Why a new payment model for rural hospitals could hurt them
Rural hospitals are struggling in the pandemic. But will a new payment model help or hurt? More
Where do we go next in deprescribing research?
In a keynote address for the US Deprescribing Research Network Conference, Dr. Cara Tannenbaum urged participants to reimagine the future of deprescribing research. More
What Trump’s Covid-19 experience reveals about our pandemic response
Did Trump receive the "best care possible"? Or was he overtreated? More
How do Massachusetts hospitals stack up on the Lown Hospitals Index?
At a presentation for the Massachusetts Health Data Collaborative, Vikas Saini and Shannon Brownlee discussed why they created the Lown Hospitals Index, how the metrics were developed, and what the results show about hospitals in Massachusetts. Watch the full presentation here! More
Two ways to stop unnecessary stenting
Many cardiologists recognize that placing coronary stents for stable heart disease has limited clinical benefit for patients. But low-value stents are still common -- how can we change this practice? New research in JAMA Internal Medicine provides some suggestions. More
What do we value in primary care?
How can we measure what really matters in primary care? In an essay in KevinMD, Dr. Michelle-Linh Nguyen offers a vision for better metrics in primary care. More
VIDEO: Hysterectomy overuse in US hospitals
In this latest edition of “Lown Hospitals Q&A,” Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini talk about the prevalence and harm of hysterectomy overuse, and what the Lown Index shows about hysterectomies in US hospitals. More
Deprescribing for patient safety
Why should patient safety advocates care about medication overload? Watch Shannon Brownlee's presentation for Patient Safety Day on the importance of deprescribing as a patient safety issue. More
Are Covid-19 resources going to those who need them most?
From drugs to masks to financial assistance, the US government has distributed Covid-19 resources in a way that exacerbates health inequities. How can we make sure that when a vaccine is ready for distribution, that it goes to those who need it most? More
Is there an “equitable” way to sue patients for medical bills?
A recent set of best practices on billing from a hospital industry group was hailed as promoting racial equity-- but does it go far enough for patients? More
VIDEO: Why do we spend so much and die so young?
In this week's Hospitals Q&A video, Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini discuss the American health care paradox and where hospitals fit into the equation. More
“You need this drug,” and other things clinicians should stop saying
We spoke with Dr. Tom Perry, clinical associate professor at UBC to ask him about practical ways to avoid medication overload and the assumptions about medications we need to rethink in our society. More
Right care for chronic pain in primary care
Overprescribing of opioids can lead to dependence and serious harm, but abrupt tapers or discontinuation can also be disruptive for patients already taking opioids. How can primary care clinicians prescribe pain medications responsibly? More
Why we need to reduce low-value carotid imaging
To what extent have efforts to change clinician habits worked, when it comes to low-value carotid imaging? We interviewed Dr. Tim Anderson, co-author of a recent study on the topic, to find out more. More
VIDEO: Why do we need safety net hospitals?
What are safety net hospitals and why do they matter? In this latest edition of “Lown Hospitals Q&A,” Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini answer three questions about safety net hospitals. More
Guest post: If we are dissatisfied, that’s a good sign
Why clinician satisfaction should be a metric of quality, from guest writer John Corsino, PT. More
Nonprofit and for-profit hospitals provide similar levels of charity care, study finds
A new study finds that for-profit hospitals are spending the same amount proportionally on charity care as nonprofits. More
The convalescent plasma roller coaster
The FDA's about-face on emergency approval of convalescent plasma raises questions about the level of evidence we need for Covid-19 treatments, and the role of politics in these decisions. More
VIDEO: US News “Best Hospitals” ranking vs the Lown Hospitals Index
In this latest edition of “Lown Hospitals Q&A,” Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini discuss why certain hospitals on the top of the US News ranking don't come out on top in the Lown Index. More
Tackling health care consolidation to build a better health system
What has been the impact of hospital consolidation, and what can we do to reverse the harm from health care monopolies? At the second in an Open Markets Institute webinar series, health care experts outlined some of the key steps forward. More