Human rights have shaped our history. We have fought over and for them. But what are human rights? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as set forth by the United Nations in 1948 placed at its core, that “human rights are birth rights – rights that all people have by virtue of being human, and require all humans… Read More »
As we continue to move towards a healthcare model that delivers on value, we need to focus on those being served and how we create shared value. If we want to make an impact, we must focus on how we create a culture of health. A recent article by Chandra et al in Health Affairs, Drivers of Health… Read More »
Current healthcare environment eroding physician professionalism Physician burnout is a problem. The data supports the fact that physicians burn out at a high rate and are becoming less satisfied with their work every day. When medical students go into medicine, they feel they are serving a greater good, and joining a profession that is noble. On the consumer… Read More »
Human behavior can be a major hurdle to eating healthier, even when food is free There is a great deal on information concerning the lack of both understanding and access to food that is specific for certain disease states. We talk about specific diets being beneficial for certain diseases, but we know that access and understanding are deficient… Read More »
There have been many changes in recent years that have created uncertainty in the healthcare environment. These have included a shift to pay for value, a greater focus on outcomes, meaningful use, and most recently a complete overhaul of the physician payment model for Medicare beneficiaries. We have seen increased physician employment by health systems and consolidation in… Read More »
Physicians need to spend time on personal recovery It never fails that I am always learning from those around me. I recently spent time with my son, and during our conversation he made the statement “stress makes you stronger.” As we all try to minimize our stress, at first glance, his comment could seem like someone who is… Read More »
There is rising debate of whether or not America has a doctor shortage. As with most vigorous discussions, there is data to support both sides of the argument. When the data is presented around the aging of our population and the number of physicians retiring, compared to the number of new doctors joining the work force and their… Read More »
People with depression cost 3 times more to treat We all know that mental and behavioral health play a critical role in not only the cost of healthcare, but also in how well a person can function both at work and at home. We looked at the higher costs of care associated with depression, despite a person’s underlying… Read More »
As we “debate” the idea of choice concerning healthcare coverage, there are many key points that we seem to be leaving out of the equation. We are a country founded on the principles of individual rights, but also other rights that are bestowed upon us. Many people believe that one should not have to pay for services if… Read More »
Healthcare in the United States has been deemed a social right. No matter what happens, a person will always receive care under emergency conditions. There are also many organizations that make it their mission for all to receive non-emergent care. The idea of universal coverage is a bipartisan issue as there is no doubt that a healthier society… Read More »