Point, counterpoint, rebuttal
Laura Beil at Men's Health published a story in July about the risks of robotic surgery for men. The summary:American medicine has a history of embracing new technology first and asking questions later, Dr. Lotan says. "Our health care system is in financial distress, and it's important to understand why. Doctors are removing gallbladders robotically, and it makes no financial sense. At some point as a society, we have to say, We're spending this money, and what are we getting?'"With robotic surgery, the answer may come too late to matter, he says. No one is going back. "Maybe with the next technology we will ...
Source: Running a hospital - August 28, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
So, ask her to withdraw the deal!
The two Democratic candidates for Attorney General agree on one thing, that the current Attorney General's proposed deal with Partners Healthcare System will not achieve controls over rising healthcare costs from the dominant market player.Here is the Youtube of a recent debate. Start at 34:04 and listen through 36:09. Or read the transcript here at Commonhealth. (Source: Running a hospital)
Source: Running a hospital - August 27, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
They should have tried a blog instead!
As we approach Labor Day, an important story. Beth Kutscher reports in Modern Healthcare that "Prime Healthcare Services is suing a union it says is waging an ongoing smear campaign to pressure the chain into unionizing its workforce." Here's more:In the 69-page lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Prime accuses the SEIU chapter of violating the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which Congress enacted to help the government prosecute organized crime.“While Defendants' methods are wide-ranging and elaborate, their purpose is straightforward: Defendants have ...
Source: Running a hospital - August 27, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
In-flew-enza
Wow, here's the story of how the great flu epidemic of 1918 started in Boston:One this day in 1918, two sailors housed at Boston's Commonwealth Pier reported to sickbay. The men were the first Americans stricken with a strain of influenza that would prove far more dangerous than the German army. By the end of the week, 100 new cases a day were being reported among the sailors at the pier. The disease spread with terrifying speed through both the military and civilian populations. In the next 24 weeks, the epidemic would affect more than 25,000,000 Americans. More than 675,000 would not survive the illness. The flu w...
Source: Running a hospital - August 27, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Is it all right to inform patients about unclear evidence?
ConclusionOverall, patients favor PCa screening, but heightened awareness of the current controversy raises concerns about its potential harms. PCa screening is a complex issue, and insight into changing public opinion will be crucial to our future discussions with patients who are wrestling with the decision whether to undergo screening. (Source: Running a hospital)
Source: Running a hospital - August 26, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Hey, there's an election coming!
With two weeks to go to the primaries, how could it be that all major media outlets in Massachusetts have failed to asked the Attorney General candidates their opinions on the efficacy and enforceability of the proposed AG-Partners Healthcare System deal? After all, one of them will have to live with it if it is approved by the Court. This is the major antitrust and health care issue facing the Commonwealth. Let's get them on record before we vote. Should AG Martha Coakley withdraw the agreement and let her successor decide on the right path to take? What do you think?---- Addendum at 10:40pm. A twitter p...
Source: Running a hospital - August 26, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Fueled by patient demand? No way.
I frankly expected better from HealthLeaders Media, which usually has well researched and thoughtful stories. This one, though, reads like a press release from the investment bankers and law firms that make a bundle from proton beam projects.Here's the most troubling statement:As more American patients have become aware of the less invasive technology, they are emerging as a key driver of proton beam center growth in the United States, Caron says.Who's Mr. Caron? A partner at Chicago-based law firm McDermott, Will and Emery, who has worked on proton beam therapy center projects for more than eight years.Aided...
Source: Running a hospital - August 26, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
A very productive hospitalist
Brad Flansbaum writes the story of a very productive hospitalist.The physician profiled has 3000 discharges. Just counting Medicare patients.Most hospitalists I know run a daily census of 8 to 15 patients. If this fellow is working at a very high level of 25 (and recall, that would imply no commercial or Medicaid patients) with an average length of stay of five days, that would imply 5 discharges per day.At that rate, if you worked 365 days per year, you still would not reach even 2000 discharges. So the 3000 number doesn't add up.Brad tried his best to get an answer:In preparing the post, I reached...
Source: Running a hospital - August 25, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Depressing thoughts
The US and Canada differ on many aspects of health care delivery, but one area in which they have a common approach is inadequate care for mental health. I was reminded of this when I met with a colleague who works at the British Columbia Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association. She related several stories about slow and inappropriate treatment of patients--both in crisis and in chronic states--in the provincial health system.Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reported that south of the border a court ruled that, "hospitals in Washington state will be prohibited from boarding psychiatric patients in emerg...
Source: Running a hospital - August 25, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
The femtosecond laser: Paying for the attendant in the washroom?
If there is a clear winner in the health care field--in terms of increased efficacy and lower cost over the decades--it has to be cataract surgery. I remember my grandmother's cataract removal in the 1960s. An expensive, laborious procedure requiring days of unmoving bed rest afterwards while the eye healed, and a lifetime of thick glasses. Now, the procedure takes minutes, the costs have plummeted, and the patient leaves the outpatient procedure ready to drive herself home. As noted here, "The surgery has become fairly common: millions of people have cataracts removed every year, and 98% of the surgeries are ...
Source: Running a hospital - August 24, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Slow learning, poor context, and disloyalty
As I ease back in after a lovely vacation horseback riding in the isolation of the British Columbia mountains, I'd like to take one moment to comment on items that have piqued my curiosity as I've caught up on recent newspaper articles. (Don't worry: Health care topics return soon, but this post also relates to my other favorite topics--leadership, cognitive errors, and negotiation.)First, there's Thomas Friedman's August 8 interview with President Obama, with these final paragraphs:Whether it is getting back into Iraq or newly into Syria, the question that Obama keeps coming back to is: Do I have the partners — ...
Source: Running a hospital - August 23, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Combatants for Peace
If you are feeling frustrated and powerless with regard to the current state of relations between Israeli and Palestinians, here's a way to help.The “Combatants for Peace” movement was started jointly by Palestinians and Israelis who have taken an active part in the cycle of violence; Israelis as soldiers in the Israeli army (IDF) and Palestinians as part of the violent struggle for Palestinian freedom. After brandishing weapons for so many years, and having seen one another only through weapon sights, we have decided to lay down our arms, and to fight for peace. Our mission is to actively spread the message...
Source: Running a hospital - August 23, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
It's too crowded here!
Hi, I'm back from a trail-riding trip in the Chilcotin Mountains of British Columbia. Long quiet days on the horses, through woods and flower-filled meadows.Expansive views. Not many people. It's a bit hard to come back . . .But lots of blog topics have piled up. Watch this space next week. (Source: Running a hospital)
Source: Running a hospital - August 21, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Off duty
I'm taking a blogging break for several days. Comments on old posts are still welcome, but they will not be moderated (i.e, published) until I get back on duty. (Source: Running a hospital)
Source: Running a hospital - August 11, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Finally, we hear from the AG candidates
We are fortunate in Massachusetts to have two excellent Democratic candidates for Attorney General. With just 30 days to go until the primary election, you'd have thought the local press would have asked them for their opinions of the proposed deal inked by the current AG and Partners Healthcare System. After all, it is the biggest antitrust and health care matter currently pending in the state, and the one with the biggest financial impact on businesses and consumers. Wouldn't it be good to know if the candidates support the deal as written and also feel comfortable in their potential role of enforcer of...
Source: Running a hospital - August 9, 2014 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
