Medicare patients with heart disease in Buffalo are one-third as likely as patients in Brooklyn to receive procedures to unclog arteries.
But degenerative arthritis patients in Buffalo are twice as likely as those in the Bronx to undergo hip replacements.
The large differences in procedures reflect the many variations in care here and across the country in how patients get treated for similar conditions.
And whether a patient gets surgery or nonsurgical treatment often depends on physician recommendations, perhaps neglecting patient preferences, according to a new report by the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.
Read the full report below or click here for Henry Davis' article.
Here are some of the stories we're pursuing today:
*The woman accused of drunk driving in yesterday's crash that killed a 7-month-old girl had a prior DWI arrest.
*John Vogl is writing a profile of Niagara University hockey goalie Carsen Chubak.
*What would going over the "fiscal cliff" mean for the average Buffalonian? Washington Bureau Chief Jerry Zremski will have the story.
*Some local teens are making their own films, and a network of high school studios -- started by the kids and not through the schools -- is emerging. That'll be the lead story in tomorrow's NeXt section.
*Bob DiCesare and Bucky Gleason are covering tonight's men's basketball game between UB and Temple.
*We'll have a review of tonight's WYRK Taste of Country Winter Acoustic Concert.
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority operates bus and Metro Rail service, two local airports and owns waterfront land. Minkel talks with Brian Meyer about some looming issues invoving public transportation.
Here are some of the stories our staff is putting together:
*The man who conducted a free fall from space had some of his breathing equipment manufactured by an Orchard Park firm. We are talking to the company about its work.
*Food Editor Andrew Galarneau will have a roundup on cookbooks that make great holiday gifts in tomorrow's Taste section.
*UB is having its season-ending football press conference. Bob DiCesare will analyze where the team is and where they're headed.
*We'll be looking at the record Powerball jackpot and how it's making waves in Western New York.
*Jay Skurski will have a story on a Buffalo Bill who might be playing his way out of a job.
The News' Brian Meyer sat down with host Eileen Buckley as part of today's Press Pass segment on WBFO. They talked about Mark Croce's progress with Statler City and how these development projects are revitalizing the city step-by-step.
Here's some of the stuff that came up at our morning news meeting:
*Reporters Maki Becker and Gene Warner are tracking down the latest on the death of David Gerken Jr., the man who died outside Ralph Wilson Stadium following the Bills-Dolphins game.
*WKBW Channel 7 recently hired Polly Van Doren as its new news director. Jane Kwiatkowski is working on a profile of her.
*The University at Buffalo is in some pretty good company when it comes to attracting international students. Jay Rey will be filling you in.
*The control of the state Senate appears to be coming down to vote counting in Ulster County. Tom Precious, our Albany bureau chief, is there to gather the latest.
*The U.S. Attorney's Office is holding an afternoon press conference "to discuss the results of a major global operation coinciding with ‘Cyber Monday.’"
*We'll also have a review of the theater production "The Eight: Reindeer Monologues."
