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Not all doctors like them, some even ignore them, but nevertheless the use of physician scorecards is growing and the scores may soon be widely available to the general public.

Hospital medicine is rapidly becoming the dominant model for inpatient care, relieving ED gridlock and reducing length of stay. But the jury is still out as to whether hospitalists really save money and improve outcomes.

A new amendment to its state constitution has opened up Florida's peer review meeting notes to the public, with chilling effects on the entire peer review process.

Malpractice lawsuits come with a high price tag--both in their financial and psychological costs. The most effective way to deal with them is to learn the reasons for the most common claims and take the preventative route.

As the Bush administration pushes Congress to place a $250,000 cap on pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice lawsuits, other moves quietly afoot by state medical boards, state medical associations, and specialty societies may reduce liability insurance premiums by limiting the number of suits.

Hospital emergency departments are faced with serious overcrowding caused by a host of interconnected factors. As a result, many EDs are going "on diversion" more often, and what was once health care's safety net is beginning to unravel. What can trustees do?

Spiraling malpractice premiums are leaving physicians with few and difficult choices: stop performing risky procedures, leave their states, or "go bare"--that is, practice without insurance. See how hospitals are facing this serious problem nationwide.

Doctors are leaving the profession in record numbers, yet the number of slots in medical schools has remained the same for the last two decades. How is this physician shortage affecting hospitals and patient care, and what can trustees do?

Like the public, health care leaders might feel overwhelmed by the prospect of preparing for a terrorist act, especially one involving biological agents. In our 10-page special report, we look at practical steps you can take today to get ready, drawing lessons from hospitals in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Israel, and from Salt Lake City's efforts to prepare for the possibility of terrorism at the Olympics in February. Please note that our report is based on the latest news about terrorism, reaction to it and readiness efforts as of H&HN's deadline.

If it hasn't started already, your hospital should waste no time in preparing for a potential chemical or biological attack. A key issue: collaborate with your hospital neighbors, public health department, and local fire, police, and EMS departments.

Reaching epidemic proportions, the nurse shortage may be the worst and most far-reaching problem hospitals have confronted in the last 10 years--a decade beset by health care woes. Hopefully, once trustees understand the reasons for the shortage, they can devise ways to alleviate it.

While many organizations are divesting their physician practices, Integris Health System decided to stick with theirs. Here's how they cut their losses by more than half in one year and plan to break even by next year.