MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'boards'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:55:09 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096112&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fwhat-pfizer-ii-lack-of-transparency.html The recent in-depth investigation by Fortune reporters of 10 years of dysfunctional leadership at Pfizer, the "world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company," raises many issues about leadership and governance in health care (see our post here).  To continue what is likely to become a lengthy series, let us discuss the most obvious one, is the discrepancy between what appeared in Fortune and what Pfizer chose to make public about its leadership.This discrepancy is most apparent when one compares official descriptions of executive performance with what the Fortune reporters found.  To illustrate, consider the official descriptions of the performance of former Pfizer CEOs Hank McKinnell and Jeffrey Kindler in the respective years in which they were forced out."Han... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096112 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:53:00 +0100 5096112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077624&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fexecutives-get-rich-despite-ethical-and.html We recently posted about some shocking allegations suggesting that the for-profit corporations that now dominate hospice care may prey on vulnerable patients to increase their revenues, and may specifically recruit patients who are not terminally ill for hospice, and then neglect to attend to their treatable medical problems.  The post was based on a Bloomberg investigative report.The Bloomberg report focused on two large for-profit hospice providers, Vitas, a subsidiary of Chemed, and VistaCare, a subsidiary of Gentiva. We have repeatedly seen a pattern in numerous other health care organizations, non-profit as well as for-profit: despite questionable corporate behavior that appears to violate the values of health care professionals, executives receive rich compen... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077624 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:51:00 +0100 5077624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008077&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fbeing-non-profit-hospital-ceo-means.html When my arm was twisted heartily to see the movie "Love Story" a very long time ago, I could never understand why so many audience members sighed upon hearing that immortal line, "love means never having to say you're sorry."  I could not understand it then, and still cannot.However, it seems that for reasons that are not any more clear, being the CEO of a not-for-profit hospital or hospital system also means never having to say you are sorry, as shown in some recent stories from the media. Not Sorry for LeavingOriginally published in the Fargo (ND) InForum:The merger 1½ years ago of Sanford Health and MeritCare created a new entity that doubled in size and covers a service area of more than 130,000 square miles.But the unified health care giant needed only one top executive, and the... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008077 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:59:00 +0100 5008077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975790&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fmore-revelations-about-how-top-managers.html Last month, we discussed the contrast between executive compensation at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMH), a small California public hospital system, and the treatment of employees in the trenches. While the hospital had laid off workers ostensibly because of the poor economic climate, the local newspaper revealed that its CEO was leaving with a multi-million dollar retirement package, and that some of his supposed severance pay had been given him before he was severed.This month, amidst growing labor unrest partially driven by the disparate treatment of the hired top manager and the more lowly employees who actually take care of patients, a new report revealed further contrasts between how hired executives and "regular" employees are treated.Let me give a blow by ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975790 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:02:00 +0100 4975790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4670079&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Flogical-fallacies-in-support-of.html The kerfuffle over the huge golden parachute given the departing CEO of an ostensibly non-profit Massachusetts health insurer/ managed care organization continues to evolve (see posts here and here), providing some new insight into governance problems afflicting health care organizations.  One of the issues that aroused initially aroused concern was that Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield paid the members of its board of trustees substantial amount, an unusual practice for a non-profit organization.  Board members who feel they owe their pay to the CEO they are supposed to be overseeing might be particularly inclined to over pay that same CEO.Nonetheless, the Boston Globe just reported that other non-profit Massachusetts health insurers were defending their payme... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4670079 Sat, 02 Apr 2011 01:26:00 +0100 4670079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626867&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F23%2Fdoes-the-internet-promote-or-damage-marriage%2F PBS/This Emotional Life is hosting a webinar in two weeks about the internet’s impact on relationships and marriage, in particular. As a panelist on the webinar, I wanted to explore this issue a bit with my readers so that I can offer your viewpoints in addition to my two cents. Here’s my honest opinion, after reading hundreds of comments and emails from people who have been involved in online relationships or emotional affairs as well as the responses on the discussion boards of the Emotional Affairs support group on Beliefnet’s community site: Although the internet and social media can foster intimacy in a marriage, it seems to do more harm than good. Of all the comments I’ve read, 90 percent of the opposite-sex relationships that were damaging to the marriage happened online... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626867 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:40:41 +0100 4626867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600495&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fdespite-recalls-legal-settlements.html For our latest story about the tremendous disconnect between the pay and performance of leaders of health care organizations, we turn to Reuters.  Astronomical PayDespite having a very bad 2010, Johnson and Johnson continued to reward its CEO royally:After a year in which Johnson & Johnson's product quality control was deemed such a shambles that the U.S. government will oversee some plants, the board had praise for Chief Executive William Weldon and awarded him almost $29 million in overall compensation.The once golden reputation of the diversified healthcare giant was severely tarnished by seemingly endless recalls of widely used consumer products as well as recalls of medical devices and products from other units in 2010.U.S. consumer product sales fell by more than 19 percent ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600495 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4600495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592326&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fsome-dare-call-it-corruption.html We have discussed many cases of health care organizations' leaders reaping rewards disproportionate to any concept of their performance, and especially to any concept of the effect of their conduct on patients' or the public's health.  Most of these cases have been pretty anechoic, but for some reason, the case of the huge golden parachute given to the outgoing CEO of Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield despite a tenure  marked by financial losses and no particularly brilliant advances in patients' care or outcomes, (see this post) continues to generate responses.  One editorial suggested that should the non-profit health insurance company continue to pay so lavishly, it should lose its tax exemption.  Another noted that the company should start put... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592326 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:50:00 +0100 4592326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4575025&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fmassachusetts-blue-cross-blue-shield.html We have frequently discussed the kind of compensation now frequently given to leaders of health care organizations.  Although often even the most disproportionately outrageous compensation only attracts transient interest, a recent regional story in this genre has really gotten legs.How Big the Golden Parachute?The story was about the severance package given to one Cleve L Killingsworth, the former CEO of not-for-profit health care insurance company Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield.  While first reported as being worth $8.6 million,(1) the estimate of his total severance was soon raised to $11 million.(2)This is a Way to Control Costs?Immediately, that amount was contrasted with the supposed emphasis of the company on controlling costs, and its recent poor performance: K... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4575025 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:37:00 +0100 4575025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4406031&cid=t_112432_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FSXdVGulP3Q4%2F Remember that sting operation in which the US Government Accountability Office conducted nearly two years ago of some Institutional Review Boards? The undercover operation involved creating a fictitious company, which then applied to three for-profit IRBs to approve a trial of a non-existent surgical adhesive gel. The episode made a splash, because one IRB - Coast IRB - actually approved the study, a gaffe that was discussed in detail at a Congressional hearing where the sting was revealed. Well, the FDA has issued an alert that some fictitious applications were submitted to several IRBs and the agency says it “appears” that the name and address of the clinical investigator listed on a required FDA form are the same as that used in the GAO sting. “The current and previous... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4406031 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:31:47 +0100 4406031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294580&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fhackensack-university-medical-center.html Last year was an embarassing one for Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), a large academic medical center affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.  In April, former state senator Joseph Coniglio was convicted of fraud (against the public) and extortion for a scheme that involved him being paid $5000 a month for undefined consulting work for HUMC while he promoted the hospital's interests in the state legislature (see post here).  A subsequent investigative report revealed widespread self-dealing on the part of the HUMC board (see post here).  Soon after, the HUMC CEO, John Ferguson, announced his retirement, per the Newark Star-Ledger.Scandal Leads to Apparent ReformsSo when I read an article from last week on NorthJersey.com entit... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294580 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:47:00 +0100 4294580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4249005&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fon-interconnectedness-of-leadership-of.html We just posted about some misbehavior by Abbott Laboratories: a physician Abbott paid as a "key opinion leader" to help market its cardiac stents was accused of inserting stents in many patients who had no need for them; Abbott settled for over $400 million a lawsuit alleging the company defrauded Medicare and Medicaid; and it settled an unrelated suit for over $40 million alleging the company paid kickbacks to physicians for prescribing its drugs.  I thus thought it would be interesting to see how well paid are the corporate leaders who presided over these activities, and who are the board members who were supposed to be providing stewardship of this company.According to the company's 2010 proxy statement, the five highest-paid executives were:Miles D White, Chairman of the... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4249005 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:24:00 +0100 4249005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233133&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fduke-divinity-students-protest-pay-of.html This may be a first.  A small group of Duke University divinity students publicly protested the compensation given to some top university leaders, specifically including the Chancellor for Health Affairs.  According to the Raleigh-Durham News-Observer:Theo Luebke strolled the plaza outside Duke's Bryan Center on Thursday afternoon with a bucketful of apples and a tale of woe.'Come on! Everyone's in this together! Get your apples!' he exhorted students passing by during the lunchtime rush. 'With all the cuts we have around here and all the bonuses we have to give to the big guys, we need to raise all the money we can.'Luebke isn't really the Depression-era fruit peddler his costume suggested. Luebke and a couple of other Duke divinity students hawked apples, ostensibly to raise mo... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233133 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:58:00 +0100 4233133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036597&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fwhat-conflicted-web-we-weave-academic.html We have been writing about conflicts of interest in health care now for a long time.  We started with a focus on academic physicians'  and leaders' financial ties to pharmaceutical/ biotechnology/ device companies, then went on to the intense conflicts generated by academic medical and other health care non-profit leader who also sit on boards of directors of for profit health care corporations, and to conflicts affecting various kinds of respected not-for-profit health care organizations, like medical societies and patient advocacy groups.Meanwhile, we uncovered the curious dominance of the boards of some health care organizations by leaders in the finance world, including some of the leaders of the failed companies that brought us the "great recess... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036597 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:11:00 +0100 4036597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998926&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fhealth-care-leaders-in-maine-fail-to.html From down east Maine comes a telling story about the problems of contemporary health care leadership.  I assembled this case from three articles by Meg Haskell in the Bangor Daily News, links are below. (1-3)Complaints About the CEO's Clinical PoliciesThe story begins with complaints about clinical policies instituted by the CEO of Acadia Hospital.[Acadia CEO David] Proffitt has come under fire in recent weeks from current and former Acadia Hospital employees who say the incidence and severity of staff injuries have risen since he initiated a policy that essentially eliminates the use of mechanical and physical restraints with mentally ill patients who become violent. (2)The concerns were raised with government agencies:Since the end of July, the federal Occupational Safety and H... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998926 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:40:00 +0100 3998926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987013&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fmore-than-1-million-to-run-public.html After a well-publicized story that managers of small town in California were paid in the high six-figures, reporters in California have gotten interested in the pay of public officials.Thus the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on the compensation received by CEOs of local public health agencies, called public health care districts, two of which run hospitals. One in particular received generous compensation:The top official at Palomar Pomerado Health, a public agency serving health-care needs in Poway and Escondido, receives in excess of $1 million in compensation per year.Michael Covert, who has run the North County hospital district since 2003, receives a base salary of $736,000 a year. Retirement, bonuses and other benefits push Covert’s total pay past $1.1 million.One other public he... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987013 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:55:00 +0100 3987013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3983382&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fshould-president-of-university-of.html We first started to discuss the intense conflicts of interest generated when leaders of academic medicine are also members of boards of directors of for-profit health care corporations in 2006.The issue really made the big time in 2010 when the New York Times published a front page article in its Sunday Business section about whether university presidents who also were corporate directors were part of an "academic-industrial complex."University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman as a Director of Johnson and JohnsonOne such director we discussed this year is Mary Sue Coleman, President of the University of Michigan, and hence leader of a prestigious medical school and academic medical center, who is also Director of the large health care conglomerate, Johnson and Johnson. This... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3983382 Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:33:00 +0100 3983382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980796&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fforest-pharmaceuticals-pleads-guilty-to.html The parade of legal settlements marches on.  The latest story is about Forest Laboratories and its marketing of Celexa (citalopram ) and Levothyroid (l-thyroxin).  Here is the most complete version, courtesy of Natasha Singer reporting for the New York Times. First, the lead sentence:A unit of Forest Laboratories, the maker of the antidepressant Celexa, agreed on Wednesday to pay more than $313 million to settle criminal and civil complaints, including a claim that it had illegally promoted the drug for use in children. Here are the charges:Among the criminal charges was one that the subsidiary, Forest Pharmaceuticals, marketed Celexa, which was approved only for adult depression, to treat children and adolescents. The government also claimed that, in conjunction with the company... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980796 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 19:27:00 +0100 3980796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965704&cid=t_112432_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0BKEg-uDqt0%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. We hope you enjoyed the weekend, which amounted to an extended break, in our case. In any event, the routine has now returned and, of course, we are brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation to help us along. Please join us with a cup of your own, or a water bottle, perhaps, we scan the news of the world. Have a great day and stay in touch… IRB Delays Frustrate Investigators (OutsourcingPharma) India Becomes A Hub For Counterfeit Meds (The Washington Post) Genzyme Sells Genetics Unit For $925M To LabCorp (Associated Press) An Eli Lilly Scout Discusses Social Media (140conf) AstraZeneca And UCL Sign Stem Cell Deal (The Guardian) Hopes Fade For Roche And Ipsen Diabetes Drug (Reuters) Mcgarrybowen Wins Creative Duties On Pfizer Advil Account (AdWee... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965704 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:56:12 +0100 3965704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957869&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fgolden-parachute-for-captain-outrageous.html A year ago, I posted about leadership and governance problems at Northeast Health Systems, a small hospital system located in neighboring Massachusetts.  The colorful story included leaders who solicited money from the community but concealed what they were doing from the same community, an adolescent pregnancy pact after the hospital system refused to provide confidential birth control information at the high school clinic it ran, a hospital vice-president accused of art theft, various cuts, some concealed, of medical services, accusations of conflicts of interest affecting the board of trustees, and no-confidence votes by nurses and physicians. Finally, Stephen Laverty, the CEO held responsible for much of the mess, resigned and things quieted down a bit.  H... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957869 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:35:00 +0100 3957869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3895834&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fmaking-community-health-agency-into.html As we predicted, it seems that the US Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) increased reporting requirements for not-for-profit organizations are leading to more examples of the coziness now prevalent among the top leaders of such organizations.  The latest entry in this new parade comes from a story in the Bradenton (Florida) Herald about a not-for-profit community health agency whose mission is to provide health care to the poor and disenfranchised:Providing medical services to the indigent and uninsured in Manatee and Sarasota counties has financially benefitted some of Manatee County Rural Health Services Inc.’s officers, board members and their families, records show.The nonprofit agency has paid nearly $2 million in recent years to businesses owned by board members, officers, emplo... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3895834 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:30:00 +0100 3895834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889047&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fwhere-theres-smoke-university-president.html A long time ago, in 2006, we first blogged about a "new species of conflict of interest" which we thought might prove to be even more important than those afflicting health care that were then starting to be discussed.  This involved health care organizational leaders who were simultaneously members of the boards of directors of for-profit health care corporations.  We posited these conflicts would be particularly important because being on the board of directors entails not just a financial incentive.  It ostensibly requires board members to "demonstrate unyielding loyalty to the company's shareholders" [Per Monks RAG, Minow N. Corporate Governance, 3rd edition. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2004. P.200.]   Thus, for example, the conflict posed by the pre... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889047 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:30:00 +0100 3889047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3805786&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fwhere-no-hospital-ceos-are-below.html In Lake Woebegon, all children are above average.  Now it seems that hospital CEOs have moved there.  Ventura County, Where No CEO is Below AverageThe Ventura County (California) Star reported on the uniformly high remuneration of the CEOs of local, mostly small, not-for-profit hospitals and hospital systems.T. Michael Murray reaped $330,545 in 2008 as chief executive officer of St. John’s hospitals in Oxnard and Camarillo. He drew an additional $187,071 in bonuses with $73,113 more in benefits and other compensation.His total package, according to IRS records, reached $590,729.And he may have been underpaid, according to a statewide survey of 118 nonprofit hospitals. The report by the Payers & Providers healthcare business publication suggests the base salary for CEOs aver... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3805786 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:38:00 +0100 3805786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3761391&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fnew-york-times-reports-university.html Three months ago, we discussed the controversy at the University of Michigan about  the university president's position on the board of directors of the big pharmaceutical, medical device and medical supply company Johnson and Johnson as a potential conflict of interest that could have influenced her decision to make the campus smoke-free.  (Johnson and Johnson makes drugs to aid in smoking cessation.)  I argued that by the Institute of Medicine definition, President Coleman did have a conflict of interest, and while it was not possible to tell whether it influenced the smoke-free decision, the issue with conflicts is that they constantly raise the possibility of undue influence on decisions.Now this issue has made it to the big time.  New York Times reporter Duff Wilso... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3761391 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:32:00 +0100 3761391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625773&cid=t_112432_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fs5ATp06PrMM%2F As part of its get-tough posture on patient safety and industry conduct, the FDA has issued a new guidance for disqualifying clinical trial investigators. The 10-page document, which the agency notes does not establish a “legally enforceable” set of responsbiliites, nonetheless, spells out the possible consequences for messing with a clinical trial. Basically, this reads like the primer it’s intended to be on agency thinking. Take a look to learn about disqualification proceedings, consent agreements and even the possibility of criminal prosecutions. Who should read this? Lots of folks - drugmakers, doctors and, of course, institutional review boards, which will likely have their hands full understanding regulations (see this). (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625773 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:23:14 +0100 3625773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3588840&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fat-upmc-dealings-with-board-members.html Last year we noted that the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) required more detailed reporting starting in 2009 by US not-for-profit organizations.  Many US health insurance companies/ managed care organizations, most hospitals, nearly all medical associations, nearly all disease advocacy organizations, all health care charities, and nearly all medical schools are not-for-profit organizations.  We suggested then that this reporting might lead to more transparency about the leadership and governance of these organizations.  Some of these new 990 forms are now being publicly disclosed, with some interesting findings.  The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review just reported some interesting findings about financial ties between the University of Pittsburg... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3588840 Fri, 21 May 2010 21:12:00 +0100 3588840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3529731&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fboard-member-blows-whistle-on-health.html We previously posted about some of the travails of for-profit health insurance company/ managed care organization Wellcare.  In August, 2009, we posted about Wellcare's "admission" that it had made numerous questionable campaign contributions.  In May, 2009 we posted about WellCare's submission to a deferred prosecution agreemeent based on charges that it defrauded state programs by inflating its expenses. In 2007, we posted about how the state of Connecticut stopped WellCare from running a plan for poor children after the company refused to reveal what it was paying physicians, and why it was failing to pay for particular services. So WellCare has been cited for three different kinds of unethical behavior in 2007-09. Here's a story about Wellcare with a new twist ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3529731 Mon, 03 May 2010 20:32:00 +0100 3529731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494265&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Ffailed-leaders-of-citigroup-as-leaders.html When we began this blog, I never dreamed I would do so much writing about finance and the financial services sector of the economy, but,...  The Governance of CitigroupThe discussions and revelations generated by the global financial collapse/ great recession continue to provide insights into the ongoing health care crisis.  Let me start with a small item from the Dow Jones Newswire this week:The California Public Employees' Retirement System said it opposes the re-election of two Citigroup Inc. (C) directors, in part because of their roles in the recent financial crisis. The nation's largest public pension fund, which owns about 61.2 million Citigroup shares, plans to cast 'withhold' votes for board nominees Andrew Liveris, chairman and chief executive of Dow Chemical Co. (... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494265 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:30:00 +0100 3494265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490790&cid=t_112432_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FmCX2RSUGWIc%2F Steven Rodrig’s PCB Creations are made of recycled printed circuit boards (PCBs) – a perfect example of innovative recycling for Earth Week. The artwork is meant to encourage consumers to find a PCB recycling center rather than throwing out the non-biodegradable parts. photo: WENN.com Post from: BlissTree Earth Week Photo of the Day: Recycled Printed Circuit Board Art (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490790 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:36:37 +0100 3490790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471737&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fwamu-worry-more-overlaps-between.html Investigations of the failures of major US financial corporations during the global financial meltdown continue to paint a picture of bad leadership.  The latest failed corporation to get public attention was Washington Mutual (WaMu).  As described by the Los Angeles Times, Before Washington Mutual collapsed in the largest bank failure in U.S. history, its executives knowingly created a 'mortgage time bomb' by making subprime loans they knew were likely to go bad and then packaging them into risky securities, a congressional investigation has found.In some cases, the bank took loans in which it had discovered fraudulent activity -- such as misstated income by borrowers -- and rolled them into mortgage securities sold to investors without disclosing the fraud, according to the rep... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471737 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:44:00 +0100 3471737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3443727&cid=t_112432_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fboxtop-board-certification.html Remember when you were a child and an offer to be a member of a special spy club appeared on your morning cereal box? You knew, yes knew that the offer was the real deal. All you had to do is send in three cereal box tops and you'd be sent all the prerequisite items. Of course, when the plastic trinkets arrived weeks later, there always seemed to be the air of buzzkill when the reality of what you received for your efforts was revealed.This could never happen with board certification, could it?Yesterday, we learned that this year, every specialist has to re-certify to maintain their status as a board certified specialist. In the past, this was a voluntary process that doctors participated in to show a jury of their peers that they had the right stuff to practice medicine at the highest lev... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3443727 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:03:00 +0100 3443727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3338336&cid=t_112432_125_f&fid=37825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbibbynews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F05%2Fupdated-list-of-iphone-apps-for-dentistry%2F The following is a list of iPhone applications pertaining to dentistry: (updated March 5, 2010) 3D Teeth ($1.99): General information about teeth and mouth, shown in 3D. Information on dental caries, dental disease, implants and dental care. 3D Head and Neck Skeleton System: Concentrates on the bones of the head and neck. Allows user to zoom in and [...] (Source: Bibby Library News and Tips) Bibby Library News and Tips blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3338336 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:19:26 +0100 3338336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283720&cid=t_112432_125_f&fid=37825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbibbynews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F17%2Fboard-exam-study-materials-weve-got-em%2F Bibby library is excited to announce that we have the 2009-2010 and 2006-2007 dental decks for the National Board  Part I exams. A donation from one of our generous residents, the decks will be available for use in the library during our hours of operation.  Please note, these materials may not be used outside the [...] (Source: Bibby Library News and Tips) Bibby Library News and Tips blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283720 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:42:19 +0100 3283720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3275761&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Funiversity-president-but-no-longer.html A frequent topic on Health Care Renewal is how leaders of not-for-profit health care organizations now frequently value their "margin," that is, revenue generation more than mission.  (One good example here shows how medical school leaders value faculty most for how much money they bring in, rather than the quality of their teaching, research, or patient care.)  "Masters of the Universe" as Leaders of Academic MedicineAs we have cast about for reasons behind this important and unfortunate transformation, we noticed that many of the members of the boards of trustees of some of the most prestigious universities that house medical schools, medical schools, and teaching hospitals seemed to be leaders in the finance industry. The importance of that finding became more relevant after t... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3275761 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:48:00 +0100 3275761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3254419&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Feverything-is-up-to-date-in-kansas-city.html They say everything is up to date in Kansas City, so maybe it should not be a surprise that it is the source of a new and colorful tale of how leaders of health care organizations are different from you and me.  The Kansas City Star reported about the professional life of the recently fired CEO of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences:Hiring the CEOThere’s an often-told story about how Karen Pletz, the fired president of the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, got her job in the first place.On a flight from Phoenix to Kansas City in 1995, a stranger sat next to her: Jack Weaver, then chairman of the university’s board of trustees.Pletz, with a law degree and a career in banking, so impressed Weaver that he proposed she join the board. When the tru... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3254419 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:43:00 +0100 3254419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3182241&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D97 Psychiatry Oral Boards will soon be a thing of the past.  This development will no doubt cause considerable consternation for those who make a living by providing week-long practice sessions, but will be welcome news to psychiatry residents who suffer from performance anxiety!  I have mixed feelings about the news myself.   I confess to the feelings that anyone has when there is a sense that the journey has become a bit lighter for those following in one’s footsteps.  I remember similar feelings years ago when resident work hours were reduced to the limit of ‘only’ 80 hours per week!  After all, misery loves company. But I found that I was wrong about those feelings about resident work hours.  I teach medical students now, and I realize that current grads have it a... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3182241 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:57:43 +0100 3182241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178747&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fwhy-are-health-care-organizations.html In conclusion, I asked readers to think about whether their own health care organization had anything resembling such a policy.  I suspect few could identify such policies.  Health care professionals need to inquire why health care organizations, including drug, device, biotechnology and health care information technology companies,  health care insurers, to hospitals, academic medical centers, and medical schools, etc, almost never have real organizational ethics policies.  Of course, the suspicion is that lack of such policies makes it easier for insiders to direct the organization for their personal benefit.  At least if we could make such policies the norm, we could remind organizational leaders that they are supposed to be upholding the mission, not linin... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178747 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:22:00 +0100 3178747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172203&cid=t_112432_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F79WEYfGWBKA%2F Another day, another deadline. But this is a busy world, after all. And what better way to prepare than to keep up with events. So, as you gird for the challenges ahead, here are a few items to help you along. As for us, we will reach for our usual cup of stimulation. Have a good day, everyone… FDA Issues New Guidance To IRBs On Multi-Site Trials (OutsourcingPharma) US Pharmacopeia Recalls New Edition Of USP-NF (statement) Glaxo Forms Global Media Team (PR Week) Blood Pressure Drugs May Cut Dementia Risk (Bloomberg News) Glaxo Sees Little Generic Threat To Advair (Reuters) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172203 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:01:24 +0100 3172203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142494&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fone-small-step-towards-reducing.html Two articles, one in the New York Times by Duff Wilson, the other in the Boston Globe by Liz Kowalczyk, brought the issue of the conflicts of interest generated by leaders in academic medicine sitting on the boards of health care corporations to wide attention.  The news was that Partners Healthcare, the large hospital network that includes two of Harvard University's main teaching hospitals, for the first time is limiting the role its leaders can take on such boards of directors.  As written by Duff Wilson,The owner of two research hospitals affiliated with the Harvard Medical School has imposed restrictions on outside pay for two dozen senior officials who also sit on the boards of pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. The limits come in the wake of growing criticism ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142494 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:26:00 +0100 3142494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3104971&cid=t_112432_86_f&fid=36090&url=http%3A%2F%2Forgmonkey.net%2F%3Fp%3D855 our first semester in the new library is complete. if you need a group study room today, the reservation system has many available for you! all week these have been completely blocked with red, showing that the rooms were reserved for groups of students studying for final exams. group study room reservation system--rooms available! now all that’s left to do is clean down all the wall-talkers to get ready for next semester. wall talker with notes (Source: Organization Monkey) Organization Monkey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3104971 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:44:52 +0100 3104971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2882969&cid=t_112432_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F12%2Fmental-health-factsheet-patient-safety%2F Title: Mental health factsheet: Patient safety The Skinny: Asks seven questions every board member should ask about patient safety in organisations providing mental health services. Does everyone understand the importance of patient safety? Do we have an open and fair culture? Are we actively encouraging the reporting of incidents? Do we get the right information? Are we always open when things go wrong? Do we learn from patient safety incidents? Are we actively implementing national guidance and safety alerts? Publisher: NHS Confederation Size of Publication: 6p Published: 08/10/2009 (Requires NHS Confederation Membership available to all Liverpool PCT staff) Posted in Clinical Governance, Governance, Grey Literature, Mental Health, NHS Tagged: Board, Boards of Management, Clinical Go... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2882969 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:48:58 +0100 2882969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865594&cid=t_112432_86_f&fid=36090&url=http%3A%2F%2Forgmonkey.net%2F%3Fp%3D780 we’ve reached that point in the semester when students have to schedule their sleep! this to-do list was found on a white board in one of our group study rooms. (Source: Organization Monkey) Organization Monkey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865594 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:02:35 +0100 2865594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865615&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fboard-of-trustees-or-social-club-for.html We just posted about the unlikely appointment of one Mr Robert K Steel as a trustee of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Mr Steel appears to have no particular expertise or experience in health care, and no special affinity for its values. On the other hand, Mr Steel was briefly the CEO of Wachovia who presided over that company's demise, despite his avowed goal of keeping it independent. Previously, he served as an Under Secretary of the Treasury during Secretary Henry Paulson's controversial bail-out of financial institutions. He also was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Duke University during the time of the lacrosse scandal, and pledged his full support to the actions of its President (whom he had a personal role in hiring), including those that seemingly put preserving... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865615 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:22:00 +0100 2865615 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838873&cid=t_112432_86_f&fid=36090&url=http%3A%2F%2Forgmonkey.net%2F%3Fp%3D764 in our new library the group study room walls are called “wall talkers.”  the white walls have a coating which can be written on with special markers.  it’s perfect for taking notes for a group meeting, or working through an idea together.  some people get creative with the use of the boards. evolution (Source: Organization Monkey) Organization Monkey blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838873 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:42:10 +0100 2838873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823931&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwhy-have-governing-boards-forsaken.html We have posted frequently about the governance and leadership of academic medical organizations. While one would think that health care organizations, and especially academic health care organizations ought to be held to a particularly high standard of governance, we have noted how their governance is often unrepresentative of key constituencies, opaque, unaccountable, unsupportive of the academic and health care mission, and not subject to codes of ethics. How the governance of organizations with such exemplary missions and sterling reputations got this way has been unclear.Now there are new insights from the ongoing discussion of one of the most interesting and controversial cases of disputed organizational governance. We have often come back to the example of Dartmouth College, of which... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823931 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:46:00 +0100 2823931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796561&cid=t_112432_115_f&fid=38592&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radiolopolis.com%2Findex.php%2Fmy-profile%2Fmy-blog%2Fget-one-month-free-access-to-radiology-boards-preparation-and-mock-exams.html We received several requests, if we could provide an alternative way for Radiolopolis members to gain access to the Radiology Boards preparation software Radiology Boards. Currently 20 MC questions are necessary and members are afraid that they might not have enough time to do it but they need to use the preparation software now (boards are next month).We came now to an agreement with Radiology Boards that Radiolopolis members receive an entire month of freeRead More... (Source: Radiolopolis Blogs) Radiolopolis Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796561 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:31:38 +0100 2796561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2715894&cid=t_112432_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F19%2Fnhs-health-and-well-being-review-interim-report%2F Title: NHS Health and Well-being Review: Interim Report The Skinny: Interim report from the Boorman review of Health and Wesslbing in the NHS which identifies the following key components required of NHS organisations: board commitment, top management leadership and staff engagement embedding staff health and well-being in the core business of the organisation as part of what it means to be a good employer proper resourcing for staff health and wellbeing services, with a clear understanding that this represents investment that will deliver both long-term savings and improved patient care agreed and consistent measures of the effectiveness of staff health and well-being programmes, which can be used for board and national reporting. Key priorities are identified as: contributing to gett... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2715894 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:03:54 +0100 2715894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2705108&cid=t_112432_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F17%2Fthe-intelligent-board-2009-commissioning-to-reduce-inequalities%25e2%2580%2599%2F The Intelligent Board 2009: Commissioning to reduce inequalities from Dr Foster Intelligence identifies the key data sets that allow a board to build up the intelligence needed to reduce health inequalities through hte commissioning process. Posted in Commissioning, Equity, Grey Literature, Health Economics, Inequalities in Health, Poverty, Primary Care, Public Health, Social Exclusion, Social Inclusion, Strategic Commissioning Tagged: Boards of Management, Commissioning, Equity, Grey Literature, Inequalities, Intelligence, Management, Primary Care, Segmentation (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2705108 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:56:50 +0100 2705108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796563&cid=t_112432_115_f&fid=38592&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radiolopolis.com%2Findex.php%2Fmy-profile%2Fmy-blog%2Fradiology-mock-boards-now-open-to-radiolopolis-members.html I am happy to announce that the Radiology boards preparation software "Radiology Boards" has just finished its integration process into Radiolopolis. Every Radiolopolis member has now direct access to this software that allows creating individual Mock exams, performance evaluation, database searching for questions and much more.You may access the program by going on "Education" in the top menu (red arrow), selecting "Radiology Boards / Preparation" (green arrow) and then clicRead More... (Source: Radiolopolis Blogs) Radiolopolis Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796563 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:41:23 +0100 2796563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796565&cid=t_112432_115_f&fid=38592&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radiolopolis.com%2Findex.php%2Fmy-profile%2Fmy-blog%2Fradiology-boards-preparation-software-mock-boards---tutorial.html  Radiology Boards is a Mock examination software to help preparing for the Radiology Boards.This tutorial will go step by step through the site and will explain the most important features. Quick note about Radiology Boards: This examination program is online available and can be accessed fRead More... (Source: Radiolopolis Blogs) Radiolopolis Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796565 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:03:00 +0100 2796565 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2657780&cid=t_112432_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FRamD5Buo3Kw%2F I’m positively buried in a ton of unbelievably exciting business work, all of which will be coming out in a series of posts sometime in the not-too-distant future. When I’m not working on that stuff, I’m hiding from the brutal heatwave that is currently crouching over my fair city, Portland. However, I’ve found some time to engage in a rather lively conversation in the comments on my recent post about a post on another blog concerning the Lingshu and the superior physician. This discussion, and a conversation I’ve been in with a close friend for the last year, has me thinking about the future of Chinese medicine. It should be noted that, as an American, I’m almost certainly talking about the American profession of Chinese medicine – as different pl... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2657780 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:15:30 +0100 2657780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2626156&cid=t_112432_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FkdneuFhDx3s%2F I recently took and passed three NCCAOM board exams. I think I may have lost months and years of my life’s energy in doing so. It was one of the more annoying testing experiences of my life. This was the case due to a number of factors, and none of them have to do with my education or ability. I’d like to briefly review those factors, discuss the board review products I employed and make a few recommendations for those of you who are planning to take the NCCAOM board exams sometime soon. Signing up, paperwork, scheduling and managing board exams I swear that all testing authorities believe that actually signing up for the exams should be the first big test. NCCAOM is actually better than some testing authorities I’ve had to deal with, but the process was still needlessly ... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2626156 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:18:19 +0100 2626156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2588168&cid=t_112432_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F09%2Fpandemic-flu-ensuring-the-nhs-is-ready%2F Title: Pandemic flu: ensuring the NHS is ready The Skinny: Briefing that looks at the planning that’s already taken place and sets out what boards need to be addressing now ahead of a potential upsurge in flu cases in autumn 2009. Identifies the move from containment into a treatment phase for H1N1. Majority of UK cases have been mild, but has proven to be more severe in a small number of cases, with deaths associated with swine flu in those with underlying health conditions. Every NHS organisation needs to review and thoroughly test their pandemic flu plan now, with the understanding that maximum resilience is needed by September. A multi-agency collaborative approach will be critical. NHS board must ensure the organisational focus and resources devoted to managing a pandemic are suffi... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2588168 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:39:22 +0100 2588168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2584331&cid=t_112432_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fviva-la-revolucion-dtc-genomics.html Ok,I am not late to the party here on this one. I have been talking about this for quite some time with posts which include"We have No use for YOUR laws""Who Needs Institutional Review Boards""Steal Your Baby's Genome"I could go on and on here, but this is a natural move here.......23andSergey have decided to move the company into a space which is less likely to get them into hot water with the federal government and in fact may win them a few points with the Federales....Why? Everyone knows the end game here. A huge database of millions of phenotypes paired with millions of genotypes and millions of metabolomes and millions of demographics........With that you create the greatest query machine for human health, generate hypotheses from this and cure mankind of illness. That being said, wh... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2584331 Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:01:00 +0100 2584331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2572962&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D88 I have added new recordings for Psychiatry Board Preparation;  I just added a ‘questions and answers in neurology’ recording.  As always, the recordings are designed for efficiency;  I take topics that have appeared on written Psychiatry Board Exams and ask the questions, pause, and then provide the answer.  The goal is not so much to help you memorize specific glycogen storage diseases as it is to help you get a sense for what areas of neurology you have covered, and what areas you need a bit more focus on.  The recordings are almost two hours long– about the amount of neurology that most psychiatry residents can tolerate before needing to walk away for awhile! I have also posted a ‘combo special’, with significant discounting if you purchase several of ... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2572962 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:35:00 +0100 2572962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510428&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fpracticing-clinical-trials-medicine.html Another story of dubious clinical research, this time reported by the St Petersburg (Florida, US) Times:Vladimir Martin called himself 'doctor' and ran 17 clinical trials of new drugs for major pharmaceutical companies before one patient noticed he didn't have a medical license.The patient alerted the St. Petersburg Times, whose resulting story led to a state investigation. On Saturday, Martin, 43, was arrested on charges of practicing medicine without a license. He was later released from the Pinellas County Jail on $10,000 bail. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and maximum fine of $5,000.The Clearwater man, who changed his last name from Kossatchev after moving to Florida in 2003, went to medical school in the former Soviet Union and practiced in a hos... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510428 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:50:00 +0100 2510428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441588&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D85 I have finally put together the new recordings;  As I have mentioned in the past I am trying to think of the things that I would have found useful to study for the boards.  I was going to go through the mood disorders next, but realized that trying to cover all of the disorders with a ’shotgun’ approach would be the same old thing that is already out there.  I remember purchasing an $800 set of recordings that covered all of the different disorders;  90% of the material was obvious, another 8% was unintelligible from different accents or skipping CDs, and 2% was very helpful– but I had to listen for hours and hours to get to that part! My hope is that by first covering ‘Q and A’ the preparing student or resident would learn the areas that need the most &#8... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441588 Tue, 26 May 2009 05:10:02 +0100 2441588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441700&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F21%2Fpeter-ashenden-on-the-dbsa-blueprint-for-hope-and-passion%2F “We’ve been there. We know what it’s like.” – DBSA President Peter Ashenden on one of the organization’s most crucial weapons for combating mental health stigma and misinformation. In addition to currently serving as the president of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Peter Ashenden is a dynamic keynote speaker, a member of several mental health boards and committees, and acted as both a commissioner of the Certification Commission of the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA) and the executive director for the Mental Health Empowerment Project (MHEP). Simply put, Ashenden is quite the force to be reckoned with in the mental health education and advocacy world and, as cliché as it sounds, I pretty much felt like I was in the presenc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441700 Thu, 21 May 2009 20:05:56 +0100 2441700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405751&cid=t_112432_125_f&fid=37825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbibbynews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F14%2Fstudy-materials-for-dental-assistants%2F Bibby library has the following books from the DANB list of suggested resources for the dental assistant board exam. Torres and Erlich Modern Dental Assisting/ WU 90 B618t 2009 Essentials of clinical dental assisting / Joseph E. Chasteen. WU 90 C489e Dental materials : properties and manipulation/ WU 190 C886d 2004 The dental hygienist’s guide to nutritional care/ WU [...] (Source: Bibby Library News and Tips) Bibby Library News and Tips blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405751 Thu, 14 May 2009 15:16:52 +0100 2405751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364986&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fpension-fund-scandals-payment-agents.html As we get closer to graduation season for most institutions of higher education, another story about the leadership and governance of higher education, involving an institution housing a prominent medical school, has come into view, albeit indirectly. Let me try to explain this complex story, which on its surface has something to do with the ongoing financial crisis, but nothing to to with academia, by quoting, as usual, from media coverage.We start with an article from the New York Times last week:The man leading the Obama administration’s efforts to restructure the auto industry has been described in Securities and Exchange Commission documents as having arranged for his investment firm to pay more than $1 million to obtain New York State pension business.Although he is not named in th... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364986 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:43:00 +0100 2364986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347944&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fhedge-fund-u.html We previously posted about how the Bernie Madoff scandal shed light on problems in the governance and leadership of one major university (which includes a well-known medical school). Yeshiva University, which includes the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, reportedly lost more than $11o million of its investments with Madoff. Not only was Madoff on the university's board of trustees, but also the chairman of the board's investment committee was hedge fund leader Ezra Merkin. Merkin invested the university's money in his own hedge funds, which, in turn, turned over the money to Madoff.This week, Merkin, who like Madoff has left the Yeshiva board, was charged with civil fraud. As reported by the Wall Street Journal,J. Ezra Merkin, a money manager who funneled $2.4 billion from universities... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347944 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:59:00 +0100 2347944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2306976&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fsham-studies-and-commercial-irbs-that.html We have occasionally posted about the activities of for-profit contract research organizations (CROs). These are commercial entities that conduct human research, including clinical trials for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and device companies. More clinical research is being done by such CROs rather than by academic investigators. CROs seem to operate under the radar of most physicians, academics, and policy makers, but sometimes stories surface that raise questions about them.For example, we discussed the trials by SFBC International (now PharmaNet Development Group) in Miami that enrolled immigrants, often undocumented, under questionable circumstances and in Montreal that resulted in the transmission of active tuberculosis (see post here and links backward); and the trial by Parexel Int... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2306976 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:07:00 +0100 2306976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2263913&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fformer-rosalind-franklin-university-of.html The Chicago Tribune published a reminder about a scandal from a few years ago that got little other than local attention at the time,Dr. Robert Weinstein, 63, of Northbrook faces 2 to 3 years in prison in connection with a complex fraud scheme in which he and Levine cheated Northshore Supporting Organization, a charity the two controlled. The charity supported the work of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, which lost a combined $6 million in the scheme. Both men sat on the board of the North Chicago medical school.Weinstein, a self-described private investor for the last decade, admitted that he understated his income by $3 million on his 2003 tax return when he actually made $9.2 million. Weinstein, who is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, didn't agree to coopera... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2263913 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:59:00 +0100 2263913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2232509&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fmeet-new-boss-same-as-old-boss-health.html Today we learned that President Obama has announced his new picks for Secretary of Health and Human Services and for Director of the White House Office for Health Reform. The choice of Nancy-Ann DeParle for the latter position raises some issues. The NY Times provides some background:He also named Nancy-Ann DeParle to coordinate health policy for the administration. Her position, counselor to the president and director of the White House Office for Health Reform, is not subject to Senate confirmation.Ms. DeParle was commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services from 1987 to 1989. Under President Bill Clinton, from 1997 to 2000, she was administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, now known as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Since then, she has gain... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2232509 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:14:00 +0100 2232509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2210327&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fconflicts-of-interest-and-george.html In the Washington Post is this story of continuing troubles at George Washington University's medical school. The school is currently on academic probation, and despite previous protests to the contrary, its troubles are more than superficial.When the medical school at George Washington University was put on academic probation last fall, school officials said the reasons were mostly superficial matters, such as problems with administrative paperwork and student complaints about a shortage of lounge space.In fact, according to interviews and documents obtained by The Washington Post, the school had deficiencies that were considerably more serious.According to a confidential evaluation document and interviews, GWU has done an inadequate job of monitoring students' time with patients and ensu... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2210327 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:18:00 +0100 2210327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2167559&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F08%2Fproblems-with-psychology-research-publishing%2F The Association for Psychological Science latest issue of Perspectives on Psychological Science has a few interesting articles about the research and publishing side of psychology. It’s a messy, strange place, and one which is occupied largely by researchers who expend their entire careers in the service of psychological research and the labyrinth of journal article publishing. It’s not a place I tread often, because it can be an elaborate, soul-numbing process. Taylor (2009) is an author with extensive cross-disciplinary publishing experience, and so offers her thoughts on how the scientific journals of psychology could be streamlined and improved as a whole. Her recommendations include: 1. Shorten the average length of papers submitted to journals. Many are simply too long ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2167559 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:52:02 +0100 2167559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2164616&cid=t_112432_125_f&fid=37825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbibbynews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F02%2F06%2Fmost-popular-books-at-bibby-library%2F Here is a list of the ten most popular books at Bibby library.  Affiliates of the UR are permitted to check out our books for two weeks. Contemporary implant dentistry / Carl E. Misch. ITI treatment guide / editors : D. Buser, U. Belser, David Wismeijer. Contemporary orthodontics / William R. Proffit with [...] (Source: Bibby Library News and Tips) Bibby Library News and Tips blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2164616 Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:02:06 +0100 2164616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2096208&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D71 Order Page for Recordings I spent some time today making the order process more user-friendly.  Please check out the new ordering page for the recordings here.  You can still use the links in the column on the right of this page, particularly if you would like to check out the sample recordings, which are not listed on the order page. I continue to work on the next installment, mood disorders– I have been busier lately, and I don’t want to cut corners.  Again, my goal is to make a product that is more useful– particularly more efficient– than what is currently available.  I’m sure I’m not the only person who could often use just a bit more time… ... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2096208 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:23:13 +0100 2096208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2060908&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fscreamer-who-got-his-way-madoff-case.html We first discussed some health care aspects of the case of Bernard Madoff here. Since then, the case has generated tremendous media attention, and been dubbed the greatest financial scandal of the 21st century. With continuing reporting and investigation, the case has opened important windows into the mismanagement and misgovernance of many kinds of organizations, including health care organizations. Consider what has been revealed about the governance of Yeshiva University, the parent of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. As reported by the Yeshiva University Commentator, J Ezra Merkin, an apparent crony of Mr Madoff's, was a Yeshiva board member and Chair of its Investment Committee:President Richard M. Joel acknowledged they invested approximately $110 million in Ascot Partners, a... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2060908 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:52:00 +0100 2060908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1977370&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D67 Announcing November’s recordings: Psychopharmacology. Since the recordings are an unknown commodity, I will offer two ’sample recordings’ at a very low price, so that you can get a sense of what the recordings are like before spending more money. The samples are valuable by themselves; my hope is that you will find them useful, and so convinced will purchase the rest of the lectures. The links for purchase are on the right side of this page. The first sample recording provides Board Review for the antidepressants. The recording is 40 minutes long, and can be purchased for $5.00 through PayPal or Google Checkout. Simply click on the ‘add to cart’ button and you will be taken to your choice of those secure systems; After your purchase you will be taken to a page... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1977370 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:07:01 +0100 1977370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1940951&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D62 Like most Board Certification examinations, the proving ground for psychiatry covers two areas.  Part I makes sure that the candidate has the ‘facts’– all of the things that are picked up during residency didactics and personal reading, including the different types of aphasia (ick), the metabolic derangements that affect brain development (ugh), or the specific pharmaco-kinetics of each therapeutic agent (I actually like that stuff!). If you are reading this after searching for ‘part II preparation’, you have made it– you won’t neeed to really memorize that material for another ten years– for recertification! (sorry). Part II is different– you need a totally different set of skills.  You need to think on your feet.  You need to diag... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1940951 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:25:06 +0100 1940951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1940952&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D56 For a limited time you can receive a discount on purchase of the entire set, either on CD or by download, by referring a friend who also makes a purchase of the complete set.  Simply write to discount@shrinkboards.com and provide the name or e-mail address of your friend.  What’s more, if you provide multiple referrals you will receive an additional $10 for each referral that results in a sale of the complete set.  To be eligible, I must receive your e-mail announcing the referral before your friend makes the purchase. Thank you for helping spread the word about my product! JJ      (Source: Pass Psych Bo... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1940952 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 03:19:11 +0100 1940952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1909356&cid=t_112432_177_f&fid=38134&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbabybound.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F22%2Flife%2F One of my high school best friends died.  I am in a weird place about it.  I’m incredibly sad.  Really can’t believe it.  I just found out and I am still processing it, but going back and forth between sadness and guilt. We had sleepovers every weekend.  We did Ouija boards in the closet and got super scared when we thought we were talking to a real ghost, who told us who each of us would be going to prom with, and was wrong on all counts.  We lied to our parents, went to parties, and slept in cars because we had no house to go home to - since we were sleeping at each other’s houses of course.  We ditched school, spent way too much time shopping or at the beach, dated the same boys - er, I stole her boyfriend and dated him for 2 years?  We spent every Friday night... B a b y B o u n d blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1909356 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:18:30 +0100 1909356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1940953&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D3 While preparing for my Oral Examination earlier this year I found a way to prepare that was so useful that it may have made the difference for me.  I waited longer than I should have to prepare, and suddenly found myself with less time than I had planned for. These recordings saved time, using time that was otherwise wasted:  my morning and evening commute! Despite completing a good residency I worried that in the heat of the moment I would forget the specific criteria– the criteria I needed to defend the diagnosis I gave to my Boards patient. I realized that I needed to focus on the FUNDAMENTALS– the criteria themselves!  If the criteria popped into my head during the exam, everything else would be gravy! I realized that the way to accomplish what I needed was to engrain th... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1940953 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:50:48 +0100 1940953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1940954&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D42 I will be preparing some new audio recordings as we get closer to the Oral Board season.  I have described why my tapes are helpful– for the Part II exam I am convinced that most senior residents know the material that they need already; the problem is getting it out of their heads in a timely, useful, and impressive manner.  As I have said before, if you use my recordings over and over you will be amazed at how confident you will become. At my own boards I went out to dinner the night before;  a friend from residency was talking about his preparation, and spouting off the different diagnoses, along with how to support each one in patients– I saw the faces of the people at the dinner table turn white as they realized that this guy was much more prepared than they were.  On ... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1940954 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:40:24 +0100 1940954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1940955&cid=t_112432_109_f&fid=38155&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkboards.com%2F%3Fp%3D23 Board Certification in a medical specialty is in essence the ’stamp of approval’ of a doctor’s competence to practice medicine. As you probably know, in most states a doctor can practice medicine without completing a full residency, but such work is limited to urgent care centers or other clinics where there is no need to declare a specialty. But in order to call yourself a psychiatrist, you must satisfactorily complete an accredited residency in psychiatry. A psychiatrist who has completed residency is assumed to be competent to practice, but most physicians and some patients recognize that the person who graduated last in his residency is still called a psychaitrist. If you intend to be considered a true expert in the field of Psychiatry, Board Certification is required... Pass Psych Boards blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1940955 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:12:58 +0100 1940955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1837296&cid=t_112432_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Ftackle-it-tuesday-menu-plan.html Formulate Plan AIn these financially stricken times, we need to tighten our belts and plan ahead. One way to get to grips with dwindling money supplies, is to stock up, stand up and design a fool proof menu plan for the week ahead. This should prevent marketing mishaps in the store.The easy bit is to make the plan.The difficult bit is sticking to the plan.One way to stick to your plan, is to publicize it by sticking it somewhere prominent, such as the fridge door, either written in stone or alternatively on a disposable, wipe sheets with magic markers. Magic markers ensure that everyone is briefed in advance, but if you accidentally find that you have scoffed all the potato salad whilst the children are at school, you can easily substitute ‘green’ or ‘rice’ salad and no-one will be... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837296 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:59:00 +0100 1837296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1834805&cid=t_112432_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F403964808%2F Members of institutional review boards (IRBs) that review protocols involving children may not have adequate understanding of pediatric research regulations, according to a pilot study by The Hastings Center, a nonpartisan, nonprofit bioethics research institute. The center evaluated 71 eligible IRB members, and 41 responded to five multiple choice questions. Most respondents considered themselves “well prepared” or “very well prepared” to perform common IRB tasks. However, the median knowledge score was one correct answer. Some other interesting revelations: 13, or 32 percent, replied that they did not have prior training in review of pediatric protocols. And 20, or 49 percent, responded that they did not have professional experience in child health or development.... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1834805 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:32:40 +0100 1834805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1618037&cid=t_112432_112_f&fid=34728&url=http%3A%2F%2Fobgynkenobi.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fits-most-exhausting-time-of-year.html Ah, yes, OtherDoc's vacation is once again upon us. My days are spent running frenetically back and forth between labor and delivery and the office (seeing mostly his 4 billion prenatal patients), trying to figure out what the hell is going on with any problem patients (he doesn't chart a freaking thing), and deflecting pain medicine requests and ridiculous after hours calls (such as last night 11:40pm "*giggle* I don't know if this is an emergency, but I have a rash and it is getting itchy! Can you tell me what it is? I know I'm not due for two weeks, but can't I just be induced tonight?") My nights are peppered with pages from triage, roughly every 2-3 hours, with patients in labor, hoping to be in labor, who have a hangnail, or nothing better to do at 3 am, and if I'm really lucky, a da... Ob/Gyn Kenobi blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1618037 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:24:00 +0100 1618037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488634&cid=t_112432_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fsesap-13.html The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education presents the 13th edition of the Surgical Education and Self-Assessment Program (SESAP). SESAP has been a premier educational resource for practicing surgeons and surgical residents for over 35 years. Each program consists of 650 Multiple Choice Items (MCIs) with discussions and references to the current literature in 17 content areas of interest to general surgeons. Program materials are furnished in both print and CD-ROM formats, and may be used to obtain up to 60 hours of Category 1 credit.The content of SESAP 13 addresses the core competencies of medical knowledge and patient care and also focuses on some of the other core competencies as defined by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the Accreditation Council for G... USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488634 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:41:00 +0100 1488634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1475123&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fworse-variant-of-new-species-of.html We recently commented on a New York Times article that revealed that Virginia Commonwealth University got a research grant from the tobacco company Philip Morris, a grant which gave proprietary control of any research results to the company, not the academic researcher, and required the grant itself to be secret.It turns out that VCU has more extensive ties to the tobacco industry. In particular, first the Medical Writing, Editing and Grantsmanship blog, then the Richmond, VA publication Style Weekly reported that the president of VCU, Eugene Trani, is on the board of directors of a tobacco company (not Philip Morris). From Style Weekly,As a member of the board of directors of Universal Corp., Trani receives an annual retainer of $40,000, including stock options. He also receives a fee of ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1475123 Wed, 28 May 2008 21:20:00 +0100 1475123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1437096&cid=t_112432_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F288653659%2F The idea is to distinguish between adverse events and unanticipated problems in clinical trials, and to clarify when problems must be reported to institutional review boards, FDAnews reports. And after releasing the final guidance, the agency will “probably institute regulatory changes to make it clearer,” Jean Toth-Allen, a biophysicist with the FDA’s Good Clinical Practices Program, told the annual conference of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, according to FDAnews. (Here is the draft guidance from last year). As you may know, a sponsor must report serious and unexpected adverse events to the FDA. While clinical investigators aren’t required to report adverse events that don’t fall into this category to the IRB, they must record all adverse events on ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1437096 Mon, 12 May 2008 12:29:10 +0100 1437096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1432795&cid=t_112432_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F286818662%2F The FDA and the HHS Office for Human Research Protections are working on a final rule for registering institutional review boards, marking the first FDA effort to issue regulations instead of guidances for clinical trials, FDANews reports. Existing FDA regs don’t take into account all the different types of organizations - vendors, co-investigators, site management organizations and contract research organizations - involved in conducting clinical trials, David Lepay, the agency’s senior advisor for clinical science, told the Association of Clinical Research Professionals annual conference, FDANews writes. What are some of the problems? Let’s start with the fact that FDA regs fail to account for electronic data issues, data standardization, electronic health records, electr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1432795 Fri, 09 May 2008 13:15:33 +0100 1432795 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1280666&cid=t_112432_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F05%2Freporting-financial-management-information-to-the-board%2F How Boards use financial management information is critical to delivering value for money from public funds. Reporting financial management information to the Board is a self assesment guide from the National Audit Office to help Boards receive the information they need. Good financial information available to key decision makers at the right time has a beneficial effect on organisational performance conversly poor or inadequate financial information has  a negative impact on effective decision making. To support Boards to fulfil their responsibilities effectively, the financial management information that they receive must be clearly linked to the organisation’s performance against its objectives and fit for purpose in terms of scope, quality and presentation. (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1280666 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:50:43 +0100 1280666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1191337&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Ftruly-disturbing-lawsuit-against-duke.html Most everyone is aware of the Duke lacrosse team scandal, the debacle about alleged rape by Duke lacrosse team students that led to the resignation of prosecutor Nifong for prosecutorial misconduct, exoneration of the accused, an expose of the radical agendas of a subset of Duke's faculty, and a great deal of national publicity, or, I should say, notoriety.Now, in Dec. 2007 several of the team members have filed a civil suit. The lawsuit filing documents are downloadable from these links (PDF files):Part 1 (100 kb PDF)Part 2 (1.3 Mb PDF)I recommend downloading and perusing these in their entirely. Absolutely stunning.Using Adobe Acrobat, a search in them upon the term "medical" is of great concern. Named in the suit as defendants are Duke University Health Systems, a private diagnostic cli... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1191337 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:56:00 +0100 1191337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1106186&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Fanother-academic-medical-leader-this.html We have previously blogged about the apparently major conflicts of interest generated when a leader of an academic medical institution is also simultaneously on the board of directors of one or more for-profit health care corporations. The Associated Press (here via the Houston Chronicle) just reported that Dr Harry Jacobson has been appointed to the board of directors of Merck and Co. The AP report also noted that Jacobson is on the board of Kinetic Concepts Inc. A cursory Google search revealed Dr Jacobson is a founder of Radiation Oncology Services of America (via the Nashville Business Journal) and was formerly on the board of the Renal Care Group (via PRNewsire).Meanwhile, Dr Jacobson's day job is to be Vice-Chancellor of Health Affairs of Vanderbilt University. So here is yet another... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1106186 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:41:00 +0100 1106186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1067885&cid=t_112432_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Fmksap-15.html MKSAP 15 shall be released soon.The latest version of MKSAP is MKSAP 14 and not the 15.So do not ask your friends around if the MKSAP 15 was published or not.Get more information about MKSAP 14 here:http://usmlestep.com/mksap14.htmlpowered by www.usmlestep.com (Source: USMLE blog for smart people) USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1067885 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:05:00 +0100 1067885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1002790&cid=t_112432_146_f&fid=34960&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fsleep-board-tip-4.html Cardiac deaths and MI's tend to occur between 6 am and noon in the average person. In people with OSA, they occur between midnight and 6 am. (Source: sleepdoctor) sleepdoctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1002790 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:17:00 +0100 1002790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=991842&cid=t_112432_146_f&fid=34960&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fsleep-board-tip-3.html Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS) is linked to mutations in the homeobox gene Phox2B.In some families CCHS exhibits autosomal dominant transmission. (Source: sleepdoctor) sleepdoctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=991842 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:04:00 +0100 991842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=991843&cid=t_112432_146_f&fid=34960&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fsleep-board-tip-2.html End Tidal CO2 is often used to aid in the diagnosis of OSA in children.Various parameters are listed in the literature. The one that will probably appear on the boards is:ETCO2> 50 mm Hg for >10% TST is abnormal (Source: sleepdoctor) sleepdoctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=991843 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:08:00 +0100 991843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=991844&cid=t_112432_146_f&fid=34960&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepdoctor.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fsleep-board-tip-1.html The new sleep boards are coming up in mid-November. Here is something that will probably appear on the exam:Shy-Drager Syndrome ( a subset of Multiple System Atrophy) is a Parkinsonian syndrome with prominent autonomic failure.Respiratory dysrhythmias during sleep are common in Multiple System Atrophy (and are even more common in Shy-Drager syndrome), especially NOCTURNAL STRIDOR, which can be fatal. This is a result of vocal cord dysfunction- Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscles- the abductors of the vocal cords. Treatment includes obligatory cpap or tracheostomy. Respiratory dysrhythmias due to Shy-Drager syndrome can also result in nocturnal awakenings, sleep disruption, and hypersomnia.(This info was covered during the AASM 2007 Chicago Board Review course) (Source: sleepdoctor) sleepdoctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=991844 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:20:00 +0100 991844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=861880&cid=t_112432_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fruns-in-family.html My mother often described me as a demonstrative little girl. She always said it as if she was ever so slightly surprised. A maverick. It’s not that my family was unaffectionate, it’s more that they felt no pressing need to demonstrate their love openly and certainly not publicly. Such things didn’t need to be said. A given. It’s a common enough theme, a cultural quirk of a certain generation and class, that doesn’t translate very well.Every night my mother would tuck me into bed. She would pull the folded top sheet taught, snap, and tuck in the end. I was pinned tight and secure, “night, night dear,” she would say as she kissed me. I always wanted her to stay longer. I loved to be with her. I wanted to be kissed, cuddled and stroked into slumber, but that was only for babies.... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=861880 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:24:00 +0100 861880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=740426&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fanother-species-of-conflicts-of.html On the Wall Street Journal Health Blog, this post notes that Jack Lord, who is a Senior Vice President at Humana, just resigned from the board of NeuroMetrix, a small medical device manufacturer. The post focused on whether the resignation has to do with NeuroMetrix's current legal problems. I wondered (and asked in a comment) whether Lord's position on both boards was yet another species of board-level conflicts of interest. After all, Humana is a managed care organization/ health care insurer which promises an approach which "makes health benefits affordable, easy to administer and use, and instills confidence in both employees and employers." Presumably, one component of making health care more affordable would be negotiating fair prices with providers and suppliers, including medical d... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=740426 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:23:00 +0100 740426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=611719&cid=t_112432_82_f&fid=34667&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaryngoscope.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fyay.html I got a page from a friend today saying oral board results were posted.I passed!It's about a week and half earlier then they said scores would be up, but I'm glad.Relief. (Source: i'm so sleepy) i'm so sleepy blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=611719 Fri, 11 May 2007 04:02:00 +0100 611719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=567956&cid=t_112432_82_f&fid=34667&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaryngoscope.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Foral-boards-done.html I've been back from DC. Oral boards are done.Yay!Topics were anticipated. Did I study enough, hard to say... would studying more been more helpful... doubtful.I think I did okay... but who knows for sure. I'll find out at the end of May.At least it's over, for now. (Source: i'm so sleepy) i'm so sleepy blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=567956 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 03:27:00 +0100 567956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=547279&cid=t_112432_82_f&fid=34667&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaryngoscope.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fdc-in-spring.html Ah to be in Washington DC in the spring.Blossoms on the trees.Spring is in the air...NO!I'm in DC for anesthesia oral board examsIts 40 degrees outside. There's a wind advisory...The plane was shaking like a laundry dryer as we were landing... and I swear we were going sideways for several seconds.AND I'm taking oral boards tomorrow.I'm a little stressedI'm back to the books for last minute cramming... maybe a short nap.More later. (Source: i'm so sleepy) i'm so sleepy blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=547279 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:15:00 +0100 547279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=469297&cid=t_112432_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fwhile-hospital-board-members-slumber.html With some reading between the lines, a story in the Boston Globe by Christopher Rowland helps explain some of the problems that afflict the leadership of health care organizations. To summarize the story, in quotes,Hospitals increasingly are expecting volunteer trustees to go beyond the role of community boosters and tackle an imposing medical issue: preventing errors that lead to patient injuries and deaths.Trustees traditionally have used their positions on hospital boards for social networking with other business executives and raising money through events such as fashion shows and golf tournaments. But expanding the scope of their responsibilities and time commitment is seen by hospital officials as key to improving patient safety because it would focus more attention on flawed policie... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=469297 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 18:15:00 +0100 469297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1097845&cid=t_112432_145_f&fid=36688&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.egmedicine.com%2F%7Er%2Fegmedicine%2Fusmle%2F%7E3%2F199107431%2F This report has been prepared by Nicole Hindman, Class President ‘2001 This is the updated version of this informative packet. It now includes the opinions of the third years present at the 2/16/99 Class of 2001 Dinner. These remarks are listed at the end of the handout, in part VI. Sample Study Schedule Student X Note: This is a [...] (Source: USMLE) USMLE blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1097845 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 02:22:00 +0100 1097845