I've heard stories about hospitals with poor health and safety records. Not all hospitals have good safety records or deliver quality health care. Physicians choose which medications to prescribe for you based on their experience and judgment in treating similar conditions, and frequently base their choice in part on the list of medications your health plan includes in its coverage. The formulary is a listing of prescription drugs that the plan will cover. Formularies are developed by the health plans with the assistance of physicians and pharmacists, who evaluate and recommend medications that are both medically effective and cost-effective.
Malpractice is an ugly word for both patients and doctors.
For patients, it can mean that a doctor botched a routine surgery, resulting in years of chronic pain. For doctors, it is the fear during every operation that a force beyond their control will result in a negative outcome, prompting an ugly lawsuit and damaging their medical reputation. In many states, you can find a malpractice history on your doctor, but the real issue is how you choose to interpret that information. Medicare, the nation's largest health insurance program, provides health coverage to 34 million Americans over age 65 and 5 million permanently disabled people under 65. Yes, technologies exist to ensure the privacy of your health records while they are stored electronically.