesterday.
There were some supporters of health care reform peppered throughout the audience, but for the most part, attendees stated their opposition to President Obama’s initiatives loudly and bluntly.

"I don’t believe this is just about health care. It’s not about TARP, it’s not about left and right. This is about the systematic dismantling of this country.
Leave us alone. That’s all we would ask. Would you leave us alone.
I want to know why the government feels they have to buy a car company that makes cars that nobody wants."

A recurring concern was whether public health care programs would fund abortions.
Specter, who switched from Republican to Democrat earlier this year, told the crowd that the legislation would make that option available.

You have the choice of being in one plan or the other. So nobody has to be in a plan to pay for somebody else’s abortion."

Many questioners voiced their concern that the federal government is growing too powerful, and said they don’t want bureaucrats overseeing health care programs.

Cardiac Surgery Death, Infection Rates Drop

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) released a report today that says the state’s rates of death and hospital-acquired infection resulting from cardiac surgery have fallen from 2006 to 2007. The study says a patient’s chance of death has fallen from 5.15% to 3.92% when receiving cardiac valve surgery; the likelihood of infection dropped slightly, from 6.30% to 5.96%.

The information fits with a continuing state trend of decreased death rates. PHC4 spokeswoman Stephanie Suran says death rates for all cardiac surgery have almost halved over the last fifteen years. They’re at their lowest since her organization began this type of public reporting; Suran says having their success and failure rates published helps with doctors’ accountability.

In addition to decreased mortality rates, the PHC4 reports the average number of open heart procedures per hospital has decreased steadily, from 499 cases in 2000 to 315 cases in 2007. That’s a 37.8% decrease.

Study Says Blood Sugar Control Key to Type 1 Diabetes

A joint University of Pittsburgh/Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) study indicates that early control of blood sugar levels dramatically reduces a Type 1 diabetes patient’s chances of heart, kidney, or nervous system complications. Co-author and Pitt professor of epidemiology Dr. Trevor Orchard says cases treated within six years of diagnosis were the healthiest, but patients at all stages responded to blood sugar regulation. He says the study reveals that fewer than one percent of those getting glucose control had vision or kidney problems.

Orchard says one of the main reasons they published the 30-year study results was to hopefully lower insurance premiums for Type 1 diabetes patients. “Patients with Type 1 diabetes are being penalized because of the poor experience that would have existed in previous studies,” says Orchard.

AdultBasic Bill Held

A final vote on House Democrats’ top priority was put on hold yesterday. The vote on House Bill 1 had been set for Monday afternoon. The bill would expand Pennsylvania’s adultBasic health insurance program by 85,000 people. However, several Democratic lawmakers weren’t at the Capitol, so party leaders pulled the bill from the agenda at the last minute. Democrats hold a slim majority in the chamber, and the vote is expected to fall along party lines. Republican whip Mike Turzai, of Bradford Woods, says he’s concerned about relying on federal funds when Congress is debating major overhauls to the national health care system. “I think the key really is that we need to make sure that adultBasic as it presently exists is healthy, that it’s helping people as best it can. And we shouldn’t be really putting people in jeopardy by trying to federalize this program” says Turzai. Matching federal funds would pay for a portion of the expansion authorized by the bill. Additional revenue would come from Pennsylvania’s medical malpractice fund, and an increased tax on health insurance companies.

PHC4 Extended Through 2014

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council got a five-year extension through 2014 last week. In signing the legislation, Governor Ed Rendell credited the council's reports with lowering the state's mortality rate, thereby saving 49,000 lives and $1.7 billion over the last twelve years.

A PHC4 report on hospital-acquired infections led to an infection prevention law that has lowered the infection rate in Pennsylvania by 8%, and Pennsylvania is the first of only four states issuing report cards on physicians performing cardiac surgery.

Communications Director Joe Martin says PHC4 will continue the groundbreaking reporting that's made it the national standard and look for new ways to help consumers and providers achieve the best quality at the best possible cost.

Vote Today on AdultBasic

The state Pennsylvania House is set to vote today on a measure that would add 86,000 people to Pennsylvania's adultBasic health insurance program. The measure is a top priority for House Democratic leaders, and would expand the amount of people receiving state-funded health insurance from 46-thousand to 131,000. House Bill would pay for the expansion by tapping into Pennsylvania's medical malpractice fund, raising a tax on health insurance companies and pulling down funds from a federal matching grant program. It would also add prescription drug coverage to adultBasic. The bill troubles Republicans like Berks County Representative Doug Reichley, who argues a private sector approach is a better way to expand health care access. He says, “[W]e think that's an unreliable funding source, as opposed to providing tax credits to employers. If they get a certain kind of health care policy that tries to emphasize wellness initiatives, they would get anywhere from a 500 to 1,000 dollar tax credit per employee, rather than creating this whole new government program. We think the private sector is a better way to offer more affordable health insurance.” Majority Leader Todd Eachus, a Luzerne County Democrat, says the bill wouldn't go into effect until the federal funding is secured. Senate Republicans are cool to the measure, but Eachus says if it passes the House he'll try to make it part of budget negotiations.

New Study Looks at Treatments for People with Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease

A new study looks at treatments for people with Type 2 Diabetes and Hear Disease. Nearly 2,400 patients took part in the study, published Monday in The New England Journal of Medicine. The findings were presented at The American Diabetes Association Conference in New Orleans.

Sheryl Kelsey, a professor at The University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health was the principal investigator.

Researchers also looked at which of two diabetes drug treatment strategies resulted in better outcomes - insulin providing or insulin sensitizing which lower the body's resistance to its own insulin. Insulin sensitizing had favorable results.

Researchers found no difference in the patients in mortality among the patients who had immediate bypass surgery or angioplasty than therapy. Prompt bypass in patients with severe heart disease held other benefits.

More than 20 million Americans have Type 2 Diabetes and many of those people also have heart disease.

Memorial Medical Center Cuts 47 Employees

Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown laid off 47 employees yesterday, blaming the weak economy for the job cuts. The 47 employees make up about 1 percent of the hospital’s 3,700 person staff. The layoffs consist primarily of support positions and do not include hospital nursing staff.
The affected employees have been offered generous severance packages and will be provided with career counseling and job placement assistance with some of the employees being offered internal job opportunities.
Memorial Medical President Steve Tucker says through a press release, “Careful planning went into this process and our goal was to maintain as many jobs as possible while meeting our fiscal responsibilities in this unprecedented economic environment.”
On a statewide scale, many hospitals are feeling similar effects from the economic downturn. 50 percent of Pennsylvania hospitals have reported a moderate to significant decrease in admissions, particularly elective procedures.
Similarly, hospitals across the state have also reported a moderate to significant increase in patients without insurance. Conemaugh Health System provides over $34 million in uncompensated care each year, in addition to over $2 million in charity care.
This could lead to other cost-cutting measures for Memorial Medical Center including adjustments to employee benefit packages and a possible salary-based tiered health care program sources say.
“These are really challenging times,” adds Tucker, “and this current national economic challenge does not change our commitment to continue to grow and excel!”
Historically, hospitals have depended on profit from investments to offset a decline in income. However, 83 percent of PA hospitals have seen an investment decline.

Herpes Research May Lead to Vaccine

University of Pittsburgh researchers say their recent findings about herpes may lead them closer to a vaccine. Their new study in the journal Science finds that the immune system plays an important role in keeping the virus "asleep" in the body. By identifying the specific types of cells responsible for controlling the virus, researchers say they can now work on boosting those cells to help prevent outbreaks.

Study co-author Kip Kinchington says this is a different approach than in past research, which focused on antibodies or on ways to prevent people from becoming infected.

Nine out of 10 people carry herpes simplex virus type one. Symptoms in most cases are minor, but about 250,000 people in the United States annually experience eye problems that can lead to blindness. The Pitt study was funded partly by the Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh.

Wagner Calls for Contraceptives to be Covered

State Representatives Lisa Bennington and Chelsa Wagner, both Democrats from Allegheny County, haves introduced legislation that would force all health plans in the state that include prescription drug benefits to cover contraceptives. She says it is a matter of empowering women and it should be seen as a public health issue. She says people also need to realize that contraceptives have uses beyond preventing pregnancy including treatment for acne and sever bleeding and cramping. Wagner admits that the measure was introduced late in the session and has little chance of passing but she says it will serve as an introduction to some members of the house and she plans to reintroduce it in January. Several other states have similar legislation.

Family House Grows

Family House has inked a long-term deal with the University of Pittsburgh to rent out the top 4 floors of the old University Club to use as a new “house.” The charity hopes to have the 45-bed facility open by the spring of 2009. Currently Family House has 115 beds in three facilities in Pittsburgh and its executive director Christie Knott says they have to turn away 30 families every night. Any patient and their family traveling more than 60 miles to Pittsburgh to get treatment for a life threatening illness can rent a room. The rooms range from $40-$60 compared to a $120 hotel room. Knott says she knows many families wind up sleeping in hospital waiting rooms or their cars because they cannot afford a hotel. She says the average client stays in the Family House for 6 to 7 nights but transplant patients often need stays of 3 to 6 months. Each of the houses include common areas and cooking facilities where Knott says many families find the support they need from others in similar situations.

Point State Park Fountain Turned Pink

October 1st marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month and as a way to kick it all off, the Point State Park fountain at the culmination of the three rivers was today turned pink, the familiar color of the Breast Cancer Coalition. The pink fountain event in the city was part of a state-wide movement in which fountains in Harrisburg and Erie were also turned pink. Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women Leslie Stiles says she hopes the pink fountain will remind people of those women who died from breast cancer, those are fighting it currently, and those lives that will be saved in the future. A conference was held also across from Point State Park at the Riverwalk near Heinz Field. Much of the discussion there and for all of breast cancer awareness month focuses on education and encouraging regular testing. Currently breast cancer is the leading cancer among Pennsylvania women.

Study Finds Healthcare Costs Increase Significantly More Than Wages

Families USA, a non-profit organization for health care consumers, today released a report comparing the average cost of health care in Pennsylvania to the median income. The findings show that from the year 2000 to 200, health care costs have increased by 86.2 percent while earnings rose by only 13.4 percent. Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack says that the most disconcerting part is that Pennsylvanians are paying more for health care and receiving less coverage. He says that health care costs were already an issue and that when the economy took a downswing, the situation has taken a turn for the worse. The report also cites a study that found that more than half of bankruptcies are due in part to health care costs. Currently the number of uninsured non-elderly Pennsylvanians is about 1.2 million--11.3 percent of the non-elderly population.

Medicare Rules to Blame For Low Research Rates

A new study from the University of Pittsburgh has confirmed the long held belief in the medical community that Medicare recipients are not taking part in clinical cancer treatment trials as often as the patients or researchers would like. Nearly all Medicare HMO enrollees are asked to pay for 20-percent of their treatment costs if they choose to enroll in a cancer treatment trial. Researchers Chyongchiou Lin and Dwight Harrin say that extra cost discourages participation. Nearly two-thirds of cancer patients are age 65 and older but less than a third of those enrolled in clinical trials were over 65. They believe that hurts the validity of some studies and slows the overall progress of cancer treatment research. The researchers hope individuals will lobby lawmakers to ask for the experimental treatments to be covered. Harrin says because the treatment is “experimental” is not a good reason to put the extra burden on the patients. He says it has been well documented in the past that patients enrolled in clinical trails get better care, better follow-up care and frequently better outcomes.

State Grants Help Expand Nursing Schools

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has handed out $750,000 in grants to nursing schools across the state in an effort to boost capacity. The Rendell administration has been trying to increase the number of nurses in the state for years through financial and other incentives to students. A recent study found many nursing schools in Pennsylvania have admissions waiting lists so the latest round of 14 grants is aimed at helping schools expand. Duquesne University’s nursing has received a 50 thousand dollar grant to hire a simulation technology expert. Simulation technology uses mechanical dummies to simulate situations nurses will face after graduation. All of the grants must be matched by local funds.