Crossing cultures: hospitals begin breaking down the barriers to care

Article Abstract:

Hospitals face language differences and other cultural boundaries in treating patients from different backgrounds. For example, people from many cultures will not tell a physician if they do not understand a diagnosis. Many hospitals employ language interpreters or bridge the gap by offering special marketing programs to address the needs of specific groups. Still others are training their staff on cultural attitudes through newsletters, videos and other materials. The goal of such programs is to allow people to feel comfortable enough with the hospital to receive equal access to medical care.

Social aspects, Demographic aspects, Hospital patients

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Can hospitals drive down software costs?

Article Abstract:

Hospitals, to reduce the high cost of medical care, are trying to reduce expenditures on computer software. Hospitals spent $1.4 billion on software in 1991. Three techniques that will help drive down hospitals' software costs are to plan software purchases based on what the hospital needs, to purchase software that has a systems development life cycle methodology and to form partnerships with software vendors to help support the system.

Prepackaged software, Purchasing, Software

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HIV-positive health care workers pose legal, safety challenges for hospitals

Article Abstract:

Hospitals must consider both their patients' safety from infection and their own safety from litigation when establishing policies for the employment of person testing positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Several hospitals have been successfully sued for discrimination when they placed restrictions on current or prospective employees based on their HIV status.

Health aspects, Laws, regulations and rules, Employment, Medical personnel, HIV patients, Employment discrimination

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