Let’s have a little fun and compare The Cost of Satisfaction: A National Study of Patient Satisfaction, Health Care Utilization, Expenditures, and Mortality vs. A National Survey of Nurse Practitioners’ Patient Satisfaction Outcomes Look at these results: “Findings from a new research study led by Thomas Kippenbrock, a nursing professor at the University of Arkansas,…
Medicare wants…. demands… you communicate with your geriatric population through a “patient computer portal.” Sometimes, when elderly patients fret about losing their ability to drive, I mention the marvelous convenience of Uber. Then, they pull out their feature phone with its gigantic numbered buttons and I realize my mistake. The concept of giving raw medical…
The Ebola outbreak, the second largest and second deadliest in history, continues to rage in the Congo, despite a 90% vaccination rate. According to Michael Ryan, MD, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, all of the 2031 confirmed cases are in those who are unvaccinated. As of June 5th, 1367 of those infected have succumbed to…
When I walk into a patient’s room and see the look of pride on a Black family’s face after they realize I’m their child’s doctor, I’m reminded how much my skin and ethnicity matters. I think the same happens for other minority physicians with their patients of the same ethnicity. Some ask why this matters…
“Retail health clinics like CVS Health aim to provide patients with acute care services at a lower cost, eliminating the need to visit the typical hospital for primary care, Ms. Buckley said. The shift in care delivery has caused traditional hospitals and health systems to re-evaluate how they use PCPs and has led many systems…
Which is your favorite barbeque? The wondrous Carolina pulled pork, robust southwestern brisket, St. Louis ribs, or incredible Kansas City burnt ends? At present my favorite is Texas-based Rudy’s BBQ and Mighty Fine Burgers, and I’ve never even eaten at one of their restaurants. Why? Because the restaurant chain is dumping Blue Cross in favor of a Direct Primary…
Sometimes my mind wanders. Sometimes I have this internal conversation that acts as a little critic saying such things as “That’s bullsh%t” or “No way, they’re lying” and on and on. This came up recently when I read this article in the Wall St. Journal called No Ride for You? Uber’s Risky Ratings. The gist…
Fundamentally, the US healthcare system is flawed. Access to mental health, obstetrical and gynecological care, essential health services for underserved populations, and comprehensive care for the elderly are where most of the gaps exist. A recent study looked at the discharge patterns of Medicare beneficiaries requiring skilled nursing services. Medicare pays for 100 percent of…
The AMA may be more clueless than I thought, which is scary. Here is their recent position statement: AMA is in favor of CMS’s proposed requirement that payers allow patients to access their health data through application programming interfaces (APIs). However, the association also cautioned that the use of consumer-facing apps could result in patients’ data being…
I have never understood the need to copycat another country’s healthcare system. It’s un-American. We are innovators and pioneers. Even if copycatting I would not emulate the Canadian system…where if you need a neurosurgeon you wait 33 weeks. For orthopedic surgery: 41 weeks. Should you need an MRI after that appointment? Good luck. ” Walid…