February 3rd, 2010 by Dr. Val Jones in Audio, Expert Interviews, Health Tips
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February is National Heart Disease Awareness Month, and so I invited Dr. Bill Kussmaul to make me aware of some of the hottest controversies in cardiology. His tips and insights are invaluable to busy primary care physicians looking for the bottom line on thorny issues. Dr. Kussmaul is the Associate Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Hahneman Hospital in Philadelphia and an Associate Editor of the Annals of Internal Medicine. You can listen to our conversation or read my transcript below:
[Audio:https://getbetterhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/billkussmaul.mp3]
Controversy #1: Cholesterol and Statin Therapy
Dr. Val: Who should receive high-dose statin therapy? Read more »
February 3rd, 2010 by Davis Liu, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Opinion
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It appears that the American Dream is dead as the Democrats have essentially no chance in passing some sort of healthcare reform package. The stunning loss of the senate seat held by the late Ted Kennedy has now given the Republicans the ability to filibuster any significant healthcare legislation.
More disappointing is that Americans seem willing to accept the fact that they can live without healthcare. In a blog at US News and World Report titled 21 Things We’re Learning to Live Without, besides abstaining from cable TV, a home phone, prepared foods, and lattes, healthcare was also on the list. Millions of Americans are apparently “simply hoping they don’t get seriously ill or hurt.” How can this happen in supposedly the wealthiest nation in the world? Too many Americans are literally one illness or accident away from financial ruin as medical costs are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Saving Money and Surviving the Healthcare Crisis*
February 3rd, 2010 by DrRob in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Opinion
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I was talking to a fellow physician about a mutual patient. I had information that would help him in their care and he was taking the unusual step of asking me for my information. I was impressed.
“Could you fax me those documents?” he asked. ”Here’s my fax number.”
I scrambled to get a pen to write down his number. Then I had a thought: “I could email you those documents much easier. Do you have an email address?”
Silence.
After a long pause, he hesitantly responded, “I would rather you just fax it.” He said no more. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Musings of a Distractible Mind*
February 3rd, 2010 by AlanDappenMD in Primary Care Wednesdays
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Introduction: To those readers picking up this series for the first time, here’s a synopsis for you: Mrs. Doctor is a primary care physician who is in an unsavory marriage with Mr. Insurance. They care for their adult children (Patient 1, Patient 2, Patient 3…) with the following arrangement: Mr. Insurance will take care of all the financial requirements by paying Mrs. Doctor and to do all the caring and nurturing to keep the kids well.
Mrs. Doctor has come to realize that Mr. Insurance is a jerk and asks her to do more and more while giving less and less money for the care of the kids. Mr. Insurance refuses to see anything wrong with his relationship he has stonewalled all requests for marriage counseling. Mrs. Doctor began counseling on her own to ponder her dilemma through the impartial eyes and ears of a marriage and family therapist. Read more »
February 2nd, 2010 by Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. in Better Health Network, News, Opinion
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If you told me last year that web-base psychotherapy would gain traction I wouldn’t have believed you. That was before I met Mark Goldenson, CEO of Breakthrough, a silicon valley based web startup that matches patient and therapist through a secure online portal. Breakthrough clients can review a therapist’s qualifications and fees, view sample video, and initiate therapy by video or phone.
In a 2.0 world marked by clouds, hives and democratized healthcare, Breakthrough is cultivating one-on-one relationships through improved access to mental health services. Everyone should be talking about this. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at 33 Charts*
February is National Heart Disease Awareness Month, and so I invited Dr. Bill Kussmaul to make me aware of some of the hottest controversies in cardiology. His tips and insights are invaluable to busy primary care physicians looking for the bottom line on thorny issues. Dr. Kussmaul is the Associate Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Hahneman Hospital in Philadelphia and an Associate Editor of the Annals of Internal Medicine. You can listen to our conversation or read my transcript below:
