Scientific breakthrough: Almost all doctors are healthy!

This is marvelous--an Alice-in-Wonderland-like optical reflection of the "my patients are sicker" standard line from doctors.  Medscape has published a "Physician Lifestyle Report," in which doctors self-report aspects of their lives. The report presents data from more than 30,000 US physicians.I know you will be happy to learn that the vast majority of doctors rate their...

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Er, progress on concussions at the NFL?

It's Super Bowl week and time for self-congratulatory stories from the National Football League about reductions in concussions.  In this one we learn:There was a 13% decrease in the incidence of concussions among NFL players between 2012 and 2013, league officials announced in a press conference here.  During 2011, there had been a total of 252 concussions overall, and during 2012 the total was 261. The total fell to 228 in 2013, Miller...

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MD likes patient feedback. Says it makes him do better.

The ever enthusiastic Neil Bacon of IWantGreatCare posted an intriguing line on Twitter, practically dragging me to view the accompanying video:BBC: Surgeon explains why being rated + reviewed “like a hotel” makes him a better Dr and weeds out substandard care.Here's the video:&nb...

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Concussions at NCP: Open access granted

Many, many thanks to Dr. John Corboy* and his colleagues at Neurology Clinical Practice for their decision to provide free and complete access to the public of their recent editorial on recommendations to increase the incidence of concussion reporting by athletes, along with the underlying article that supports the recommendations.  As I mentioned the other day, the journal had a number of important recommendation on this topic, but wide scale...

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In Illinois, the silence is deafening

There have been no public comments from the University of Illinois as to whether it is investigating the misappropriation of the University's name in support of a private company in a recent national advertising campaign in the New York Times.  That private use of the University's reputation is prohibited under its code of conduct, under the University's administrative procedures, and (likely) under state law.  Here's the specific language...

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Is it a sign or is it art?

A surprisingly engaging, malfunctioning sign at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, complete with background accompanime...

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SBAR on WIHI

From Madge Kaplan:The next WIHI broadcast — SBAR, Structured Communication, and Psychological Safety in Health Care — will take place on Thursday, January 30, from 2 to 3 PM ET, and I hope you'll tune in.Our guests will include:Michael Leonard, MD, Safe & Reliable Healthcare LLC; Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Duke University School of MedicineAudrey Lyndon,...

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Concussions: What the athletes say

My passion for youth sports coaching has led me to several articles on this blog about the dangers of concussions, sensible practices that should be followed when players are hurt during games, and sometimes about the poor behavior demonstrated by some coaches.  Somehow, though, I missed an article from August 2013 in Neurology Clinical Practice by Daniel M. Torres and...

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In memoriam: Pete Seeger

A friend put it succinctly:Pete Seeger is gone. There will never be anyone comparable.Listen....

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A child of the digital age

The New York Times has published a fascinating story about the successes and tribulations of Uber, the digital taxi company.  To me, the really interesting part is the portrayal of the founder and CEO, Travis Kalanick.  I don't want to overstate this, but Mr. Kalanick embodies some characteristics of the "digital generation" that are problematic.  Specifically, while his digital skills are unquestionable, his interpersonal skills might...

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Surviving Workplace Wellness

One of the fastest growing sectors in health care comprises the firms that promise that wellness programs will make your employees healthier, will save you (as an employer) money, and will help bend the curve for health care costs in general.  The folks who have undertaken this line of work--and the employers that are complicit with them--are skewered in a new book by...

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How a fish rots

As we wait for the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois to indicate whether they plan to investigate the various ethical issues surrounding the recent usurpation of the University of Illinois name and reputation, it is illustrative to look at other aspects of financial dealing between high-ranking University officials and private firms.  As state employees,...

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In Chicago (as elsewhere), follow the money

Curious observers have been asking me why someone at the University of Illinois would knowingly aid and abet an effort to use the University's reputation to support the commercial objectives of a private firm.  I suspect that, when the facts come out, it will be about the money.  But I am just speculating.Let's imagine the following scenario.  A major manufacturer...

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Supply chain management on MIT SDM webinar

Webinar–Supply Chain and Risk Management:Making the Right Decisions to Strengthen Operations PerformanceMIT SDM Systems Thinking Webinar SeriesIoannis Kyratzoglou, SDM '11 Principal Software Systems Engineer, MITRE CorporationDate: January 27, 2014Time: Noon – 1 p.m. EDTFree and open to allRegister About the Presentation This webinar will discuss the supply...

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Where is the UI Board of Trustees?

Enrico Benedetti is Head of the Department of Surgery of the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System. On January 19, 2014, Dr. Benedetti appeared in an advertisement in the New York Times Magazine that purported to represent the endorsement by the University of Illinois of the daVinci surgical system, manufactured by Intuitive Surgical, Inc.  The advertisement, as I have noted, bears a copyright from Intuitive Surgical,...

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A white coat is a sacred trust

As we consider the growing discussion involving the capture of the University of Illinois' reputation to market the wares of a particular medical device manufacturer, we should pause and reflect how, in doing so, the manufacturer also denigrated the standing of clinicians.As doctors will tell you, the day they are granted their first white coat is a meaningful, indeed sacred,...

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Time to fire somebody

Regular readers know that I tend to operate in a no-blame mode, i.e., be hard on the problem and soft on the people.  But when someone has violated the public trust in an institution to support the commercial goals of a private company, they have shown such poor judgment that consideration must be given to terminating their employment.Today's example is the following...

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Too much or just right?

I need your help in evaluating this story.  Is this what I should hope for when I advocate for patient-driven care, or is this an example of over-use in a hospital?  I'm really not sure, and I'd welcome your thoughts.The story is of a 10-year-old boy who has a fever.  He is taken to the local urgent care center at 9:00am.  The family is told that the center...

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Give this book to your college senior in January . . .

. . . so s/he won't move back home in June!I am pleased to announce the publication of our new book, "How to Negotiate Your First Job."  My wife, Farzana Mohamed, and I wrote it to help college graduates plan for their first important negotiation--the terms and conditions of their employment.In advising many college students, we have found that new entrants to the...

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Hang 'em out to dry! Wait, "them" is us!

I can already predict the result.  The New York Times publishes a story about the rise in specialists' incomes, much of which is based on procedures they carry out.  Outrage follows, and health care public policy experts say, "You see, the solution is to move away from fee-for-service medicine and towards capitated, or global, payments."Sure, that's one answer, but not one that will solve this problem.You see, even under a capitated system...

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CIR conference today: How to Provide Cost Conscious Care

There's a conference sponsored today by CIR (The Committee of interns and Residents) in New York City--bringing together medical educators and health economists to teach new doctors how to provide more cost effective care:With health care spending soon to consume 20 percent of the GDP, this conference is meant to empower physicians-in-training to develop and execute high-value...

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A benefit of political gridlock? It won't last.

A Washington, DC colleague reported to me this week that spending on lobbying in the nation's capital has declined considerably.  Why?  With current gridlock in Congress, legislation that is viewed as harmful by corporate, labor, or other interests is exceptionally unlikely to pass.  So why spend money fighting something you don't really have to worry about?I've looked for documentation of this pattern and found this article from the...

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Some Promising Trends for a Cure for Heart Disease

Heart disease is perhaps the nation's most prevalent killer of men and women. Because of this, there is constant research being conducted to find a cure for heart disease. Although there is no official cure as of yet, a few procedures and treatments do show a great deal of promise. A Simple Potential Cure for Heart Disease Recent studies have indicated that the same methods used to prevent heart disease can possibly be a way to cure...

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Violence prevention on WIHI

Madge Kaplan writes: The next WIHI broadcast — Violence Prevention and Community Health — will take place on Thursday, January 16, from 2 to 3 PM ET, and I hope you'll tune in.Our guests will include:Gilbert Salinas, MPA, Director of Patient and Community Relations, Rancho los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Kaiser Safety Net Fellow, Institute for Healthcare...

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