By Seven Weaver Producer
Consumer Reports
It’s well known that people who do not have adequate insurance don’t get the health care they need. But for people with good health-insurance coverage, Consumer Reports finds overly aggressive treatment of chronic illnesses can be a serious problem—and can actually shorten your life.Consumer Reports
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Stumble It!Consumer Reports has reviewed the research, including a Dartmouth study of nearly five million Medicare patients in the last two years of life. It turns out that across America the most aggressive care is not necessarily delivering better results.
Patients who have the most tests, the most procedures, see the most doctors, and spend the most time in the hospital don’t do any better in the long run, and they don’t even live any longer than people who get more conservative treatment.
Aggressive care can actually lead to poorer results. The more tests and procedures you have, the greater your risk of infections and other complications. And the more medical specialists you see, the greater your risk of medical errors because of poorly coordinated care.
Of the almost 3,000 hospitals covered in the Dartmouth study, one with some of the most conservative care is Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas. In the last two years of life, patients there spend much less time in the hospital and spend far less on doctor payments. Yet the care is considered very good, according to Medicare’s ratings on a variety of quality measures.
Whatever hospital you go to, Consumer Reports says for the best medical care:
Rely on a single doctor to coordinate your treatment
If several doctors are involved, call for a meeting to discuss your case
And always ask about the risks as well as the benefits of any test or treatment
Hospitals vary enormously in the aggressiveness of their care for treating serious chronic illnesses. It pays to know what type of care to expect at the hospital you’re going to. Consumer Reports has information on almost 3,000 hospitals across the country.
You can find it at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
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Copyright © 2004-2008 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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