47. Should We Trust Hospital Rankings?

In the newest show from the Freakonomics Radio Network, host Zachary Crockett explores the hidden side of the things around us. This week: One creature’s trash is another’s cash. (Or, how one man found profit in pee.) 

A sneak peek at Bapu's new book, Random Acts of Medicine, available now from Doubleday, and an announcement about the show. 

Couples get divorced for all kinds of reasons. Is having kids one of them? Bapu talks about research that investigates what happens to parents who unexpectedly have twins. Plus, an announcement about the future of the show. 

A new record high number of COVID-19 cases is set with a seven-day average now topping 256,000. So far, hospitalizations and deaths have not seen a similar increase in pace, but there are concerning signs. For example, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Vermont are now showing r ... Show More

Why are safety net hospitals barely surviving? What makes a hospital a safety net hospital? How essential are safety net hospitals in caring for low income Americans? How do we pay for that care?Show notes, Transcript and References:https://www.coreimpodcast.com/2023/03/02/safety ... Show More

Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are still in the decline in the U.S. but is it premature to get excited?Could Spring Break derail progress?Europe is seeing another surge. Are variants to blame?A new study finds young kids don't need to stay six feet apart.Fear of needles might ... Show More

Patients in the U.S. healthcare system often feel they’re treated with a lack of empathy. Doctors and nurses have tragically high levels of burnout. Could fixing the first problem solve the second? And does the rest of society need more compassion too? 

The NHS turns 75 this year, but as waiting lists for appointments grow, increasing numbers of patients are looking elsewhere for healthcare. Denis Campbell reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus