Dec 3, 2019
In every major metropolitan area within the United States, you will find the names of leading medical malpractice attorneys, on TV and billboards, alerting you to their availability. I sometimes wonder if TV and radio stations would face imminent bankruptcy if the advertising revenue from plaintiffs' attorneys and politicians was restricted on the airwaves? As a licensed attorney for many decades, I can remember when these massive advertising campaigns by lawyers were considered illegal by the respective state bar associations. However, as time has moved forward, we have achieved this excessive commercialization of medical malpractice. In a recent Medscape Survey...
Read MoreFiled Under: changes in healthcare, doctor shortages, healthcare quality, Insider, patient satisfaction
Sep 26, 2019
The advances of medical science have been nothing short of remarkable over the last few decades. Illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes have become chronic illnesses. Proper ongoing medication and regular physician interaction have resulted in longer and healthier lives. Yet, the emotional and psychological costs of living with these disease states are just beginning to be understood in healthcare. As the grandfather of two type-I diabetics, I have watched first-hand how the disease is an ever present factor in their lives - 7/24/365. There is no escaping the constant reminder that their lives differ from that of...
Read MoreFiled Under: cancer drugs cost, changes in healthcare, high-cost drugs, Insider, medical access
Aug 29, 2019
Pharmacy costs keep going up. If you are one of the millions of people taking prescription medication regularly, you know this well. In fact, a study by The National Health Expenditure Accounts Team found that in 2016 a staggering amount near $329 billion was spent on prescription drugs in the U.S. alone. That number is growing year after year. There are many reasons why this amount is so high, but one simple reason seems to glare at us above the others - overmedication. The Epidemic of Overmedication It is a known fact that the elderly are especially at risk of overmedication . Many...
Read MoreFiled Under: elder care, health coach, Health Management, healthcare coach, healthcare quality, Insider, medications, overmedication, polypharmacy, too many pills
Jul 30, 2019
Have you ever thought about the fact that when you walk into an art gallery you are drawn to certain artists and the works they have created? This idea that in art one size does not fit all also applies to healthcare. We see numerous articles about how we as Americans comparison shop for our cars, dishwasher and almost anything else you can find on Amazon or other websites. In her article for Real Clear Health on the future of healthcare, Seema Verma states, "Our demand for a value is the engine that drives competition which, in turn, lowers prices and inspires...
Read MoreFiled Under: changes in healthcare, Health Management, healthcare quality, Insider, medical access
May 29, 2019
Some years ago I spoke at an American Hospital Association meeting to a large group of hospital executives and trustees. The first slide of my presentation was a picture of a 747 jumbo Jet. The question I asked was, “Why would I start my presentation with an aircraft to an audience of hospital leadership?” Then I asked, “How long would we Americans tolerate a 747 jumbo jet crashing every day-and-a-half?” The response was obviously universal - we would not. My next comment was that if you do the calculation, that was the number of hospital deaths caused by nosocomial (hospital...
Read MoreFiled Under: changes in healthcare, chattanooga, doctor shortages, Health Management, healthcare quality, Insider, medical access, patient satisfaction