FOR PROFIT
Joined: 28 May 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Wed May 28, 2003 3:32 am Post subject: DIALYSIS
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Profit motive linked to dialysis deaths<
><
> By LOIS BAKER <
> Contributing Editor<
><
> The profit motive that drives U.S. for-profit kidney dialysis centers<
> results in an average of 2,500 premature deaths annually, a study<
> published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical<
> Association (JAMA) has found. <
><
> The study's results also were presented yesterday at a press<
> conference in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the non-profit Public<
> Citizen's Health Research Group.<
><
> The findings are based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of<
> eight observational studies involving data from for-profit or private<
> not-for-profit American dialysis facilities covering more than 500,000<
> patient-years. It was conducted by researchers at McMaster<
> University in Hamilton, Ont., and UB. <
><
> Results showed an 8 percent increase in death rates for dialysis<
> patients treated in for-profit facilities compared to private not-for-profit<
> care.<
><
> "The results are not difficult to explain," said P.J. Devereaux, research<
> fellow in the departments of Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology and<
> Biostatistics at McMaster University and lead author on the study.<
> "Private for-profit facilities have to generate profits to satisfy<
> shareholders and pay taxes. Typically, these two expenditures are in<
> the range of 10-15 percent of expenses.<
><
> "Not-for-profit facilities can spend this money on patient care. The<
> higher death rates result when for-profit companies cut corners to<
> make sure they produce the required profit margin."<
><
> Holger Schunemann, UB assistant professor of medicine and social<
> and preventive medicine, and principal U.S. author, said: "While an 8<
> percent increase in mortality may seem small, the observed increase in<
> mortality represents between 1,200 and 4,000 additional deaths<
> annually. Our results indicate that for-profit dialysis centers provide<
> lower quality care compared to not-for-profit centers.<
><
><
> <
> <
> Edited by: realdialysisethics at: 5/28/03 7:51:01 am<
>
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Help
Joined: 28 May 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Wed May 28, 2003 5:57 am Post subject: I'm in a for-profit
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How does this 8% spell out in specific causes for more deaths?
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aprnjam
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 85
Posted: Wed May 28, 2003 4:20 pm Post subject: 8% can equal
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more deaths when they cut costs in any area possible to increase the profit margin for that facility. This can be done in any number of ways: lower staffing, inappropriate staff training putting patients at risk for infection when they use aseptic technique, maybe the staff person is not proficient in use of the chemicals, improper monitoring of the patient when they complain of problems with dialysis that may put them at risk for infection leading to life-threatening infections. Instead of the care being directed at what is best for the patient, it is directed at cutting corners and saving money in any way possible for the facility to make a profit. Sad but true fact.
