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Patient care different across New England based on doc preference

Dartmouth researchers recently conducted a study across three New England states. The researchers found that patient care varied greatly in pediatric patients for similar issues. The care that patients received was often determined by a doctors preference, and not entirely on the needs of the patient. Patients in some geographic areas had more emergency room visits than others. Some had their tonsils taken out more frequently, and there was a large variance across the region in how tests were conducted.

These differences in patient care don't necessarily point to certain issues targeting one geographic area over another, but an inconsistency in the way patients are treated within a small geographic region.

Researchers said that it was unclear if families in certain regions or doctors were driving the causes of the differences. Whatever the cause of these differences are, it raises many questions surrounding medical malpractice in New York. If patients aren't getting certain treatment in one hospital because of a doctor's preference, but they would have gotten it at another hospital, is this medical malpractice? What if a family objects to a treatment, but a doctor pushes for it in one certain hospital?

Consistency in treatment options might be able to help ensure that patients are getting quality care no matter which hospital they visit. While it is unclear if any cases of hospital negligence grow from inconsistencies, it is important to look at how patients are treated in every facility to ensure they receive the proper care that they need.

Source: Modern Healthcare, "Pediatric care varies due to doc preference, not patient need, Dartmouth report says," Andis Robeznieks, Dec. 11, 2013

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