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 »
Electronic Health Records should be more than just records When we implemented an electronic record in a large multispecialty group by in 1998, it was called an electronic medical record. The focus at the time was how to recreate the paper record electronically. We were focused on how to use the data that was collected to improve care,… Read More »
I recently read an article, What is Disruptive Innovation? by Clayton M. Christensen, Michael E. Raynor, and Rory McDonald from the Harvard Business Review, that got me thinking about disruptive innovation in healthcare and why it is so difficult. Incumbents, or the supply side, focus on improving their products to their present customer base and inherently ignore the… Read More »
Personal, human care needed to address both physical and emotional needs My wife recently went to visit her very active parents. Her dad, while out walking the dog before light, tripped and fell. As he is on blood thinner, and he took a hard fall, they proceeded to go to the emergency room. Through the course of the… Read More »