The reasoning behind this decision has to do with a complex bioethical question - if there is the potential to treat a previously untreatable disease with a new pharmaceutical, but the consequences are unknown, do you prescribe the drug? Is the unknown enough to deny patients hope? More
Two recent studies show the high cost patients face from unnecessary imaging and follow up events. More
How can mortality be reduced by colonoscopies but not by a colonoscopy screening program? We break down the results from the groundbreaking NordICC trial. More
A recent study of hospital financial assistance policies shows how some policies became more generous after Covid-19, some became more restrictive, and some just got weird... More
Through our work with the Lown Institute Hospitals Index, we’ve seen how socially responsible hospitals can be. These top hospitals prioritize equity, while maintaining excellent patient outcomes and avoiding overuse. But not all hospitals have performed well on social responsibility. In fact, the New York Times recently highlighted two nonprofit hospital systems that have gone against their social mission and put profits over patients fair share spending was featured in these articles. Here’s a breakdown of what the Times uncovered. More
New research is out on the long-term mental health toll of the Flint water crisis on its residents. What can we learn, and how can we do better? More
Atlanta has one of the most racially segregated hospital markets in the US. What happens when one of the only hospitals serving communities of color closes? More
Water contamination, emissions, and plastic pollution all pose immense public health risk. What can hospitals do right now to help? More
One job of the FTC is to prevent mergers that create hospital monopolies, but a type of state law has allowed hospitals to sidestep federal regulation and avoid competition. More
Despite the fact that the US is the richest country in the world, it's also one of the least healthy. How many deaths could have been avoided if the US had a similar mortality rate as other wealthy countries? More
The most inclusive hospitals for Black Medicare patients get nearly $500 less in patients revenue per day than other hospitals, making it more difficult for these hospitals to improve quality and putting them at risk of closure. More
A new study from the Annals of Internal Medicine found that different compensation models can open and close the gender pay gap. How does this happen and what does it say about our healthcare system? More
The new US News & World Report "best hospitals" ranking is out... How do these hospitals do on the Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility? More
Among America's most prestigious hospitals, prices for common tests and services vary considerably, a new study finds. More
Overuse is prevalent in hospitals across the country -- but what about VA hospitals, where providers are paid a salary rather than fee-for-service? More
How much are nonprofit hospitals giving back to communities? It depends on what you count, Lown Institute leaders explain in a new op-ed. More
Why do so few hospitals get top grades on equity AND outcomes? The answer has to do with systemic inequities within our healthcare system and how they drive hospital behavior. More
The Lown Institute just announced their most socially responsible hospitals for 2022. Which hospitals make the Top Ten, and which succeeded despite having a high COVID burden? Watch the launch event and discussion below, featuring Vikas Saini, Shannon Brownlee, and Boston Medical Center CEO Kate Walsh! More
Sixty-six U.S. hospitals earned the distinction of “most socially responsible” by the Lown Institute. To achieve this designation, hospitals earned “A” grades across measures of health equity, value, and outcomes. More
More than 60 years after the Civil Rights Movement, racial disparities in healthcare use and access remain high, a recent study finds. More