Is The FDA Keeping Us Fat?
Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. A Gallup poll found that 86% of full-time workers are overweight. A report in Health Affairs by Kenneth Thorpe, shows that 7% weight…
The Insider’s Guide to Nurses and the Internet
Results from a 2010 survey indicate that nurses ( ... as well as physicians! ) are about a year behind the general public in adopting social media. 87 percent of…
Vaccines in the Developing World
When we think of vaccines we need to divide the world into the industrialized countries, those with transitional economies and the developing countries. In the developing world, the…
Consumer-Driven HealthCare vs Third Party Payer
A reporter who is new to the health care wars contacted me the other day. She already had a pretty good idea of the liberal point of view — expand…
The Power of Meeting Another Patient
Remember when people in the waiting room at a doctor’s office were all reading magazines? It was quiet as each person waited for their name to be called. Even if…
Changing Dynamics of Medtech Investing
It has been recently postulated and debated whether there has lately been a "Series A Crunch" in financings — not specific to medtech (which we solely focus on here) but for…
Medicare Has Lower Than Expected Premium Increases
As the November 23 deadline for the Super Committee fast approaches, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease continues to advocate for reforms that strengthen Medicare and Medicaid while pulling costs…
Through the Murky Slog: Part II—A New Light for Cancer Therapies?
Last week, we discussed new drug approvals that reflected a paradigm shift for cancer drug development and for treatment of people living with cancer. Finally, we are starting to see…
Adolescent Pregnancy
Last week the world welcomed its seven billionth child. Whether this child is Maya (the World Bank’s virtual seven billionth child) or Danica (the UN’s symbolic but ‘real life’ seven…
Maybe Walmart Should Open a Hospital Instead
GOOD IDEA! - Kaiser Health News and NPR found a request for information letter from Walmart to prospective partners saying the retailer was seeking help to “dramatically … lower the…
