Bush Panel on US Intelligence Failures; Purchasing Cheaper Canadian Drugs; Implementation of New Nurse-To-Patient Ratios; Tenet Update; Emergency Services Update
Bush Panel on US Intelligence Failures
In the wake of revelations by David Kay and the inability of the US armed forces in Iraq to find weapons of mass destruction, President Bush is forming a bipartisan commission to investigate the US intelligence findings that informed his decision to go war in Iraq. Larry Mantle talks about this commission and the alleged intelligence failures with Tony Karon, World Page Editor at Time.com.
Purchasing Cheaper Canadian Drugs
Assemblyman Dario Frommer, (D) 43rd district, will soon introduce a bill called "the affordable prescription drug act of 2004." The bill will recommend three things--a waiver from the Federal government to let California cities and states buy less expensive Canadian drugs, to sponsor a comparative web site for the public, and a review of how California buys its drugs. Assemblyman Frommer joins Larry Mantle to discuss his proposed bill. Also joining the conversation is Donald Barlett, Editor-at-large for Time magazine, Sally Pipes, President and CEO of Pacific Research Institute, and Ted Marmor, professor of public policy at Yale University. They explore the FDA's role in regulating the purchase of inexpensive drugs from Canada and other nations, and how all of this will play out on the national landscape.
Implementation of New Nurse-To-Patient Ratios
The new state-mandated nurse-to-patient ratios went into affect a month ago. How are Southern California hospitals managing? Joining Larry are Jill Furillo, Southern California Director of the California Nurses Association, and Jim Lott, Executive Vice President of the Healthcare Association of Southern California.
Tenet Update
Last week Tenet Healthcare Corporation announced that it intends to sell nineteen of its medical facilities in California, fourteen of which are in Los Angeles County. The healthcare community in Southern California is nervous that Tenet may close the facilities if no buyers are found. Larry Mantle talks with Tenet California CEO Dr. Stephen Newman.
Emergency Services Update
Larry Mantle checks in with St. Francis Medical Center emergency room doctor Daniel Higgins, and Dr. William Koenig of the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency about the current state of our emergency rooms and trauma centers.