Medicine has been plagued with the issue of logic. If A = B, and B = C, then does A = C? The answer unfortunately is not always yes. As we look at the science behind a lot of what we do, we first have observational studies that tell us something. For example, in the field of high… Read More »
In the move to consumerism, where the consumer has financial “skin in the game,” there are two prevailing thoughts: One, that a consumer will be more discrete in their purchasing if there is money coming out of their pocket, and two, that same consumer has the ability to live without the good purchased. Unfortunately one’s need for healthcare… Read More »
Moving to value-based models of care will require us to include our patients in decision making in ways we have not done before. Historically healthcare has focused on first doing no harm, which has led us to err on the side of being conservative and has thus led to increased utilization of services. As we move to models… Read More »
As we think about creating value for those we serve, a major component is making sure we view those that consume the goods we produce as partners in the decision making process. Though this might seem obvious, healthcare has historically not taken this approach. Payments have not been made by those consuming the resources, and the resources (healthcare)… 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 »
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 »