Dangers Of Overly-Aggressive Hospital Care

People who don't have insurance don't get the health care they need. But for people with good health-insurance coverage, Consumer Reports finds overly-aggressive treatment of chronic illnesses can be a serious problem and can shorten your life.

When you've got heart failure, cancer, or another long-term, life-threatening illness, what's the key to getting the best care? Consumer Reports' Nancy Metcalf has reviewed the research, including a Dartmouth study of almost five million Medicare patients in the last two years of life. It turns out that across America the most aggressive care is not necessarily delivering better results. She says, "Patients who have the most tests, the most procedures, see the most doctors, spend the most time in the hospital, don't do any better in the long run, and they don't even live any longer than people who get more conservative treatment."

Of the almost three thousand hospitals rated in the Dartmouth study, one with some of the most conservative care is Scott and White in Temple, Texas. In the last two years of life, patients spend much less time in the hospital and spend far less on doctor payments. Yet the care is considered very good, according to Medicare's ratings on a variety of quality measures.

Metcalf says, "Aggressive care can actually lead to poorer results. The more tests and procedures you have, the greater your risk of infections and other complications. And the more medical specialists you see, the greater your risk of medical errors because of poorly coordinated care."

Whatever hospital you go to, Consumer Reports says for the best medical care, rely on a single doctor to coordinate your treatment. If several doctors are involved, call for a meeting to discuss your case. And always ask about the risks as well as the benefits of any test or treatment. For serious chronic illnesses, hospitals vary enormously in the aggressiveness of their care. It pays to know what type of care to expect at the hospital you're going to..

Consumer Reports has information on almost three thousand hospitals across the country. You can find it at ConsumerReportsHealth.org.