Drug Topics - April 7, 2008 - (Page 5) 5 HOSPITAL PRACTICE New report offers clues on patient satisfaction with hospitals Which patients are most satisfied with their hospitals’ services and which the least? New clues are available from a report just released by the market research firm Press Ganey Associates. The 2008 Hospital Pulse Report: Patient Perspectives on American Health Care reported that patients in the 65 to 79 age range were most satisfied, while those between 35 and 49 were least satisfied. By specialty, obstetrics/gynecology patients were most satisfied, followed by intensive care and cardiology/coronary. Finally by region, Wichita, Kan., nabbed the highest patient satisfaction scores, followed by Columbia, S.C., Oklahoma City, Okla., Indianapolis, Ind., and Miami, Fla. The report examined the experiences of 2.7 million patients treated at nearly 2,000 hospitals in 2007. GOVERNMENT AND LAW Congress to CMS: Small businesses may be harmed by DME bidding program Bipartisan groups of 120 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 17 U.S. senators recently sent letters to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services raising concerns about the impact of a new Medicare competitive bidding program on small durable medical equipment (DME) providers. The letters asked CMS to release data on how the bidding program will impact thousands of small providers. In addition, the House letter expressed concern about CMS’ plan to initiate the second round of contract awards. The second round will take place in 70 areas across the nation in 2009, before the first round has been fully implemented and before first-round results can be properly evaluated. The House effort was led by U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (D, Pa.). The effort behind the Senate letter was led by Senators Sherrod Brown (D, Ohio) and George Voinovich (R, Ohio). California hospital fined for heparin overdose Cedars-Sinai Hospital has been slapped with a $25,000 fine by the California Department of Public Health for accidentally overdosing three infants with heparin. Among the infants were actor Dennis Quaid’s newborn twins. The Los Angeles hospital has undertaken a number of measures to prevent this tragedy from recurring and has apologized to the families involved. Whitehouse drug control strategy focuses on illegal Internet sales In a radio address earlier this month President George Bush pledged to “put an end to the illegal sale of highly addictive prescription drugs on the Internet.” According to the 2008 National Drug Control Strategy, rates of illegal drug abuse among teens decreased between 2001 and 2007. However, during the same period, rates of prescription drug use rose. According to the Bush administration, initiation of illegal drug use via prescription pain relievers is now slightly higher than use of marijuana. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy issued a statement lauding President Bush for focusing on the role of illegal sales of prescription drugs by some Internet pharmacies. Heparin recall expands to a wholesaler’s supply AmerisourceBergen’s American Health Packaging (AHP) has voluntarily recalled 1,421 units (25 vials per unit) of 10000 USP units/ml heparin sodium injection 1ml vials. The vials were manufactured by Baxter and then placed by AHP into individually labeled bags for use in pharmacy automation equipment. The AHP packages were sold to five hospitals in Georgia and California, all of which were notified. AHP customers should return products in these lots: APS HEPARIN 10MU/ML (10000 USP units/ml) 1ml SDV 25UD (bag) NDC # 00641-0410-25, lot numbers 074155, 073089, 073391, 073613, 070095A, 073712, 072907, 073454, 070095D and APS HEPARIN SDV 10MU (10000 USP units/ml) 1ml 25UD (box and rod) NDC # 00641-0410-25, lot numbers 070095B, 070095C, 068286, 067755. For more information, call Richard J. Augustine at (800) 7074621. The AHP recall follows one that Baxter initiated earlier in the year. Ariz. Senate passes bill to help Medicaid patients quit smoking The Arizona Senate today passed legislation allowing the state Medicaid program to expend money to provide smoking cessation treatments to eligible members. The measure was approved by a vote of 27 to 3. The measure will next go before the House for consideration. Currently, Arizona is one of just seven states nationwide that don’t cover smoking cessation programs in their Medicaid program. DT Photo: Jim Shive >>> NEWS Roundup
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