Hospital Corporation of America and Subsidiaries - Page 13

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               Medicines and prescription drugs frequently are administered           
          to a patient during the course of treatment for the patient's               
          condition.  Intravenous solutions or blood and blood derivatives            
          also may be administered to a patient.  Medical supplies,                   
          moreover, may be used in performing surgical and other procedures           
          on patients, including such items as scalpels and other surgical            
          instruments, sponges, surgical drapes, surgical gowns, towels,              
          syringes, alcohol preparations, drainage and irrigating tubes,              
          and tourniquets.                                                            
               Additionally, many ancillary hospital departments use                  
          medical supplies in the course of performing their particular               
          specialties relating to patient hospital care.  For example, x-             
          ray film, chemicals, dyes, and nuclear materials are used in the            
          course of performing radiological diagnostic procedures.  Gases             
          are administered to patients during surgery under the strict                
          supervision of an anesthesiologist.  Oxygen is administered to              
          patients by the respiratory therapy department.  Dyes are                   
          injected in patients with possible coronary artery disease during           
          the diagnostic procedure known as cardiac catheterization.                  
          Psychiatric facilities sometimes use other medical supplies and             
          equipment in certain treatments, such as insulin therapy,                   
          electroshock therapy, and hydrotherapy.                                     
               The hospitals employ sophisticated medical records systems             
          to identify which medical supplies are used on or for each                  
          patient.  The hospitals determine patient charge amounts for                




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Last modified: May 25, 2011