Medicine

Want to pay less for medical care? ... find a better deal online

Keith Seinfeld — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:50:24 +0000

If you have high-deductible health insurance – possibly paying $2,000 or more out of pocket – the price of every test or procedure matters a lot. In theory, you should shop around.

But, that’s easier said than done, as Seattle real estate broker Steven Wayne discovered: He ran through his $3,800 deductible, pretty quickly, after a recent series of fainting spells.

Now, new online tools can help you compare real costs.

Medical ratings: Western Washington good, but not the best

Keith Seinfeld — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:40:47 +0000

Where you live definitely affects the quality of your health care. That’s clear in a new report comparing communities across the country. Western Washington is divided into three zones and they all score above average – but not in the top 10 percent.

The best score goes to the Everett/Snohomish/Skagit area.

Workers' wellness saving jobs in parks, policing, transit

Keith Seinfeld — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:00:00 +0000

King County Executive Dow Constantine says he’ll be able to preserve as many as a dozen sheriff’s deputies and 20 public health nurses. That’s because King County employees have been improving their health – and saving taxpayers about $23 million this year.

The savings go back into the county’s budget, and will mean fewer cuts next year.

Rare bacterial strain identified as cause of European E. coli outbreak

Scott Hensley — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:36:40 +0000

The World Health Organization says the E. coli bacterium behind the outbreak of life-threatening infections in Europe is a new strain, never seen in people before.

At least 18 people have died from infection with the germ, which has struck at least 1,500 people. Almost all of the cases and deaths have occurred in people who either live in Germany or who traveled there recently.

The unique strain isolated from patients is a mutant, Hilda Kruse, a WHO food safety expert, told the Associated Press.

Health procedures scrutinized for costs, benefits

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:21:47 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-957030.mp3

If you've had arthroscopic knee surgery for osteoarthritis, maybe you shouldn't have. And if you've tried any of these treatments, there are questions, too, about whether it was worth it:

Hospital courtship: UW Medicine proposes to Valley Medical Center

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:07:56 +0000

King County's major medical centers continue jockeying for position in the emerging new health-care world.

U.W. Medicine and Valley Medical Center proposed this week what they call a "strategic alliance." Valley wants to retain its name, although the news release says Valley would become "part of U.W. Medicine."

Earlier this year, U.W. Medicine took over running Northwest Hospital (in north Seattle), without actually owning the hospital.

Hospitals reveal surgical infection rates

Keith Seinfeld — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:58:01 +0000

If you ever need elective surgery, more websites keep appearing to help you pick the safest hospital. Now, you can compare all the hospitals in Washington based on their infection rates following some common surgeries.