Author Archive

Higher Visit Co-pays Backfire

January 29, 2010
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Q: What happens when the chronically sick and elderly have to pay more out of pocket every time they see their doctor? A: They go to the hospital more. It's not cost shifting. It's Medicare.
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Posted in Health Policy | 1 Comment »

Who Says Dishonesty Doesn’t Pay?

January 28, 2010
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Who Says Dishonesty Doesn’t Pay?

Dr. Wakefield will likely lose his UK medical license for "dishonest, irresponsible and callous disregard for the distress and pain of children" in attempting to prove a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Good thing he currently works in Texas!
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Posted in Medical Ethics | 2 Comments »

iPad=Giant iPhone Without the Phone

January 27, 2010
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iPad=Giant iPhone Without the Phone

The next Newton?
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Posted in Misc | 7 Comments »

When Patients Audio Record Without Your Consent

January 26, 2010
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When Patients Audio Record Without Your Consent

What if a patient or family member secretly records your conversation. Is this legal. Is this a medical legal crisis? Should you freak out? Should you call your lawyer or the police? Or should you be polite and remain calm?
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Posted in Medical Legal | 3 Comments »

Getting What You Pay For: Primary Care

January 25, 2010
By

How much would you pay for real primary medical care?
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Posted in Health Care "Reform" | 2 Comments »

How To Fix The Great Powered Wheelchair Money Pit

January 23, 2010
By

Millions in tax payer money is wasted per year on Medicare purchased electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters. Much of this is from improperly filled out or missing documentation but I suspect that even more is because of needs and use that is not really completely medically necessary.
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Posted in Health Policy | 3 Comments »

Office Wait Times to Worsen in California

January 22, 2010
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A new California law set to start in 2011 will mandate minimum times to get an appointment to see an HMO doctor. It's a great example of using brute force legislation to try and fix a problem without addressing the root causes. You go, California!
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Posted in Health Policy | 2 Comments »

Poll: 80% Americans Want to Legalize Medical Marijuana

January 21, 2010
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Poll: 80% Americans Want to Legalize Medical Marijuana

The percentage of Americans who support some form of legalized marijuana continues to increase to near record levels. This is unprecedented in a nation that has a hard time uniting and agreeing on anything short of war and yet Washington remains mute on this issue.
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Posted in Health Policy, Medicine | 4 Comments »

Wild Inconsistency and Lack of Common Sense Plague State Medical Boards

January 19, 2010
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Wild Inconsistency and Lack of Common Sense Plague State Medical Boards

A doctor removes the wrong kidney. The punishment varies wildly depending not only the state but upon unmentioned intangibles that exemplify the limitations of throwing together a group of peers who neither have enough legal experience nor follow their own science training to make "common sense" decisions.
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Posted in Health Policy | 2 Comments »

Crush Injuries in Haiti

January 16, 2010
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Crush Injuries in Haiti

After being trapped under the rubble of her house in Port-au-Prince for 2 days, an 11 year old girl died within 24 hours of being rescued. The only injuries mentioned were to her right leg and shoulder. Why did she die and so suddenly after being rescued?
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Posted in Medicine | 1 Comment »