Webster’s states, “a professional is characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession.” And, Postema, Gerald J. (1980). “Moral responsibility in professional ethics.” (PDF). NYUL Rev. 55. Retrieved March 26, 2016 proclaims (they), “self-subjugate themselves to strict codes of conduct enshrining rigorous ethical and moral constraints that serve important aspects of public interest… Read More »
There has been continued debate concerning the topic of physician shortages. Just like any discussion, there are numbers to use that support both sides. Pure supply and demand economics does not support the idea of a shortage, and as technology in healthcare matures, this new technology will drive down the supply needs. In a value-based model, innovation will… Read More »
There is a lot of discussion concerning better access for patients such as retail clinics and virtual care. The hypothesis is that having such access will lower the cost of care and improve service at the same time. As these models are very consumer friendly, we are beginning to see the impact of the more consumer driven approach.… Read More »
As we move to delivering value to those we serve, consumerism has taken a front seat concerning how we think about how we deliver care. However, we should be cautious when doing so to avoid creating a situation where we drive up costs. Retail clinics have been touted as a way to decrease unnecessary emergency department visits, as… Read More »
As we shift more to value-based care, we must create models that not only deliver on the value proposition of increased quality and service at a lower cost, but also are models that are sustainable. We need to think about models within a larger health ecosystem. This ecosystem has many components, and collaboration will be needed as there… Read More »
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 »
When we think about drug costs, many people immediately go to the idea that drug companies are just trying to maximize the return on their investment like any other company. But drug companies have high research and development costs, and are a constant risk of “losing” customers because medication adherence is low. High upfront costs and customer instability… 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 »
In the United States we have traditionally distinguished dental health from medical health. This divide dates back to the creation of two, distinct educational models and tracks. It continues as dental care and medical care are paid under different insurance mechanisms. Dental care seems to be financially treated and viewed as a luxury versus a medical necessity. This… 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 »