Are the so called ratings affecting the ability of a patient to have access? For fear of bad publicity are the top notch surgeons turning away individuals with health concerns that will make the statistics look bad? Sad indeed to put some of the best we have in medicine in this position to have to pick and choose patients with a projected better outcome, to be able to keep their names visible on the "deans's list" of surgeons. Everyone seems to be coming out with their own system of raking these days, whether it be physicians, hospitals, etc. Comparing equipment and emergency response criteria cannot be in the same ball park with surgeon skills and ability as they are 2 separate items, humans and processes and the 2 should not be in the same arena. The doctor makes a very good point here. BD
California health authorities on Thursday released a study showing for the first time how many heart bypass patients die after surgery, the names of their surgeons and the hospitals where the operations were performed.
Surprisingly, the state-mandated survey gave the worst ratings to some hospitals that have been regarded as among the best in the business.
Also earning a "worse" rating was Dr. Ismael Nuno, chief of cardiac surgery service at Los Angeles County USC Medical Center.
Nuno was furious with the rating. "I've had a very illustrious career, and when my name comes out tomorrow I might just retire," he said in a phone interview. "Nobody in the state is going to write right next to your name that Dr. Nuno tried really hard to keep this patient alive. All it's going to say is Dr. Nuno is a terrible surgeon."
Nuno warned that some surgeons already are turning away patients with poor outcomes for fear they'll get tagged as bad doctors. "People are dying because of what the state of California is doing. Surgeons are walking away and saying, 'Tough, it's either my career or your death.' ''
CALIFORNIA / Top heart centers, docs stung by bypass study
Hat Tip: Kevin, MD Running a Hospital
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