Transparency and Disclosure in the Health Care

The middle ground exists in other countries where they have home births, birthing rooms, and hospitals. Some women have good outcomes and some women have bad outcomes in all populations those in a hospital setting to those in a home setting. Fight the good battle which ever side you’re on but make sure that you’re there to support your side when the going is bad.
-- second year obstetric resident in previous post


BabyKeeper said, "Why should the government -- the PEOPLE, the tax payers -- pay to care for children who are damaged in birth, especially since we know that much of what is done medically unnecessary but to avoid malpractice."

Anonymous said, "Because if they did, (Gov pay for harmed babies) then it could (theoretically) pave the way for practises to changes so that they weren't to avoid malpractice suits, but were a result of evidence based, best practise. That's really the whole point. Whilst blame WILL be cast, nothing will change and it's only going to get worst for anything which deviates even slightly from the norm. Whereas if emphasis was shifted away from blaming to dealing, there is an opportunity to change. This doctor did nothing wrong. He respected the woman's wishes. She chose not to have monitoring and it is arguable whether this could actually have changed anything if he'd overrode her wishes. In these circumstances, no one is really to "blame" - it's just one of those things. As it stands, she could still sue the hospital and stand a good chance of making mega bucks, so there is no real onus on anyone to change to more woman centred care. Whereas if there were a central government sponsored fund, practise could truly reflect BEST practise, which would in theory drive the need for payment to birth damaged babies right down."

and, also said,
"pony is out of the gate for too long now" Unfortunately, that's the real problem. I know my idea is wonderful in theory but unworkable in practise. For things to change it's going to take a massive cultural shift in society, but that's not going to happen any time soon, especially since we're conditioned to conform and suffer from white coat syndrome.

Well, some GOOD NEWS!! Physicians and hospitals are looking at these issue as well albeit from their own perspective. We need WOMEN, CONSUMERS to begin to look at their safety and care in birth, and to speak and act. Collective, collaborative action from many perspectives can bring together parties to make changes.

Accountability: A Case for Transparency and Disclosure in Health Care
March 19 and 20, 2007
Bellagio Resort - Las Vegas


Want to learn how to overcome the hurdles facing institutions striving towards transparency and disclosure? Want to learn from national leaders who are involved in the transparency and disclosure movement? Want to have the opportunity to network with fellow professionals interested in disclosure and transparency? Then, we have the meeting for you!

Presentation topics include:

• The Increasing Gap between the Public, Hospitals and Physicians
• Pay for Performance: A Payer Push for Transparency
• Transparency and the Health Care System
• The Impact of Transparency: The Duke Experience
• Accountability and Her Evil Twin, Blame: How to Avoid One and Embrace the Other
• Legal Ramifications of Transparency
• Sorry Works! Making the Case for Full Disclosure
• Failure is Not Final: Doing the Right Thing

Check here for a brochure:

http://www.rmpsi.com/products/instantemail/2007RMPSIAnnualSeminarLV.pdf