For patients with brain tumors, insurance status linked to differences in patient safety and quality of care

This is a general problem, not just for brain tumor patients.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-02/wkh-fpw022715.php

Public Release: 27-Feb-2015
Wolters Kluwer Health

atients that are on Medicaid or uninsured have higher rates of reportable patient safety and quality of care issues during hospitalization for brain tumors, reports a study in the March issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

Not having private insurance is associated with higher rates of patient safety issues (PSIs) and hospital-acquired conditions (HACs)--leading to longer hospital stays and worse patient outcomes, according to the study by Dr. Kristopher G. Hooten and colleagues of University of Florida, Gainesville. Especially with reporting of these quality metrics under health care reform, the authors call for efforts to address disparities in quality of care for vulnerable patient populations.

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