STONY BROOK, N.Y., Jun 10, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A review of studies led
U.S. and Spanish researchers to conclude that healthcare delays put patients at
risk.
For example, Atul Kumar of the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center and
Stony Brook University in New York and Bhawna Halwan of Downstate Medical Center
in New York said patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding admitted during
the weekend are less likely to receive urgent care than those admitted during
the week. Although only about 10 percent to 20 percent of patients with
gastrointestinal bleeding need endoscopy, identifying those patients is crucial.
"Often endoscopy is performed when it is practical and/or convenient for the
endoscopist," Kumar and Halwan said in the statement. "This puts weekend
admissions at an unnecessary risk."
Joaquim Bellmunt of the Medical Oncology Service of Hospital del Mar in
Barcelona, Spain, found that if treatment of stage II bladder cancer is delayed
for more than 12 weeks after initial diagnosis, the risk of death doubles.
"Prompt treatment remains fundamental to the management of stage II bladder
cancer," Bellmunt said in a statement.
Anil Vachani of the Pennsylvania School of Medicine said many lung patients did
not receive care within the time period recommended and such delays are
associated with patient distress and unnecessary healthcare costs.
The findings are published at www.f1000medicine.com. The Faculty of 1000
Medicine is an online service that helps people stay informed of articles about
health issues and access the opinions of global leaders in medicine.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International