Judge rules University of Louisville's hospital is public and subject to Open Records Act; it may appeal

The University of Louisville's hospital is a public entity, a Jefferson Circuit Court judge has ruled in a lawsuit filed to get access to the university's deals with other health providers.

Judge Martin McDonald ruled yesterday in favor of The Courier-Journal, WHAS-TV and the American Civil Liberties Union, noting that the university makes or approves all appointments to University Hospital's board of directors. The university had argued that the board, and thus the hospital, was not a public agency under the state Open Records Act.

The hospital said it might appeal the ruling. McDonald gave it 30 days to give him the records being sought, along with arguments about why they should be exempt" under exceptions to the law, reports The C-J's Andrew Wolfson. "He gave the news organizations at the ACLU 20 days to respond to any claimed exemptions." The hospital has said revealing contracts would put it at a competitive disadvantage.

The suit began after the university refused to let the plaintiffs see records related to its proposed merger with Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare and Lexington-based St. Joseph Health Care System. Gov. Steve Beshear vetoed the merger on grounds that a public hospital should not be bound by a religious organization's health-care policies. This month the hospital announced a new deal with KentuckyOne Health, which includes the faith-based entities, but said reproductive services would not be affected despite a policy of "respect" for Catholic health directives. (Read more)

The University of Louisville's hospital is a public entity, a Jefferson Circuit Court judge has ruled in a lawsuit filed to get access to the university's deals with other health providers.

Judge Martin McDonald ruled yesterday in favor of The Courier-Journal, WHAS-TV and the American Civil Liberties Union, noting that the university makes or approves all appointments to University Hospital's board of directors. The university had argued that the board, and thus the hospital, was not a public agency under the state Open Records Act.

The hospital said it might appeal the ruling. McDonald gave it 30 days to give him the records being sought, along with arguments about why they should be exempt" under exceptions to the law, reports The C-J's Andrew Wolfson. "He gave the news organizations at the ACLU 20 days to respond to any claimed exemptions." The hospital has said revealing contracts would put it at a competitive disadvantage.

The suit began after the university refused to let the plaintiffs see records related to its proposed merger with Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare and Lexington-based St. Joseph Health Care System. Gov. Steve Beshear vetoed the merger on grounds that a public hospital should not be bound by a religious organization's health-care policies. This month the hospital announced a new deal with KentuckyOne Health, which includes the faith-based entities, but said reproductive services would not be affected despite a policy of "respect" for Catholic health directives. (Read more)

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After several groups say Pap smears aren't needed every year, ob/gyns recommend an annual 'well-woman' visit

Though several groups have said women don't need a Pap smear every year, obstetricians and gynecologists still recommend an annual "well-woman" visit and annual pelvic exams for all females over 21.

These new recommendations by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists were published Monday. They come a few months after the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and other groups said most women only need a Pap smear every three years starting at age 21. After the age of 30, they can get them less often if they also get tests for the human papillomavirus, known to cause cervical and other cancers.

The visit "can be used to check blood pressure and weight, update immunizations, counsel patients on healthy lifestyles, screen for sexually transmitted infections and other health problems, perform breast exams and build relationships between doctors and patients," reports Kim Painter for USA Today.

But some critics question if these visits are just a way to make money. "We estimate that about $8 billion a year is spent on preventive yearly physicals of all kinds," said Ateev Mehrotra, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "The question is whether we could spend those $8 billion more wisely." (Read more)

Though several groups have said women don't need a Pap smear every year, obstetricians and gynecologists still recommend an annual "well-woman" visit and annual pelvic exams for all females over 21.

These new recommendations by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists were published Monday. They come a few months after the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and other groups said most women only need a Pap smear every three years starting at age 21. After the age of 30, they can get them less often if they also get tests for the human papillomavirus, known to cause cervical and other cancers.

The visit "can be used to check blood pressure and weight, update immunizations, counsel patients on healthy lifestyles, screen for sexually transmitted infections and other health problems, perform breast exams and build relationships between doctors and patients," reports Kim Painter for USA Today.

But some critics question if these visits are just a way to make money. "We estimate that about $8 billion a year is spent on preventive yearly physicals of all kinds," said Ateev Mehrotra, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "The question is whether we could spend those $8 billion more wisely." (Read more)

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Mothers should try to go to full term in their pregnancies, but many are unaware of the risks of early delivery, UK study finds

Illustration by Michelle Kumata via KRT

Babies who are born before the full term of 40 weeks may have health problems later in life, since important brain development takes place in the very last stages of pregnancy. As such, mothers should try to avoid being induced early or having elective C-sections.

A study conducted at the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information found women often don't realize the important development that takes place at the end of pregnancy, write UK doctoral student Sarah Vos and H. Dan O'Hair, dean of the college, for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Evidence shows that early, elective births are expensive. One study found reducing the number of elective births before 39 weeks of gestation to less than 2 percent of all U.S. births would save $1 billion each year.

But many women are uncomfortable at the end of their pregnancy, are anxious to know their children are healthy, and may even ask for early induction of labor because employers aren't flexible about time off. Sometimes doctors and other providers induce women early for their convenience.

Encouraging women to go full term and telling them the disadvantages of early labor — problems feeding and a higher incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome — can influence their decision. As Vos and O'Hair conclude, "Babies are worth the wait." (Read more)

Illustration by Michelle Kumata via KRT

Babies who are born before the full term of 40 weeks may have health problems later in life, since important brain development takes place in the very last stages of pregnancy. As such, mothers should try to avoid being induced early or having elective C-sections.

A study conducted at the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information found women often don't realize the important development that takes place at the end of pregnancy, write UK doctoral student Sarah Vos and H. Dan O'Hair, dean of the college, for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Evidence shows that early, elective births are expensive. One study found reducing the number of elective births before 39 weeks of gestation to less than 2 percent of all U.S. births would save $1 billion each year.

But many women are uncomfortable at the end of their pregnancy, are anxious to know their children are healthy, and may even ask for early induction of labor because employers aren't flexible about time off. Sometimes doctors and other providers induce women early for their convenience.

Encouraging women to go full term and telling them the disadvantages of early labor — problems feeding and a higher incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome — can influence their decision. As Vos and O'Hair conclude, "Babies are worth the wait." (Read more)

Read More