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November 15, 2011 A survey finds 42 percent of hospitals offer at least one type of complementary or alternative medicine treatment. Those hospitals that offer the options cite patient demand as the top reason. Clinical effectiveness is the No. 2 reason.

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November 8, 2011 KHNPatients in those places gave some of the lowest evaluations of their hospital stays, Medicare data show. The surveys asked patients how well their doctors and nurses communicated, whether their pain was always handled welland whether their rooms were clean and quiet.

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October 19, 2011 A decline in the admission of Medicare patients to hospitals for treatment of heart failure saves at least $4.1 billion a year, a new study finds. Better treatment of coronary artery disease and high blood pressure may help explain the decline.

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September 26, 2011 Most big children's hospitals are nonprofits, but you wouldn't know that looking at the bottom lines of many of them. They're pouring billions of dollars into new buildings, adding beds and equipment and staff at the same time Washington, the states and employers grapple with health care spending.

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August 24, 2011 KHNThe latest Medicare data show that doctors frequently order MRI scans for patients with back pain before trying recommended treatments such as physical therapy.

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August 23, 2011 In just five years hospitals and doctors across the country have made remarkable progress in speeding up treatment. The median time for patients to get a potentially life-saving treatment dropped to 64 minutes in 2010 from 96 minutes in 2005.

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August 16, 2011 KHNA study suggests that hospitals could save time and money if patients with ankle sprains and other minor injuries could talk to a health provider instead of coming to the emergency department during regular business hours.

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August 12, 2011 The Captain Morgan technique was used by doctors fix hip dislocation in 12 patients, according to a study. The captain's pose turns out to be a good way for doctors to apply force to the hip without having to crawl up on the patient's gurney.

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August 11, 2011 Making CT scans safer should start with simple step of figuring out how much radiation you actually need to get the job done, researchers say.

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July 12, 2011 Last year was the worst ever for drug shortages at the nation's hospitals, according to a nationwide survey. Shortages have led to delays in patient care and made pharmacists scramble to find alternatives.

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June 21, 2011 KHNHospitals and outpatient centers have mandatory rules for surgeons to help them avoid operating on the wrong patient — or part of the patient. But patient safety experts say these devastating mistakes continue unabated and a more comprehensive approach is needed.

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June 15, 2011 High rates of malpractice in hospital settings have been well-known for more than a decade. But a new study says that malpractice claims from outpatient care accounted for more than half of all malpractice payouts in 2009, the last year studied.

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