William Heisel

I have reported on health for most of my career. My work as an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register exposed problems with the fertility industry, the trade in human body parts and the use of illegal drugs in sports. I helped create a first-of-its-kind report card judging hospitals on a wide array of measures for a story that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. I was one of the lead reporters on a series of stories about lead in candy, a series that also was a finalist for the Pulitzer.For the Center for Health Journalism (previously known as Reporting on Health), I have written about investigative health reporting and occasionally broke news on my column, Antidote. I also was the project editor on the Just One Breath collaborative reporting series. These days, for the University of Washington, I now work as the Executive Director for Insitutue for Health Metrics and Evaluation's Client Services, a social enterprise. You can follow me on Twitter @wheisel.

Articles

New medical board rules will allow doctors’ misdeeds to go unnoticed

The professional history of California doctor James Privitera includes a series of questionable practices that contributed to the death of at least one patient. And yet the physician's reprimand by the state medical board can be wiped from online records as early as next month.

Under new law, medical board reveals some doctor discipline, hides rest

Should California doctors' public records be expunged from an online database after 10 years? Patient safety advocates didn't think so, and helped pass legislation to undo that expiration date. But the new rules are full of serious compromises.

DEA puts tougher restrictions on hydrocodone drugs

New rules go into effect today that will make it harder for doctors to prescribe some of the nation's most popular painkillers. Doctors can no longer sign off on automatic refills, nor can they call or fax in prescriptions for hydrocodone products, now classified as Schedule II drugs.

Everybody Hurts: Medical Board explains new pain guidelines

The Medical Board of California has new guidelines for treating pain with drugs. Two board officials explain how the guidelines will work, and comment on the challenges doctors face in trying to diagnose pain and prescribe relief in short, infrequent patient visits.

New guidelines urge doctors to actively manage painkiller addicts.

Everybody Hurts: California Medical Board recommends compassion, caution in pain management

The Medical Board of California is currently discussing new guidelines for prescription pain medicines. The recommendations urge physicians to better distinguish between types of pain, remain vigilant for abuse, and help addicts find treatment.

Bed Count: Can Walmart fill the gaps left by hospital closures?

As hospital closures and physician shortages continue to afflict rural and low-income areas, Walmart is announcing an expansion of in-store primary care clinics in states such as Texas and South Carolina. Will this be the new face of primary care in rural regions?