December 2015 - The Health Care Blog

The Ten Worst Wellness Programs and What They Do to Harm Employees

By AL LEWIS and VIK KHANNA If corporate wellness didn’t already exist, no one would invent it. In that sense, it’s a little like communism, baseball, or Outlook. After all, why would any company want to purchase programs that damage morale,reduce productivity...

Published Fri, Dec 04 2015 7:59 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Wellness, Al Lewis, Vik Khanna

How Should Errors In the Patient Medical Record Be Addressed?

By PETER ELIAS, MD This summer an article in USA Today talked about Regina Holliday’s efforts to make the medical record more easily and promptly available to patients so it becomes as a tool patients use as they engage in co-managing their own care....

Published Wed, Dec 30 2015 3:47 PM by THCB

Filed under: Uncategorized

America’s Bitter Pill: Managed Care 2.0, the CBO and Cost Containment

By KIP SULLIVAN Steven Brill’s latest book, America’s Bitter Pill, is a frustrating mix of excellent history and muddled health policy analysis. The book is a very good addition to the literature on the history of the Affordable Care Act and by far the...

Published Fri, Dec 11 2015 2:46 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Kip Sullivan

The Healthcare Link in the San Bernardino Shootings

By JOE FLOWER Another day, another mass shooting. At this point the news reports say nearly 30 down, 14 or more dead, multiple perps, at a banquet for the San Bernardino, California, Department of Public Health. And instantly the argument is all about...

Published Wed, Dec 02 2015 3:03 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Joe Flower

What the Wall Street Journal Tells Us About Complications After Surgery: Not Much

By ASHISH KOKA, MD The Wall Street Journal published an article on Christmas day that told the story of an 83 year old woman who suffered a heart attack after a joint replacement at a rural hospital. The story serves as an introduction to a piece about...

Published Thu, Dec 31 2015 1:21 PM by THCB

Filed under: Uncategorized, Ashish Koka, Complications

The Profitability (or Not) of Harming Patients

By MICHAEL L. MILLENSON When the government announced recently that a patient safety partnership with hospitals had saved 87,000 lives and nearly $20 billion over four years, there was an oblique reference to the role played by “financial incentives....

Published Mon, Dec 14 2015 2:47 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Michael L. Millenson

A Little Context in the Workplace wellness Debate

By HARRIS ALLEN Ms. Dentzer has once again offered a constructive course correction with her commentary on the most recent public installment of the workplace wellness “debate” at the Population Health Continuum’s November 2015 conference. Few have done...

Published Sat, Dec 19 2015 9:37 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Harris Allen

What’s Missing in the Debate Over Employer Wellness Programs

By SUSAN DENTZER By now, Americans are no doubt getting used to debates that put show over substance and skirt the genuinely profound issues the nation faces. But although we may have come to expect as much in this political season, we deserve better...

Published Fri, Dec 04 2015 10:23 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Susan Dentzer

21st Century Cures Act: Away From the “Valley of Death”

By STEVEN ZECOLA Most people would agree that the number of cures for debilitating and costly illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and cancer have been too few and far between. To address this issue, the U.S. House of Representatives...

Published Thu, Dec 31 2015 12:44 PM by THCB

Filed under: Uncategorized

Is the NHS Dead?

By WARRIS BOKHARI A lot is being said in the media about the future of the NHS right now… It is a system with tremendously high ideals, and is our finest public good. It is now at break point under mounting financial woes, potential staffing crises and...

Published Fri, Dec 11 2015 8:45 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, International, Warris Bokha, Bokhari, UK, NHS, Health Systems

The Quest For Zero Infections: A Fool’s Mission?

By ANISH KOKA, MD Joyce is sick. I am in the intensive care unit, peering at vital parameters that glow on the screen above her bed. My eyes linger on those numbers because it is easier than looking at her. A fever rages, her core temperature reads 103...

Published Sun, Dec 27 2015 6:31 PM by THCB

Filed under: Uncategorized

Uberizing Health, Data is the Vehicle and a Right

By LEONARD KISH No, there is no Uber of healthcare, even as everyone claims to be or wants to be the Uber of healthcare. Others rail against it. Part of it is that an Uber for healthcare sounds great! The sharing economy! But what is it? What would it...

Published Thu, Dec 10 2015 8:55 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Leonard Kish

Rethinking about Diagnostic tests: There is nothing Positive or Negative about a Test result

By ROBERT McNUTT, MD Making a diagnosis is easy if the test we use to make the diagnosis defines the disease. These sorts of tests, called “reference-standard” tests, when present at any level of the test’s result, make the diagnosis. A spinal...

Published Tue, Dec 01 2015 4:34 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Robert McNutt

On the Preventability of Lethal Errors: A Response to Dr. Koka

By JOHN T JAMES, MD In my opinion, the title of Dr. Koka’s post (“Very Bad Numbers“) is far too inflammatory for a subject that needs to be taken seriously. Dr. Koka’s summary of the approach I took in my JPS study is a reasonable summary...

Published Thu, Dec 03 2015 10:25 AM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, John T James

All I Want For Christmas: Seven Things I Wish My EMR Could Do

By HANS DUVEFELT, MD Dear Santa, I’ve been a very good doctor all year. I have checked all my boxes and aced all my Meaningful Use requirements. This year, I’m not asking you for anything fancy. I just thought you might be able to instill some kindness...

Published Sat, Dec 19 2015 2:45 PM by THCB

Filed under: THCB, Hans Duvefelt

December 2015 - The Health Care Blog

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The Ten Worst Wellness Programs and What They Do to Harm Employees

How Should Errors In the Patient Medical Record Be Addressed?

America’s Bitter Pill: Managed Care 2.0, the CBO and Cost Containment

The Healthcare Link in the San Bernardino Shootings

What the Wall Street Journal Tells Us About Complications After Surgery: Not Much

The Profitability (or Not) of Harming Patients

A Little Context in the Workplace wellness Debate

What’s Missing in the Debate Over Employer Wellness Programs

21st Century Cures Act: Away From the “Valley of Death”

Is the NHS Dead?

The Quest For Zero Infections: A Fool’s Mission?

Uberizing Health, Data is the Vehicle and a Right

Rethinking about Diagnostic tests: There is nothing Positive or Negative about a Test result

On the Preventability of Lethal Errors: A Response to Dr. Koka

All I Want For Christmas: Seven Things I Wish My EMR Could Do