October 15th, 2010 by DrWes in Better Health Network, Health Policy, News, Opinion
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Who doesn’t need insurance reform? Why, the insurers like Aetna, Cigna, and BCS Insurance, that’s who! From Emergency Physicians Monthly:
By threatening to raise health care premiums by 200 percent or threatening to drop coverage altogether, the companies got the Department of Health and Human Services to cave. Now the companies have our government’s blessing to continue offering “insurance” to their employees that is capped at a few thousand dollars per year instead of the $750,000 required in the health care law.
Perhaps GruntDoc said it best:
“I am not an Obamacare fan, and would like it repealed, with smaller, more focused Bipartisan fixes, but if the government is going to pass something then roll over this easily to special interests… it’s already worse than useless.”
-WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist.
*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes*
October 4th, 2010 by GruntDoc in Better Health Network, Health Policy, News, Opinion
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Texas is at the center of a heated national battle over the training emergency physicians need in order to advertise themselves as “board certified.” Via the Houston Chronicle:
At stake is the welfare of patients requiring immediate medical attention. Leaders of the traditional board say allowing physicians without proper training to advertise themselves as board-certified would mislead the public. Leaders of the alternative board say the proposed rule change will undermine the ability of Texas’ rural hospitals to staff their emergency departments with board-certified ER physicians.
A final verdict may only come, given one board’s already delivered threat, in a court of law.
At stake also are the careers of a lot of practicing Emergency Physicians, many of whom I’m proud to call friends and colleagues. (And it’s not just docs at rural hospitals, they’re in nearly every ED in Texas, and your lesser state). They practice high quality Emergency Medicine, and I have no qualms about the practice of those who are alternately boarded. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at GruntDoc*
April 11th, 2009 by GruntDoc in Better Health Network
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Other night, two dudes were rather unceremoniously dumped on our ambulance ramp. They were, reportedly, not breathing very effectively, thought to be due to ingestion of some substance or another.
Dude who ‘dropped off’ his fellows walked into the ER waiting room, went to the vending machines, got a snack, and left. Didn’t talk to anyone.
With friends like these…
January 13th, 2009 by Dr. Val Jones in News
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This is one of the saddest stories I’ve read in a while. H/t to GruntDoc.
Dr. Michael Sanchez, who in a few months as director of University Hospital’s busy emergency department slashed waiting times and reduced the number of patients turned away because of overcrowding, was struck and killed while jogging Sunday afternoon.
His own emergency department colleagues tried to save Sanchez without recognizing him because of the extent of his injuries. Only after he was pronounced dead did they learn it was Sanchez, hospital staff said.
…
Police said Sanchez was struck in the 11600 block of Bandera Road about 1:40 p.m. Sunday. The driver told police he was on his way to get the brakes on his SUV fixed when his cell phone rang. As he answered it, he said he spotted Sanchez on the side.
According to a police report, Smith said he hit the brakes and the car swerved onto the shoulder, striking Sanchez and sending him onto the hood of the car.
A witness said the driver swerved across two lanes before striking the victim. Police said no charges have been filed.
…
Rufe said Sanchez had so much enthusiasm and energy for the job, it made some of his colleagues skeptical about him. But it was that drive that allowed him to push the department beyond the way things had traditionally been done.
“He was telling me one day, ‘I love my job. I love what I do. I love my family. We have a wonderful home. I can’t ask for anything else. And now the possibility of a residency program. I’m just a fortunate person,’” Rufe said.
