Kevin, MD posts a link to Whitecoat’s blog under the headline: “How following hospital quality measures can kill patients.” Whitecoat’s complaint is that HospitalCompare.hhs.gov has labeled him “downright dangerous”. Kevin sums up the point thusly:
…in some cases, that “bad” doctor may be the only one taking the necessary time and thought that can save a [...]
Sat, February 28 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
Dreams
by Ramon Sampedro
Sea inside, sea inside,
in the weightlessness of the depths,
where dreams are found,
where two wills join
to fulfill one desire.
A kiss changes life
with a flash of lightning and thunder,
and in one metamorphosis
my body is no longer my body:
my body pierced the center of the universe.
The most puerile embrace,
and the purest of kisses,
until we ourselves are [...]
Sat, February 28 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
Denis Cortese, outgoing CEO of the Mayo Clinic:
Hospitals are going to have to think that they’re no longer the center of the universe. The center of the universe should be patients. Hospitals should be viewed as the symptom of failure of the health system. I’ve never met a patient who wanted to go to the [...]
Sat, February 28 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
If you have student loans, have a kid who might want to go to college, or know anyone who wants to go to college, ever: you need to listen to this program on NPR’s On Point (or at least, read this article).
The short version: in the ’90s Congress changed the Federal student loan program to [...]
Fri, February 27 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
Via Well, the Archives of Internal Medicine has a study on difficult patients that you have to pay to read, so I’ll just stick to commenting on Well’s summary:
Doctors report that about one in six patients is “difficult.” In a busy practice, that can mean three or four unpleasant visits with patients each day.
The frequent [...]
Thu, February 26 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
A great many progressive health wonks have been celebrating President Obama’s announced plans for health care, which are indeed a positive step. Still… I’ve had a little trouble getting so enthused myself. Apparently, I’m not the only one – says Jonathan Cohn. I’m not a die-hard single-payer advocate, but I do suspect the President’s proposal [...]
Thu, February 26 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
You might have seen one of the many news reports about the study of colon cancer patients and “information-seeking behavior”. Here’s Reuter’s entry:
More patient information may not lead to the best care
By Anne Harding
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Colon cancer patients who seek out more information about their care are more likely to be prescribed [...]
Tue, February 24 2009 » Uncategorized » 3 Comments
Grand Rounds is up at The Blog That Ate Manhattan. Thanks to Peggy for including my post.
Tue, February 24 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
My last post reminded me that I had meant to write something about millimeter wave radiation. The Transportation Security Administration has started using millimeter wave detection in some airports; I got tapped for it the last time I flew.
I knew that millimeter wave produces the sorts of images in this post – basically, nekkid pictures [...]
Mon, February 23 2009 » Uncategorized » 1 Comment
Ever since I started reading it in RSS, I’ve noticed the WSJ health blog often runs the same stock photo taken from a mammo- gram. Not being a radiologist, I have no idea what I’m looking at – except that it’s a breast. In fact, every time I see it, some- where in the [...]
Fri, February 20 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
A novel crime against decency by Duncan Cross
