The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "hospital boards" ...
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StarTribune: Discipline Deferred
A six-month investigation by the Star Tribune found that the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, once considered a national leader in the regulation of licensed physicians, often doesn’t punish doctors whose mistakes harm patients or who demonstrate a pattern of substandard care. After analyzing information compiled by a national databank and reviewing thousands of pages of court and medical board records, the reporters found that the board, which regulates 20,000 physicians in the state, has been reluctant to punish some doctors who have harmed patients, including more than 100 doctors who were disciplined by other states and even doctors who lost privileges to practice at Minnesota hospitals. The investigation also showed that the board lags behind boards in other states in disclosing information to the public, including data on malpractice judgments or settlements. It also doesn’t disclose whether doctors have been disciplined by regulators in other states or lost their privileges to work in hospitals and other facilities for surgical mistakes and other problems.
Tags: Board of Medical Practice; physicians; doctors; punishment; patients
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"First, Do No Harm/Behind The Curtain"
Two women have come forward to say they were sexual assaulted by a male ER nurse while in the care of North Kansas City Hospital. The women were heavily drugged while the assaults occurred. KCTV reporters found that sexual assault on hospital patients is not as rare a problem as most might think. However, when asked about the issue, local advocacy groups, state nursing boards and even the senior V.P. of the Joint Commission were unaware it even existed.
Tags: MOCSA; Joint Commission; Federal Department of Health and Human Services; North Kansas City Hospital; William Price; Center for Health Ethics; Sarah Breier; Missouri State Board of Nursing; Paul Schyve
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Fatal Flights
The nation's medevac programs are dominated by private companies with stiff competition and widespread safety failings. The high rate of accidents in the medical helicopter field is due to entrenched complacency. The Post uproots the severe lack of safety in a field the public typically views as heroic.
Tags: medevac; helicopter; hospitals; safety; Washington Post; patient; rescue; Federal Aviation Administration; National Transportation Safety Board; deaths; crash; medical; flight; crew;
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Prescription for Profit
Conditions in the county hospital were deplorable, a culture of callousness pervasive and impoverished patients faced many barriers to care. Yet the system is rolling in money, primarily because it raised rates so that it could game federal Medicaid money that was supposed to help the poor. Rather than using it for that purpose, the taxpayer-financed system banked the money or invested it to try to attract insured patients, as highlighted by decisions to purchase a boutique hospital and a clinic in a high-income area. Officials of the healthcare system also misled the public, the hospital board and county officials about the finances and conditions in the hospitals and clinics.
Tags: public health; Medicaid; hospitals; clinics; healthcare system; county government
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Troubles at Stony Brook University Medical Center
Newsday investigates serious issues in medical care at Stony Brook University Medical Center. They uncovered trouble including the "unexpected deaths of three children, (which) spurred investigations by federal, state and local agencies, forced the shutdown of one of the implicated medical departments at the hospital and inspired a legislative proposal to establish a new oversight board for the hospital."
Tags: Stony Brook University Medical Center; pediatric cardiac surgery; surgery complications
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Doctor Licensing Investigation
"The story revealed that Pennsylvania has allowed doctors with criminal records to continue practicing medicine. In one case a doctor who was convicted of a crime that actually occurred inside the hospital was not disciplined. We learned state law leaves it up to the doctors to report their own crimes to the licensing board."
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Patients in the Dark
The story investigated what patients aren't being told about their doctors, and what they are unable to find out even if they ask. Utah law prevents patients knowing whether a doctor is currently in treatment for substance abuse, or has been in the past, hospital disciplinary history, basic information about malpractice suits etc. The Physicians Licensing Board, meanwhile, seldom severely restricts the practice of even the most troubled doctor, preferring to provide repeated 'second' chances.
Tags: medicine; doctors; malpractice; Utah Physicians Licensing Board; public awareness; Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing; National Practitioners Data Bank
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Special Treatment: Disciplining Doctors
Hospitals and state medical boards across the United States have given physicians repeated chances to keep practicing, despite well-documented alcohol and drug problems. Even doctors that have criminal records do not have their doctor's licenses revoked. This is due partially to the practice that allows doctors to move to another state and start a new job before the paperwork being slowly processed caught up with them. It is also due to loopholes in the National Practitioner Data Bank.
Tags: doctors; doctor's license; alcohol; drug problems; criminal records; National Practitioner Data Bank
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System Failure
These stories reveal how an alcoholic cardiologist was able to continue practicing for several years. Although he was charged with several alcohol-related traffic offenses and would occasionally show up at the hospital under the influence of alcohol, the system still allowed him to practice. These articles examine the flaws in the system, reveal serious lapses by state officials and document of the doctor's dangerous and illegal activities.
Tags: alcohol; impairment; medical board; surgery; hospital; cardiac procedures; Hilton Head; ambulance service
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Hospital Authority Board, Agency Uses Chairwoman's Firm
"The Hospital Authority of Richmond, which oversees the city-owned nursing home, paid more than $1 million for services to a company owned by the chairwoman of the Authority. The hospital spent about fifteen percent of its income on management, which is at least double what other local homes spend."
Tags: nursing homes; contracts; Seven Hills Health Care Center; M.H. West and Co.