October 19th, 2011 by KennyLinMD in Health Policy, Opinion
Tags: Cost, Cost-Conscious Care, Diagnostic Tests, Dr. Molly Cooke, Health Benefits, Health Reform, Investment, Medical Education, Medical School, Money, New England Journal of Medicine, Treatment, Value, Waste
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The past few months have offered encouraging signs that physicians and physician organizations are belatedly recognizing the need to take an active role in controlling health care costs by emphasizing “high-value” care and minimizing the use of low-value interventions with high costs and few clinical benefits. On the heels of a best practice guideline issued by his organization, American College of Physicians Executive VP Steven Weinberger, MD recently called for making cost-consciousness and stewardship of health resources a required general competency for graduate medical education.
In light of a recently published estimate that the top 5 overused clinical activities in primary care specialties led to $6.7 billion in wasted health spending in 2009, Dr. Weinberger’s call comes none to soon. Below is an excerpt from my post on this topic from April 13, 2010. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Common Sense Family Doctor*
October 19th, 2011 by John Mandrola, M.D. in Opinion
Tags: Balance, Eureka, Health, Healthy Living, Ideas, Jason Gay, Less, Less Is More, Metaphor, Over-eating, Strive, Wall Street Journal, Wellness, WSJ
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One of the best things about writing a blog is when life provides Eureka moments. I read an essay this weekend that literally jolted the blogger in me.
If you are an athlete seeking a pinnacle; (That about covers all of us.)
Or a doctor striving to be the best that you can be–for humanity;
Or a parent wanting to provide the best for your children;
Or a learner wishing you could some day be smart enough to work in a think tank; (Ever wonder what a think tank looks like?)
Or perchance, Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Dr John M*
October 18th, 2011 by Michael Kirsch, M.D. in Opinion
Tags: Communication, Doctor Patient Relationship, Glass Hospital, Hospitals, How many, Improvement, Inquiries, List, Over-reaching, Questions, Reputation, Shots
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The blog, Shots, posted a question primer to prepare patients for medical office visits with their doctors. A reaction to this appeared on Glass Hospital, where John Schumann offered his own wry version of the question list. My less wry, and more dry response appears below.
While I agree with Shots that education is power, a closer look at the question list demonstrates that the intent to educate may obfuscate instead.
First, the post is entitled, Ten Questions to Ask Your Doctor, suggesting that patients arrive at their physician’s office Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at MD Whistleblower*
October 18th, 2011 by Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. in Opinion
Tags: Automation, Change, Diagnosis, Doctor-Patient Communication, Doctors, Future, Hands, Herniated Disk, Human, Machines, Physical Exam, Separation, Technology, Touch
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I suffer with herniated lumbar disks. L4-L5 bulges and ruptures on occasion. If you catch me on the wrong day I have a little curvature to my back representing the spasm that makes me miserable.
I saw an extremely well-referenced orthopedic surgeon in consultation recently. But through the course of my visit he never touched me. We spent an extraordinary amount of time examining my MRI. Together in front of a large monitor we looked at every angle of my spine with me asking questions. I could see first hand what had been keeping me up at night. I could understand why certain positions make me comfortable. What we drew from those images could never be determined with human hands. In my experience as a patient, I consider it Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at 33 Charts*
October 18th, 2011 by Berci in Opinion
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Apps, Dementia, Facebook, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Memory, Online, Podcast, Resources, Social Media, Technology, Twitter, Web 2.0, YouTube
1 Comment »
The Alzheimer World Day only took place a few days ago and we received many suggestions about creating a selection focusing on this important topic. Webicina’s new Alzheimer’s Disease and Web 2.0 collection features relevant and quality social media resources from blogs and podcasts to community sites and Twitter users focusing on Alzheimer’s disease.
Here is my top 10 social media selection for Alzheimer’s disease: Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll*
