Pennsylvania'a Focus on Heart Attack - grading the scorecard

Article Abstract:

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council issued a study "Focus on Heart Attack" in June of 1996, comparing mortality rates from heart attack among hospitals and physician groups. This type of report represents a trend toward risk-assessment, cost-containment, and quality promotion by insurers and insurance purchasing groups. Improved clinical definitions, identification of responsible physicians, control for complications, and other improvements in the design of such studies will produce more valid information for use in comparing outcomes and identifying the best doctors.

Reports, Column, Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council

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Risk stratification after myocardial infarction

Article Abstract:

People admitted to a hospital with suspected heart attack should be carefully evaluated so that diagnostic and therapeutic procedures can be tailored to their risk of death. Patients who have recurring chest pain, congestive heart failure or arrhythmia will probably benefit from aggressive treatment. However those with few complications have a low risk of death and may be discharged after a few days provided their heart function is relatively normal. All patients should receive counseling about modifiable risk factors for heart disease.

Cardiac patients

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Outcome of acute myocardial infarction according to the specialty of the admitting physician

Article Abstract:

Heart attack patients who are treated by a cardiologist may have higher survival rates than those treated by a general practitioner. Researchers analyzed mortality rates and resource use in 220,535 heart attack patients. Medicare patients in the care of cardiologists had longer hospital stays, used more tests and medications, and were more likely to survive to one year. Shifting medical care from specialists to general practitioners may reduce costs at the expense of survival.

Medicine, Practice, Cardiologists, Medical specialties

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