Hospitals Giving 'Death Test' to Seniors

(Newser) Seniors had better brace themselves: Some US hospitals are now administering the "death test," which estimates their chance of dying over the next 30 days. Invented in Australia, the test weighs 29 different criteria—including blood pressure, respiratory rate, and medical history—to determine whether hospitalization is worthwhile or the patient should return home or go to a hospice, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The idea is to prevent needless and expensive procedures while allowing patients to spend their last days with loved ones. "Most terminally ill people want to die at home, but in fact three quarters end up dying in acute hospitals, often after intrusive, expensive and ultimately pointless medical procedures," says study author Magnolia Cardona-Morrell, the Independent reports.

The test also aims to take pressure off doctors and nurses to prolong patients' lives "at all costs," the Telegraph reports. "I had lots of nurses and doctors standing there saying, 'We have been waiting for a tool like this for years, when can we start using it?'" says Cardona-Morrell, whose work was presented recently at a US medical conference. "To me that is an indication there is a need out there." She says the test takes just five or ten minutes, and helps doctors have a more "transparent" conversation with patients. Called CriSTAL, it's now being tested to see if it would have predicted the future of patients who have since died. Then it may be used in more hospitals. (In related news, a study says those who feel younger than their age will live longer.)

I read your story. I can see stuff like this happening:

The Counselor has condemned so many to death and suffering that she is getting more paranoid. It is 2:30 AM and she hears a noise outside. Is it the neighbor's cat or is it the three grandchildren of a man who she condemned to death outside armed with baseball bats and a M1911A1 out there to enact some justice. Her daughter is late coming home from a date, the phone rings, will it be her saying she will be late will they hear her hollering in the background as a man's voice says, "if you do not allow my mother to be treated, she will be shipped to Saudi Arabia to be a bride, they will pay me well. Enough for us to go the new clinics of the newly liberated Cuba for healthcare. I'll release her if you change your mind. You have 24 hours, you'll hear from me then, be ready with your decision." Click!

She is driving home and sees an old woman standing next to her 1964 Caddy with the hood up. As she stopped, the old woman says to her grandsons in the bushes, "Andy and Barney, now!!!!" After hearing a loud crack as she starts to lose conciousness, the old woman says, "that's for my husband Warren." Seconds later, she sees an angel, named St. Peter who directs her to a glowing figure resembling a man in a robe but has no features sitting on a throne. Besides him standing at a podium with a book, is Jesus thumbing through it. The glowing figure asks, "My Son, is her name in the Book of Life?" Jesus replies, "no, My Father, she is not, she has committed many evil deeds sending many up to St. Peter who were not ready." As the counselor pleads, the Glowing Figure says, "I'll give you one more chance but I'll let a jury judges you." He waves His hand and a light shines upon those she has cheated them out of a full life. She sees the faces, tens of them, hundreds of them eventually thousands. The Glowing Figure says, "man and women of the jury, what is your decision?" Immediately, you hear the cry of a thousand voices, louder than any jet engine, louder than even all the Saturn V's that were ever launched, turning to her and saying, "Guilty!!!!!" The Glowing Figure says, "they have spoken and I have ruled, into the fiery abyss you will be cast! Begone!" The ground opens up down she goes.

The vet shrugged. “If you’d taken my word for it, the bill would only have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, what did you expect?”

That was before Blue Cross got a hold of it.

Based on some of my recent bills, the two tests would have been hammered from $65 down to about $11 each, for a total of $20+2*11 = $42, of which $20 would have been my copay.

Of course, my actual bills had much higher numbers, but my bottom line was still $20. This is why I said, "Sure," when my doc thought he heard something through his stethoscope.

From their "About Us" page:

After nearly three frustrating years, Carly was desperate for answers. She was clearly suffering from a serious medical condition, but nearly two dozen doctors, countless medical tests and over $100,000 in medical bills still could not tell her what was wrong. Carly had once been a vibrant, healthy teenager, but now she could barely get out of bed. Her symptoms and the emotional stress were pushing her and her family to the breaking point.
Finally, after a rare opportunity to consult with a top-notch interdisciplinary team of medical experts from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Carly received an answer: "Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency" (FXPOI) - a rare genetic mutation found in just one of every 15,000 people. Even more astounding, the treatment of Carly's condition involved a simple hormone patch, which effectively eliminated all of her symptoms in less than one month.
Prior to her diagnosis, Carly was starting to wonder whether her life was already over. Today, Carly is fully recovered, with a new family of her own, and she is actively achieving all of her personal and professional goals.

I've no idea if they're worth anything. But they're not the government, they are part of the dreaded private sector, so we'll know if they are still around after a few years.

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