Pharmaceutical costs continue to rise and are increasingly becoming a significant portion of medical spending for care. There have been many attempts to stem this ever-increasing portion of the total cost of care including, increased generic utilization, value-based incentive models, and the use of drug step therapy protocols. Specifically, this latter model requires the administration of specific agents… Read More »
Primary care in the United States accounts for more than one-half of all outpatient visits. Moreover, regardless of the clinical models, primary care is at the core. Unquestionably, primary care is at the center of health equity and preventive care. However, it receives a relatively modest proportion of resources, possesses no federal coordinating capacity, no dedicated research support,… Read More »
One of the major issues concerning physician licensure is that a physician’s right to practice ends at the state border, regardless of their ability or the needs of others. When we examine areas where there are physician shortages, we see significant differences by geographic location. This shortage might be drastically different if we considered the problem through the… Read More »
We hear about conflicts of interest on the news all the time. And in medicine, we have addressed this topic in relation to the pharmaceutical industry and its interactions with physicians. As a result, one can now review these connections as part of the ever-increasing desire for transparency. However, as technology progresses, we must also be attuned to… Read More »
The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the speed at which we have converted to virtual care. Physicians and consumers have substantially increased their use of virtual visits and digital applications. This care includes interactions concerning diagnosis, evaluation, and management of conditions that historically have occurred in person. Because of this, many questions arise concerning the quality and utilization of… Read More »
What the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light is the detrimental effect of medical misinformation. We must remember the “law of rumor” is proportional to the level of ambiguity and the importance of the spreading. When there is an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty, when people feel anxious, when the information is deemed important, and whether they believe the… Read More »
Last week I shared a post, Understanding and Instilling Trust in Our Patients, today’s post takes a deeper look at how to build that trust between patient and clinician. As we continue to focus on building patient trust, it’s necessary to recognize that one’s own characteristics play a critical role. For those times that we are dealing with… Read More »
With the recent legislative enactment of the 2016 Cures Act, I personally have received several comments and concerns. On the surface, the concept of information transparency is paramount as we move towards a more consumer-driven approach. As a patient, I should have immediate access to my information since it pertains to me and I wish to know what… Read More »
It has been a while since I have written about a personal event. As many of you know, my present role has placed me at the forefront of our COVID-19 response. First and foremost, I could not be more blessed than I am for our team and how we, as an organization, have risen to the occasion. Months… Read More »
As the healthcare industry continues to focus on value (improved quality and service, and decreased cost), understanding the human dynamics of physician healthcare providers will enhance our ability to drive change. Incentives are foundational, however, money is not always the primary motivator. Behavioral Science postulates that different people respond differently to similar incentives. We know there is a… Read More »