November 2015 - The Health Care Blog

First, we Devalued Doctors; Now, Technology Struggles to Replace Them

By DAVID SHAYWITZ, MD The key to driving behavior change, a seasoned marketing executive turned digital health investor told a panel on patient engagement that I moderated this week, is to get beyond the demographics of customers, and to understand the...

Published Mon, Nov 16 2015 2:43 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, David Shaywitz

Three Rules For a Healthy mHealth App

By JAAN SIDOROV, MD According to this Wall Street Journal article, the prospect that “your doctor may soon prescribe you a smartphone app” is ushering in a new era of m-healthiness. e-Researchers from marquee academic institutions are assessing...

Published Thu, Nov 19 2015 3:08 PM by THCB

Filed under: Uncategorized

Jumping the Wellness Shark

By AL LEWIS I know it’s not always about me (my ex-wife was quite clear on that point), but I was deeply saddened to see one of the Blues – specifically, Blue Cross of Tennessee — descending into the fabricated-wellness-outcomes abyss. By way of...

Published Sat, Nov 21 2015 10:34 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB

A Radical Policy Proposal: Go Easy On Older Docs

By DIANE EVANS, MD Through Dec. 15, federal regulators will accept public comments on the next set of rules that will shape the future of medicine in the transition to a super information highway for Electronic Health Records (EHRs). For health providers...

Published Mon, Nov 23 2015 12:43 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Diane Evans

Cost, Value & Tools

By PETER PRONOVOST, MD Like a pro golfer swears by a certain brand of clubs or a marathon runner has a chosen make of shoes, surgeons can form strong loyalties to the tools of their craft. Preferences for these items — such as artificial hips and knees...

Published Sun, Nov 29 2015 11:34 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Costs, Quality, Value, Johns Hopkins, Peter Pronovost, Tools

The Surprising Story of The Original Luddite

By LEONARD D’AVOLIO We all know Luddites. They proudly pronounce their rejection of Facebook and feign disgust about how they finally “broke down” and bought that awesome Motorola Razor they still carry. Maybe you are a Luddite or pretend...

Published Tue, Nov 03 2015 1:17 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Leonard D’Avolio

Flashback from Fall Conference: The Unmentionables

By DEEPA MISTRY Every year, Alex Drane takes us on an incredible journey through the health issues we don’t talk about. But should. Topics that were covered included: Caregiving: With millions of baby boomers heading into their golden years, caring...

Published Fri, Nov 06 2015 1:45 PM by THCB

Filed under: Health 2.0, Unmentionables

Being Graded

By MUNIA MITRA, MD “Lawyers aren’t graded.” “CEOs aren’t graded” “How would you feel if I tracked every e-mail you sent and tracked how many people responded to them? You wouldn’t like that very much would you?” “The people who make EMRs. Why aren’t they...

Published Mon, Nov 09 2015 9:19 AM by THCB

Filed under: ACOs, Outcomes, Uncategorized, Mitra

Physician Disrupt Thyself

By MARC-DAVID MUNK, MD (Stepping away from health policy and business this week, a quick post on alternative careers in medicine). Wrapping up a great week spent with emergency medicine friends attending this year’s American College of Emergency Physicians...

Published Thu, Nov 12 2015 8:50 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Marc-David Munk

Listen to People you don’t Like!

By PAUL LEVY The Aga Khan delivered the Samuel L. and Elizabeth Jodidi Lecture at Harvard University yesterday. He has been a strong proponent of pluralism in the world and has devoted billions of dollars in resources from the Aka Khan Development Network...

Published Fri, Nov 13 2015 9:08 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Paul Levy

“Winning” by Defeating the Triple Aim

By JOE FLOWER You follow movies? That is, not just watching them but thinking about how they are built, looking at the structure? In classic movie structure there is a moment near the end of the first act. We’ve established the situation, met our hero...

Published Mon, Nov 16 2015 4:34 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Joe Flower

UnitedHealth Threatens to Pull the Plug. Why? The Obamacare Business Model Does Not Work

By ROBERT LASZEWSKI It’s official. The Obamacare insurance company business model does not work. UnitedHealth Group just announced they expect to lose $450 million in the Obamacare exchanges and are seriously considering withdrawing from the program...

Published Thu, Nov 19 2015 7:06 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, UnitedHealth (UNH)

The Limitations of Healthcare Science

By SIDNEY LE Every once in awhile on the wards, one of the attending physicians will approach me and ask me to perform a literature review on a particular clinical question. It might be a question like “What does the evidence say about how long should...

Published Sat, Nov 21 2015 8:50 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Research, Population Health, Negative Studies, Sidney Le, Healthcare Science, Publication, Journals

Obamacare is failing? Not so fast.

By JOE FLOWER What is the hue and cry about this time? United Healthcare is saying it has lost large bales and wads of money on Obamacare exchange plans, and just may give up on them entirely. Anthem and Aetna allow that they are not making very much...

Published Mon, Nov 23 2015 4:21 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Joe Flower

Venrock headlines Health 2.0’s Digital Health Investor Conference, WinterTech 2016

By DEEPA MISTRY Health 2.0’s WinterTech conference on January 13, 2016 at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, CA showcases the latest in digital health investing featuring leaders from Venrock, Canvas Venture Fund, Helix, Doximity, Grand...

Published Mon, Nov 30 2015 10:51 AM by THCB

Filed under: Health 2.0