May 11th, 2010 by Toni Brayer, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Policy, News, Opinion, Research
Tags: Artificial Reproductive Technology, bad baby, Columbia Medical Center, Delivering Too Early, Doctors, Early Deliveries, Family Medicine, Gestation, Infants, Medical Indication, Medical Intervention, Multiple Births, Obstetrics And Gynecology, Older Moms, Patient Safety, Physicians, Premature Baby, Preterm Births, Preventive Healthcare, Preventive Medicine, Primary Care, SMFM, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
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Babies born between the 34th and 36th week have more complications and cost the U.S. $26 billion annually. These children have more risk of death, cerebral palsy, cognitive impairment, or respiratory problems.
In the United States, nearly 13% of infants are born before they reach 37 weeks gestation. According to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), that rate is much higher than other developed nations, and physicians may be partially to blame for the early deliveries.
Some of the reasons may be older moms or the increased use of artificial reproductive technology and multiple births, but some physicians are choosing to deliver between 34 and 37 weeks even when there is no clear medical indication. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth*
May 11th, 2010 by David Kroll, Ph.D. in Better Health Network, News, Opinion, Research, True Stories
Tags: Academia, Administrators, Associate Professor, Biomedical Degrees, Cancer Biology, Dean of the Medical School, Dr. Nancy Andrews, Dr. Sally Kornbluth, Duke School of Medicine, Engineering, Faculty, Gender, Leadership Roles, Medical Schools, Medicine, News & Observer, Oncology, Pharmacology, Professional Positions, Ranks, Sarah Avery, Science, Woman of the Moment, Women
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I didn’t turn on the computer yesterday (yes, it was glorious), so I missed Mother’s Day coverage in our local newspaper. When we returned home, I was happy to see that on the front page of the print copy the dean of Duke School of Medicine, Nancy Andrews, M.D., Ph.D., was featured with her daughter in the lab on their “fun Saturdays” together.
Also cited and pictured in the article was Duke vice dean for research and professor of pharmacology and cancer biology, Sally Kornbluth, Ph.D., and her daughter.
Written by News & Observer science editor Sarah Avery, the article describes how women are increasing in ranks in biomedical degrees earned while still lagging at the associate professor level and up. This trend was cited specifically for faculty and administrators in basic science departments of medical schools, but is widespread in academic science and engineering. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Terra Sigillata*
May 11th, 2010 by StevenWilkinsMPH in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Opinion, Research
Tags: Appointment Reminders, Dentists, Discharged with New Medication, Doctor-Patient Communication, Doctors, Few No Shows, Follow-Up Phone Call, Great Service, Hospital Discharges, Hospital Readmission Rates, Kripalani, Maniaci, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Medical Errors, Medical Malpractice, Medicare Hospital Discharges, Medication Non-Adherence, More Billings, Patient Follow Up, Patient-Reported Barriers and Solutions, Physicians, Primary Care, Proactive Follow Up, Quality of Discharge Instructions, Routine Follow Ups
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I have to give my dentist credit. He and his staff know when I am due for a cleaning and call me to schedule an appointment without fail. They also call to remind me the day before an appointment. Many dentists, I understand, do similar kinds of things for their patients.
As a patient, I like being reminded — it’s a great service. I also like the fact that someone’s looking out for me. From a business perspective it makes a lot of sense as well. Fewer “no shows,” more cleanings, more billings, and so on.
It’s too bad that more physicians don’t routinely follow up with their patients, particularly when it really counts. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Mind The Gap*
May 11th, 2010 by Medgadget in Better Health Network, News, Research
Tags: Artificial Pancreas, Blood Sugar Control, Boston University, Computer Program, Dr. Steven Russell, Endocrinology, Glucagon, Glucose Sensors, Hypoglycemia, insulin, Insulin Pumps, JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Laptop, Massachusetts General Hospital, Regulatory Software, Type 1 Diabetes
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Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University have reported that an “artificial pancreas” has worked in 11 patients enrolled in a study sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The device consists of insulin pumps, glucose sensors, and a laptop with regulatory software. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Medgadget*
May 10th, 2010 by EvanFalchukJD in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Health Tips, Opinion, Research, True Stories
Tags: Alone, Best Doctors, Confused, Consumer Business, Evan Falchuk, Frustrated, General Medicine, Healthcare Consumerism, Healthcare Consumers, Healthcare Economics, Healthcare in America, Healthcare reform, Healthcare System, Lost, Major Barriers, MBGH, Midwest Business Group on Health, Primary Care
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I [recently] gave a speech at the Midwest Business Group on Health’s (MBGH) 30th Annual Conference. The MBGH is one of the country’s leading organizations on healthcare, and its members include the leading innovators and thought leaders on healthcare in America. It was a privilege to present to them.
I spoke about why healthcare just isn’t a consumer business in spite of all of the effort to turn people into healthcare “consumers.”
At Best Doctors, we have a closeup view of what happens to people when they try to find their way through the healthcare system. It’s not a pleasant picture. Healthcare consumers –- if you can call them that –- are often lost, confused, frustrated, alone. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at See First Blog*
