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Drugs, Risk and the Myth of the ‘Evil' Addict

Maia Szalavitz

September 27, 2011 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

While critics argue that Naloxone isn't safe for over-the-counter use, some cities have found success distributing Naloxone to community members to help save lives of addicts who overdose. Naloxone can be administered to help those overdosing survive and jump-start the withdrawal process.

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Making Medical Donations Work

Tina Rosenberg

August 09, 2011 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Vietnam, Khanh Hoa

Hospitals in the U.S. throw out huge amounts of supplies and equipment, and third-world hospitals need it. Many organizations help bridge the gap to transport supplies, but end up donating unusable equipment - teaching hospitals what to donate as well as knowing where the equipment is going are just some of the ways that efficiency can be improved.

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Doctor Hotspot

Atul Gawande

August 03, 2011 |

PBS Frontline |

Broadcast TV Programs |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Camden, New Jersey

The highest hospital costs come from preventable emergency room visits. A doctor in Camden developed a home visit program which gives better and cheaper care.

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Treating the Cause, Not the Illness

David Bornstein

July 28, 2011 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

The United States now has a variety of federally-supported nutrition programs, but the health care system remains disconnected from the social determinants of health. Many doctors simply lack the resources to provide the comprehensive care proven to have greater impact on health than strictly medical treatment. A group called Health Leads is training young volunteers to treat the social factors, like poor nutrition and housing needs.

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New for Aspiring Doctors, the People Skills Test

Gardiner Harris

July 10, 2011 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Roanoke, Virginia

Miscommunication is the leading cause of medical errors, so medical schools in the U.S. are testing aspiring doctors' communication and team work abilities during admissions.

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Speaking Up for Patient Safety, and Survival

Tina Rosenberg

April 28, 2011 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

Patients in U.S. hospitals suffer high rates of infection due to poor practices such as lack of proper hand-washing and lack of sanitization when inserting central line catheters. The Michigan Health and Hospital Association set out to reduce the rate of infection in their Intensive Care Units by developing a 5-step protocol for nurses and doctors to follow when inserting central lines. What they found was astonishing-- following these simple steps reduced the rate of infection to zero within three months of implementation.

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Better Hand-Washing Through Technology

Tina Rosenberg

April 25, 2011 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Miami, Florida

Washing hands in between contact with patients is one of the most important things a healthcare worker can do to prevent the spread of disease and reduce the rise of superbugs like MRSA. A new technology is increasing rates of hand washing by displaying, via a sensor in an employee's badge, whether the healthcare provider has washed their hands recently.

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A Housecall to Help With Doctor's Orders

Tina Rosenberg

February 28, 2011 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

The health problems of millions of Americans are directly related to patients' failure to follow doctors’ orders. Community health workers are increasingly successful in New York and other American cities – not to substitute for doctors, but to help patients stick to their treatment plans.

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If Health Care Is Going to Change, Dr. Brent James's Ideas Will Change It

David Leonhardt

November 03, 2009 |

The New York Times |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

Dr. Brent James, chief quality officer at Intermountain Healthcare, came up with a system for regulating and improving healthcare in the Intermountain medical region and at other hospitals nationwide. He teaches a program called the Advanced Training Program that draws physicians and hospital administrators from all over the country. His method is simple; his team develops best care standards for an array of common medical ailments by regulating the care that is suggested to doctors, monitoring patient outcomes based on these practices, and refining the literature to be even more accurate.

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The Cost Conundrum

Atul Gawande

May 25, 2009 |

The New Yorker |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, McAllen, Texas

Studies show that spending more money on healthcare, past a certain level of care, worsens patient outcomes. Mayo Clinic has one of the highest-quality for the lowest cost healthcare systems in the nation. They achieve this by pooling all of the revenue from the hospital system and the doctors and paying everyone a salary, removing the incentive to increase personal revenue by increasing spending, and encouraging physicians to work with their colleagues and their teams to provide a higher level of patient care.

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