“New standards aim to improve surgery for the oldest patients,” by Lauran Neergaard, ABC News

“The American College of Surgeons launched a program Friday to encourage hospitals around the country to adopt 30 new standards to optimize surgery on patients who are 75 and older — information seniors and their families eventually will be able to use in choosing where to get care. Seniors account for more than 40% of surgeries, which is expected to grow as the population ages. Certainly there are plenty of robust elders who can withstand major operations.”

 

LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform):

In the U.S., which retains some vestiges of a free health care market, the focus is on improving care even for the old. Compare that to the U.K.’s single-payer system where the primary focus is on rationing.