December 8th, 2009 by EvanFalchukJD in Better Health Network, Health Policy
Tags: Bet, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Caritas Christi Health System, Competition, Massachusetts, Referrals
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Caritas Christi Health System are announcing a new agreement that some suggest may be a model for the rest of the country.
Under it, the non-profit insurer will stop paying the non-profit hospital on a fee-for-service basis for certain insureds:
Under the deal expected to be announced Friday, Caritas . . . will be paid to take care of about 60,000 Blue Cross members in its new program — whether or not they get sick. Caritas will use some of the payments for preventive services to help keep patients healthy. If Caritas can keep health-care costs under a certain budget, it can make a profit. But if health-care costs go over the agreed-on amount, Caritas is on the hook. . . . . Blue Cross is adding a carrot: If doctors and hospitals can meet certain quality targets, they can earn a bonus of as much as 10% on the value of the deal. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at See First Blog*
December 7th, 2009 by Joshua Schwimmer, M.D. in Better Health Network, Research
Tags: EMR, Google, Online Use, Physicians, Search
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In November 2009 Hall & Partner published a study sponsored by Google titled “Connecting with Physicians Online.” (Here’s the webinar on YouTube and here’s the PDF of the presentation.)
The study’s aim was to better understand how physicians use the internet in their clinical practices. As you’d expect from a study sponsored by Google, it was particularly focused on how physicians use search.
The study surveyed 411 physicians from a range of specialties (PCPs, endocrinologist, cardiologists, psychiatrist) and with a range of experience (2 – 30 years in practice) on their use of the internet in clinical practice. Additionally, various clinical scenarios were presented designed to mimic actual situations the physicians might encounter. Read more »
This post, Google Study: How Do Physicians Use The Internet?, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Joshua Schwimmer, M.D..
December 7th, 2009 by Toni Brayer, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips
Tags: Butter, Calories, Coconut Oil, Fattening, Movie Popcorn, Popcorn, Saturated Fat, Weight Gain
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After a holiday weekend of movie-going and eating that popcorn that smells so good in the theater, it was a shock to read the report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest that shows just how bad theater popcorn is. The researchers studied medium size popcorn from three large movie chains; Regal Entertainment Group, AMC and Cinemark.
The analysis showed that a Regal medium popcorn contains 1,200 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat. AMC popcorn was a “smaller” medium and contained 590 calories and 33 grams of saturated fat. This was before adding the butter topping. Cinemark wasn’t much better at 760 calories but it only had 3 grams of saturated fat.
Kudos to Cinemark for popping their corn in canola oil with less saturated fat. The other chains use heart unhealthy coconut oil, which is about 90% saturated fat. Lard is 40% saturated!
The study showed that a $12 medium popcorn and soda combination at a Regal movie would be the equivalent of three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders with 12 pats of butter. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth*
December 7th, 2009 by Davis Liu, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips
Tags: Diet and Exercise, Food and Nutrition, Internal Medicine, Obesity, Preventive Medicine, Primary Care, Weight Loss
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Now a couple weeks after Thankgiving, an important concept to remember is the following:
The body doesn’t lie.
We’ve all eaten a little too much. If we’ve done any exercise, then it is likely standing in line during Black Friday (or clicking the mouse on Cyber Monday). We should not be shocked about some weight gain. Although my patients find it hard to believe, the body doesn’t lie and are stunned that they continue to gain weight in subsequent office visits. It can’t be due to anything they are doing. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Saving Money and Surviving the Healthcare Crisis*
December 7th, 2009 by Medgadget in Better Health Network, News
Tags: Amnesia, Autopsy, H.M., Henry Gustav Molaison, Neurology, Pathology
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Contrary to common misconceptions, real cases of amnesia are extremely rare. But Henry Gustav Molaison (known as patient H.M.) was subject of a radical experimental brain surgery in 1953 in an attempt to treat his epileptic seizures following which he was not able to form new memories. About a year ago, Mr Molaison passed away but left to science his fascinating brain which is currently being dissected at the University of California San Diego Brain Observatory. The researchers in charge of the project have setup a live video feed with an open invitation to anyone interested in viewing the slicing to join in the fun. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Medgadget*
