A Day in 'The Waiting Room'
The new documentary "The Waiting Room" takes place in and around the Emergency Room of Oakland's Highland Hospital. Its patients are a cross-section of trauma victims and desperate families, many without insurance. We talk with the film's director, Peter Nicks, about what he hopes people take away from this "day in the life."
Reducing Hospital Readmissions: Saving Costs, Staying Healthy
Health care is expensive for all kinds of reasons, including costs that can be avoided. One part of that is patients who get discharged from the hospital, but find themselves readmitted within 30 days, often for reasons that are avoidable. We visit UC San Francisco's main hospital to talk with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joshua Adler about how UCSF is working to reduce avoidable readmissions.
Why Isn't Kaiser Less Expensive?
Kaiser Permanente is often cited as an example of a health maintenenace organization that keeps costs reined in. In fact, portions of the Affordable Care Act were crafted with the Kaiser model in mind. But critics say the price gap between Kaiser and other insurance companies has narrowed, and the reasons are unclear.
Employers and the Cost of High Deductibles
As health care costs skyrocket, some employers are dropping coverage for workers. But many more -- especially small businesses -- are trying to hang on by offering high-deductible plans. To put it simply: the company shifts costs to its employees. Are these plans really working for anyone?
Hospice Homes Provide End-of-Life Care Alternative
According to a recent survey, the vast majority of Californians would prefer to die at home. But year after year, most people die in hospitals or nursing homes. It's expensive and not especially comfortable for patients or their families. Hospice homes offer an alternative for the terminally ill -- and they provide end-of-life care at a fraction of the cost.