DaVinci Robot Fails to Start During Prostate Cancer Surgery
This is a 2 million dollar machine and apparently there were some technical issues, and I am guessing software that lead to the hardware not wanting to operate and even…
Wasting Money At the End of Life?
Peter Bach is a physician with a recent op-ed appearing in the New York Times. Dr. Bach's piece about whether or not end-of-life health care spending is wasteful is compelling.…
Wyden/Ryan Medicare Plan is a Loser
The Bipartisan Options for the Future white paper [PDF] by Ron Wyden (Senate Democrat from Oregon) and Paul Ryan (Republican Congressman from Wisconsin) is billed as a bold move to…
People in High-Deductible Plans Short-Change Prevention
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Rep. Paul Ryan yesterday unveiled an updated proposal to turn Medicare into a voucher program. Their plan, unlike Ryan’s original plan, would be optional and…
Hospital Reps “Sell” Doctors on Using Their Services
The actual positions are not called sales and marketing though it’s a branded name called “Physician Liaisons” easier to get in the door with that title. Tenet is hiring ore…
Disease Registries Help Doctors Share Information
Disease registries enable doctors and hospitals to learn about and share the latest information on best clinical practices for disease and conditions. According to a post on the Health Affairs…
Global Trend in Bariatric Surgery
The global obesity problem has been targeted by multiple alternative therapies including surgery (with and without devices), a variety of over the counter and ethical drugs (and combinations of them),…
What to do About HealthCare Spending: Eat-Your-Spinach Budget Reforms
Democrats seem to have more “street smarts” than Republicans when it comes to grass roots politics. In 1983, both parties agreed to cut Social Security benefits by raising the retirement…
Florida’s Problem: Cutting Medicaid May Cost the State More
Florida is concerned that it spends too much on Medicaid. Unfortunately for policymakers, proposed cuts to Medicaid are likely to be self-defeating according to an Orlando Sentinel article. They may…
Healthcare Providers Stifle Online Free Speech
As I've mentioned before in posts, my background includes service as a hospital risk manager. So, I'm an advocate of techniques to minimize risk. However, I've learned of one that…
