MedWorm Tags: clinic

Hi-Tech Choose Your Own Adventure Coming to a Medical School Near You

Healthcare IT News Blog — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:02:32 +0100

Though it was longer ago than I care to admit, I can remember checking out every copy of the Choose Your Own Adventure® series my local library had to offer. Whether it was “Prisoner of the Ant People” or “Zombie Penpal” (nope, I didn’t make those titles up!), those books allowed me to control my own destiny, choose my own fate – escape from the ant people or allow my long-distance pal to eat my brains for breakfast. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog)

Disease-Specific, Social Network-Initiated Study by Mayo Clinic and Dr. Tweet

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:30:00 +0100

This study involving patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection demonstrates the feasibility of and is a successful model for developing a “virtual” multicenter disease registry through disease-specific social media networks to better characterize an uncommon condition. This study is a prime example of patient-initiated research that could be used by other health care professionals and institutions. A cute factoid? The lead author of this social network-initiated study is actually called Dr. Tweet (as in a message on Twitter). References Electronic Communication and Medical Research: Beyond the Record Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: A Disease-Specific, Social Networking Community–Initiated Study Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe,...

I was just talking to a patient whose wife had failed an IVF cycle

The Patient's Doctor — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:03:00 +0100

. She had had a poor ovarian response and he wanted to know whether it was worth trying another cycle again on not. His question was simple . Is it worth subjecting her to the pain of an IVF cycle ? Do we have a chance of success ? Or is it futile ? Are we just breaking our head against a brick wall . He wanted my opinion, based on what we’d learned from the first IVF cycle. He loved his wife a lot , and was very protective of her. He didn't want her to go through the pain of another IVF failure , and while he understood that there were no guarantees, he still needed advise as to whether it was sensible to try again. The major problem with an IVF cycle is not the physical pain of course - it's the emotional pain of failure, because there's so much riding on the outcome of an IVF cycle....

After One Year, The Mayo Clinic Center For Social Media Is Still Going Strong

Better Health — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:00:38 +0100

I’ve always been a great fan of what Mayo Clinic has been doing on social media. Then after Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media was launched, I became a member of the international external advisory board which I’m very proud of. I reported when they launched a patient community and also discussed how well they did this. Now the Center is 1 year old and still performs perfectly. An excerpt form their previous entry: Here’s a sneak peek of a few topics that were discussed during Mayo’s retreat: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health)

Sharp Focus Roundup

Healthcare IT News Blog — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:27:50 +0100

I've been thinking about the Strategic Health IT Advance Research Projects (SHARP) Program lately and plan to give an update soon on some of the progress being made. SHARP has four major efforts underway at major collaborative efforts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Texas at Houston, Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic of Medicine, and Massachusetts General Hospital. The websites for each of these projects are: read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog)

Cysview Technology Allows Doctors To See Cancer Cells

Inside Surgery — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:57:17 +0100

A new technology dubbed cysview is being used at the Cleveland Clinic thats allows physicians to see cancerous cells in bladder tumors through the use of a novel combination of flourescent lighting and dye. (Source: Inside Surgery)

Basal Cell Carcinoma - Mayo Clinic Video

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:15:29 +0100

Jerry Brewer, M.D., Mayo Clinic dermatologist, describes the common form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

How your doctor decides the dose of your IVF meds

The Patient's Doctor — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:42:00 +0100

When you do your IVF treatment, a very important decision the doctor needs to make is - What should your starting dose of HMG / FSH ( brand names for these key IVF meds include Repronex; Gonal-F; Follistim) be for optimal super ovulation? This is a key decision because this determines how many follicles you’re likely to grow. If he selects a dose which is too low , you may not have enough eggs or embryos. And if he selects a dose which is too high, you may grow too many follicles and end up with OHSS. We do have rules of thumb for this, but as with any biological system , it’s very hard to predict how a patient will respond finally, and we need to acknowledge that some of this is trial & error. As a general rule for most young patients, the starting dose is 3 amp of Menogon , whi...

Bernadine Healy, 1944-2011

Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 01:53:11 +0100

I’m rather shocked to hear tonight that Bernadine Healy, M.D., has died of a brain tumor. Dr. Healy, who turned 67 on Thursday, was the first woman to head the National Institutes of Health (1991-93). She also served as president of the American Red Cross, was dean of the Ohio State University College of Medicine and was health editor of US News and World Report. Dr. Healy, a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist, was deputy director of the White House Office of Science and Policy under President Ronald Reagan. She was married to former Cleveland Clinic CEO Floyd Loop, M.D. I met Dr. Healy once, after she spoke at the Medical Group Management Association‘s annual conference in 2003. For someone as busy as she was, she couldn’t have been more gracious. I lost my job just a cou...

Patient Empowerment Has The Potential To Be Problematic

Better Health — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:00:00 +0100

Let me say first that I am a practicing primary care doctor who is very much focused on patient centered care. Though I cannot go back to being a patient who is unaware about what a doctor does, the terminology she uses, or what the importance of certain test results are, I can empathize with the overwhelming amounts of information, challenges, and stressors patients and families can have in navigating the healthcare system to get the right care. This is the reason I wrote my book. However, over the past few months I’ve noticed a particularly disturbing trend. Patients are not consulting doctors for advice, but rather demanding testing for diagnoses which are not even remote possibilities. A little knowledge can be dangerous particularly in the context of little to no clinica...

The Importance Of Social Media In The Medical Field

Better Health — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:00:49 +0100

Recently, I had the pleasure of being surrounded by brilliant health care thought leaders. First, I delivered a social media presentation at the Eyeforpharma conference. Secondly, I sat in the audience at the Social Communications and Health Care 2011 conference to listen to others present on social media, and participate in a round-table discussion on social media. It’s clear from the personal discussion that followed with folks from the pharma industry, medical device companies, and hospitals, that they understand the need for social media (or social networking), but they are cautious to dive in. A few concerns I’ve heard: “social media can be paralyzing,” “senior leadership in the pharma industry is looking for the FDA to make decisions because it’s such a highly reg...

Gratitude for the Canadian Healthcare System — From an American Patient

World of Psychology — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:34:58 +0100

“…our challenge is twofold: We have to find a way to cover all our people; and we have to figure out how to get better value for the US$2 trillion we currently spend on healthcare.” – David M. Cutler, Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics at Harvard University and Member of the Institute of Medicine -commenting on the US healthcare system. Last month I was invited to speak for a week for The International Certificate Programme in Dual Diagnosis associated with Brock University under the guidance of Dr. Dorothy Griffiths & Dr. Frances Owen. Work I’ve developed over the past several years on psychotherapy for people with intellectual disabilities has been implemented in the States and most of the countries with socialized medicine. The Canadians have a real fl...

Betty Ford Dies at Age 93

World of Psychology — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:23:09 +0100

Betty Ford, the former First Lady of the United States died Friday at the age of 93. Dr. William Van Ornum gives this succinct summary of her life in a tribute on the website of the American Mental Health Foundation (AMHF): Mrs. Ford was born in Chicago, grew up in modest circumstances, became a dancer, and married Mr. Ford shortly after he returned from the Navy in World War II. She thought she was signing up for a life with a mid-western lawyer; instead he chose politics and she was thrust into the role of a political wife, all the while raising 4 children and trying to keep her own interests as well. Political life became difficult for her and she felt an emptiness inside from which she sought solace in alcohol and prescription pills. She was open about her addiction at a time when othe...

Video Gaming Your Way to Better Health

Healthcare IT News Blog — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:26:59 +0100

The healthcare IT community is a technologically savvy lot, to be sure. Dreaming up systems that will ultimately improve patient health (and perhaps a bottom line or two) is certainly the work of creative and dedicated professionals. Which is why I’d bet dollars to doughnuts that when this crowd needs to blow off steam after a hard day’s work, they flip on their favorite gaming console – or at least click over to Farmville to see how their latest cash crop is coming along. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog)

Appointment updates…and spinal surgery?

Cancer, life, and me — Thu, 26 May 2011 05:08:21 +0100

I’ve had a few medical appointments since the last update. Here’s a rundown: Pulmonary function (lung health) test: Results show I’ve got “restrictive lung disease,” a fancy way of saying small lung capacity. This puts me at higher risk for infections like pnemonia, since my lungs do not have full coughing power (and junk can get stuck Continue reading Appointment updates…and spinal surgery? (Source: Cancer, life, and me)

Most Americans Don’t Know What Healthy Eating Means

Better Health — Thu, 19 May 2011 12:00:13 +0100

Only one in 10 respondents to a national survey could estimate how many calories they should consume in a day. Seventy-nine percent make few or no attempts to pay attention to the balance between the calories they consume and expend in a day. These and other piquant findings from the online 2011 Food and Health Survey fielded by the International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC) struck home last week as I smacked up against my own ignorance about a healthy diet and the difficulty of changing lifelong eating habits. The confluence of my failure to gain weight after cancer treatment and a blood test suggesting pre-diabetes meant that as of last Tuesday, I have been on an eat-specific-types-of-food-every-hour-and-write-it-down regimen. And despite a lifetime of recommending that p...

Gastroenterologists Need More Training To Be Competent With Colonoscopies

Better Health — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:00:00 +0100

Much more practice is needed than gastroenterological professional societies currently recommend, concluded Mayo Clinic researchers in Rochester, Minn. Current recommendations are that 140 procedures should be done before attempting to assess competency, but with no set recommendations on how to assess it, wrote the author of the research. But it takes an average of 275 procedures for a gastroenterology fellow to reach minimal cognitive and motor competency. Now, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy is rewriting its colonoscopy training guidelines to reflect the need for more procedures and emphasize the use of objective, measurable tests in assessing the competency of trainees. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Bette...

HIE, ACOs Are the ‘Fast-Moving Train’ of Health Reform

EMR and HIPAA — Thu, 12 May 2011 21:45:30 +0100

Healthcare and health IT are plagued by conundrums. Providers long have been the ones asked to make hefty investments in EMRs and other IT systems to help remove costs from the healthcare system, but payers and plan sponsors tend to enjoy most of the financial benefits. Clinicians wish their organizations would share data with others, but those in the executive suite have been reluctant to cooperate with competitors for fear of losing revenue. And, let’s face it, medical errors can be profitable if a routine procedure turns into an expensive inpatient admission. Portions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are intended to address these problems by providing financial incentives for “meaningful use” of EMRs (incl...

Not needlephobic. Just human.

Bah! to cancer — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:40:31 +0100

Reading through the edit on the Bah! book, I did wonder – not for the first time – whether I was being a little harsh on some of the people treating me. I’m not horrible about anyone (or at least no more horrible than I am here on the blog) but I am quite clear that there were many moments when a little bit of empathy would have gone a very long way. Then I remembered something – it’s not in the book, or the blog, but something triggered it and it popped up. It was the early days of herceptin and I had been asked to go on a lifestyle study. I’d agreed. I was at oncology clinic on Monday, was due to have herceptin on Wednesday, and the deadline for having bloods taken for the study was the following Monday. At the time, I didn’t have a PICC, so bloo...

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) - Mayo Clinic video

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Tue, 03 May 2011 03:44:47 +0100

Phil Fischer, M.D., discusses the latest research on Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).Comments from Twitter:@drjohnm (John Mandrola, MD): For EPs, POTS is one tough nut to crack.>>Helpful video. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Effect of 16-Hour Duty Periods on Patient Care and Resident Education

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:56:00 +0100

Dr. Amy Oxentenko details a study appearing in the March 2011 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings (available at: http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com) that looked at the effects of 16-hour duty periods for residents, and the impact of reduced shift length on:- patient care metrics- education- transitions of care- work hours- resident satisfaction Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Positive thinking: 1-minute video advice from a Cleveland Clinic psychologist

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:03:45 +0100

Positive thinking. Stop thinking bad thoughts. One-minute video advice from a Cleveland Clinic psychologist http://www.twitvid.com/XUL8S Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Big health systems to promote connectivity

Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:06:21 +0100

Geisinger Health System, Group Health Cooperative, Intermountain Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente and the Mayo Clinic will join together to promote sharing of electronic health data as part of a new organization called the Care Connectivity Consortium. The formal launch is set for 9 a.m. EDT Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington, and the event will be webcast here. According to a media advisory, the Care Connectivity Consortium is “a historic interoperability collaboration among five of the nation’s leading health systems to securely share electronic health information and best practices.” Executives from the organizations will be on hand to “will discuss the goals of the consortium, how sharing electronic health data supports high quality, patient-centered ca...

Dream clinic

Bah! to cancer — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:02:01 +0100

After my largely positive experiences at Freeman Road and the Royal Victoria Infirmary of late, I’ve been thinking about what makes for a good clinic. Here’s my list so far. 1. Friendly, welcoming staff at a reception desk which is placed so no-one has to queue or negotiate their way around each other. 2. Lots and lots of natural light. 3. Chairs with different seat heights, some with arms and some without, some fixed and some moveable, so that people can get properly comfortable while they wait. 4. A supply of fresh, cool drinking water. 5. Only current editions of newspapers and magazines. 6. A waiting area for people who want to be sociable and another for those who want to be quiet. 7. An assumption that no patient will wait for more than 20 minutes to be seen, and an immed...

Should Home Allergy Shots Be Permitted?

Better Health — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100

DISCLAIMER: This post is not meant to condone or promote allergy shots to be given at home. It is meant to promote discussion and make patients aware of the issues involved. Allergy shots, unlike medications like claritin and flonase, offer patients with significant allergies a way to potentially be cured of their misery without the need for daily medication use. However, there is a small, but substantial risk for anaphylaxis and even death with allergy shot administration. After all, a patient is being injected with the very substances that cause their allergies. As such, many allergists will allow allergy shots to be administered ONLY within a medical setting. Also, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) specifically forbids allergy shots to be administered at home...

Watchful waiting continues

Bah! to cancer — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 07:40:29 +0100

Thursday morning saw Alan and I heading off to the Northern Cancer Care Centre at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, for my appointment at the oncology clinic. The NCCC is big and bright and clean and spacious. It has a WHSmith and a courtyard and a shop that sells hats. Everyone we met was pleasant and kind. I had high hopes, although they were starting to tarnish a little bit by the time we’d waited 45 minutes. But then we were called, by a registrar so handsome that I wondered for a moment whether I’d wandered into the set of a TV show about an oncology clinic, rather than an actual oncology clinic. (Sadly, a quick look around the waiting room at all the ill-fitting wigs and faces in shades of putty and phlegm soon put paid to that idea.) After taking a medical history and d...

What infertile couples go through - and how IVF can help !

The Patient's Doctor — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 06:53:00 +0100

(Source: The Patient's Doctor)

Happy IVF patient from Mumbai !

The Patient's Doctor — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:29:00 +0100

After more than 7 years of marriage finally we had started seriously thinking about making an addition to our family, but our efforts were not yielding results. As the age factor was catching up on us, we were advised to go in for IUI treatment. After 3 failed IUI attempts, I was completely disheartened and dejected. Fortunately that's when one of our colleagues mentioned Dr. Malpani and their success story after undergoing his treatment.We had nothing to lose, and decided to give it a shot. My work had anyway brought me to Mumbai from Bangalore and we decided to make the most of this opportunity.Our first consultation with doctor boosted my confidence tremendously and I felt that finally I had reached the right place. The doctor put me to ease instantly. After perusing all my earlier repo...

Never far away

Bah! to cancer — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:50:55 +0100

Last week, Alan took a phone message for me from the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. An appointment has been made for me on Thursday morning. I was a litle perplexed. As you know, I’ve recently had a check up, and thought I was free to play at being someone with nothing to do with cancer for at least a year. But no. I saw the breast surgery team for my last check: this appointment is with oncology, who are seeing me (as far as I understand) because I’m a new-to-the-hospital patient. It’s a sort of induction. It will be nice to compare and contrast oncologists, as my experience so far is that they don’t score highly on emotional intelligence, empathy, information-sharing, or even timekeeping. (Though as a fellow patient did point out to me once, oncologists have chose...

Shingles Recurrence: Can The Vaccine Help?

Better Health — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:00:50 +0100

This month’s Harvard Health Letter has an article about getting shingles a second or even a third time. (Click here to read the full article.) The bottom line is that recurrence is a) certainly possible and b) if some recent research is correct, much more common than previously thought and about as likely as getting shingles in the first place if you’re age 60 or older. I talked to Barbara Yawn, M.D., director of research at the Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester, Minn., for the article and mentioned results that she and her colleagues first presented at a conference several years ago. Yawn reported a more complete version of those results in last month’s issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings (a favorite journal of mine). Full text of the study isn’t available unless you h...

36-Hour Offer: Integrative Neuroscience, Personalized Medicine and the 2011 SharpBrains Summit

SharpBrains — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:40:11 +0100

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Accelerating the Future of Personalized Medicine, Evian Gordon, MD, PhD and Stephen H. Koslow, PhD -> Learn More and Register to Participate in the Summit Here, and get a chance at getting a complimentary copy of the book Integrative Neuroscience and Personalized Medicine! (Source: SharpBrains)

Before it begins

Bah! to cancer — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:15:03 +0100

Last week at the hospital really reinforced for me just how scary the diagnosis stage of breast cancer is – even if the lump turns out to be a thing of nothing, the bit that gets you to there can be horrible. Also, in the last couple of weeks, I’ve had several email exchanges and conversations with people going through diagnosis, and this too has made me think about how, once you are in the realms of Actual Cancer, it’s easy to forget about how difficult the stage before was. So today, I’m going to offer you some advice if you are in possession of a lump that you’re not sure about. I hope it helps. The first thing is the most important. If you find a lump, go to your GP. Now. Cancer is like toothache or cleaning out the fridge or doing your tax return: leaving...

Tubes Tied Reversal: Danita’s Personal Story

Tubal Reversal Blog — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:02:02 +0100

Tubes tied and then reversal is what Danita had at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center after having four children and becoming remarried. Readers interested in personal stories about tubes tied/reversal can read Danita's story about her quest for a successful tubal reversal surgery. (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog)

Spine Clinic

Cancer, life, and me — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:10:34 +0100

I visited the UCD Spine Clinic today to discuss a few things. First, I received a neurological exam (reflexes tested, numbness/sharpness tested, basic strength tests). Good news: nervous system seems intact and responsive. No sign of any new nerve damage. I brought up my concerns, stating that I think my kyphosis might be progressing and causing organ Continue reading Spine Clinic (Source: Cancer, life, and me)

Bruised

Bah! to cancer — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:38:52 +0100

Alan and I packed our books and headed off to the RVI (Royal Victoria Infirmary) in Newcastle yesterday afternoon, for my first visit to the breast clinic since we moved. (Previous care, Bah! newbies, was at St. George’s Hospital in Tooting.) We arrived at the shiny new Victoria Wing at 2.50 for a 3pm appointment, and by 3.10 I was sitting in clean, tidy consulting room (RVI 1, St George’s nil), going through my medical history with a clean, tidy and thorough consultant (RVI 2, St. George’s 1). Then came the examination – chaperoned by a lovely nurse (RVI 3, St George’s 2), although the chances of a man who examines breasts all day long being suddenly overcome by the sight of mine seemed a long way less than likely. I was given a sheet to cover myself with so ...

Three R’s Of Health And Wellness

Better Health — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:00:40 +0100

I’d like to talk about how rodents, relationships, and riding relate to overall health and wellness. This idea comes from a nicely-written New York Times piece entitled, “Does Loneliness Reduce the Benefits of Exercise?” Here, Gretchen Reynolds reviews a few intriguing studies about how relationships may affect exercise, stress hormone levels, and intelligence. The combo caught my eye. Anyone who pays attention to wellness knows that exercise produces more flexible arteries, more durable hearts, and leaner body shapes. These benefits are obvious, and honestly, sometimes a bit tiresome to write about. To me, a far more interesting — and lesser known — benefit of regular exercise is that it might make us smarter. Here’s where the rodents come into the story. As ...

Tubal Reversal Success Rate

Tubal Reversal Blog — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:41:10 +0100

The success of tubal reversal can be quite high when patients choose the best tubal reversal doctors in America. To find out if you are a candidate for tubal reversal surgery and what discounts exists readers are encouraged to review the pregnancy statistics and to call and inquire about their chances of tubal reversal success. (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog)

WebMD vs. Mayo Clinic: Who Do You Trust for Diagnosis on the Web?

Genetics and Health — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:49:39 +0100

Yesterday’s New York Times Magazine featured a column, “Prescription for Fear,” that in one fell swoop dismissed WebMD as a “Big Pharma Shilling” website whose name has become a “byword among laysurfers for ‘hypochondria time suck,’” while praising the Mayo Clinic’s website as an heroic alternative, thanks to its “good medicine” and “good ideas.” The author, Virginia Heffernan, paints the “medical Web” as a landscape rife with pharmaceutical reps posing as medical experts, and posts written specifically to prey on the desperation of headache-sufferers and neurotic hypochondriacs. But not everyone sees it this way. TIME’s Maia Szalavitz, for one, isn’t convinced: “The NYT Magazine s...

What I want from my webmaster for my medical website

The Patient's Doctor — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:58:00 +0100

Our website is the global face of our clinic. I take it very seriously, because we treat patients from all over the world and our website is the first point of contact for all our patients. It’s crucial to our success and our webmaster plays a key role in our business ! I need a webmaster who understands the importance of a website in our business – someone who does not see himself as just a web designer, but rather as a business partner who can help us to grow. Here’s my wish list for a perfect web designer/ webmaster. His competence and efficiency is taken for granted – but I am a premium client, and want to be treated as one. I am willing to pay the additional premium, and I want someone who understands the importance of keeping me happy !I want someone who will extend my horizo...

Every complaint is a gift - Dr Malpani's guide for doctors handling patient complaints

The Patient's Doctor — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 05:03:00 +0100

Most doctors get put off by patients who complain and most doctors will either ignore these patients – or fire them ! While I’d rather have smiling and happy patients as well , I also believe that every complaint is a gift – it’s a chance to learn and improve. In fact, we actively encourage our patients to provide us with feedback – and both compliments and complaints are welcome . Compliments give us a high and tell us we are doing a good job. Complaints remind us that we can do better !As a doctor, I am focused on providing high quality medical care to my patients. However, I also run a clinic, and I may not see some basic problems ( which are easy to fix) unless someone takes the trouble to point them out to me !Most patients are quite reluctant to complain to their doctor. Fo...

Another Malpani Infertility Clinic baby born in the US !

The Patient's Doctor — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 02:49:00 +0100

(Source: The Patient's Doctor)

How we deal with patient complaints at Malpani Infertility Clinic

The Patient's Doctor — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:31:00 +0100

As a boutique IVF clinic which provides highly personalized care to infertile couples in a comfortable setting, we take great pride in our customer service. We pamper our patients and do our best to keep them happy. While the outcome of any IVF cycle is always uncertain, we do our best to make sure the process is as stress-free as possible. We do this by listening carefully to our patients and involving them actively in their treatment by educating them and sharing information with them.However, there will always be some patients who are unhappy with us and who have complaints about us. I guess this is inevitable when we do over 400 IVF cycles every year. Not all IVF cycles are going to be successful – and patients who have failed IVF cycles are often likely to be unhappy and discontente...

Atrial fibrillation - Cleveland Clinic video

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 17:58:39 +0100

Atrial Fibrillation - Cleveland Clinic video with information for patients. Dr. Walid Saliba, Cleveland Clinic staff cardiologist, discusses atrial fibrillation, the most common irregular heart rhythm that starts in the atria. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Why I love talking to my patients

The Patient's Doctor — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 07:11:00 +0100

I had just finished seeing a patient who came to me from Bangalore for IVF treatment , and before leaving the room, he turned around and said - " Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to us so patiently ! "I was flummoxed ! After all, isn't listening to a patient a part of the doctor's job description ? Why was he thanking me for doing something which is so routine and mundane ?When I asked my next patient why I was being thanked, he said - That's because you are so different from most other doctors, doc ! Most doctors just rush like automatons through a long line of patients. It's like they are just processing an assembly line of people - and they have 7 minutes in which to listen to you . They are always rushed and harassed - and it's very hard to have a decent convesration wit...

Patient education in India - the Times of India reports on what Malpani Clinic has been doing

The Patient's Doctor — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:33:00 +0100

(Source: The Patient's Doctor)

What If All Patients Were This Engaged In Their Health?

Better Health — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:00:14 +0100

This video is an excellent testimony of what a truly engaged and knowledgable patient with diabetes looks and sounds like. Kudos to the Mayo Clinic for sharing this wonderful piece about shared decision making. Pay particular attention to the fact that the patient in the video was treated for diabetes by her primary care physician for eight years before being referred to a clearly “patient-centered” endocrinologist. Also note her belief that a patient-centered approach to chronic disease management probably results in shorter, more productive visits in the long run. *This blog post was originally published at Mind The Gap* (Source: Better Health)

First EMR Stimulus Checks

EMR and HIPAA — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:41:12 +0100

As expected the first EMR stimulus checks have been issued and we’re starting to learn who the first providers are to receive the checks. There’s even the obligatory big check picture accompanying the coverage of the first EMR stimulus checks. According to a Government Health IT article, University of Kentucky Healthcare received a $2.86 million payment. That’s a nice chunk of change and represents a third of the hospital’s overall expected payment from CMS. I think most hospitals would enjoy a check like that. Of course, what we don’t know is how much University of Kentucky Healthcare spent to purchase and implement their EMR. I’m sure we’ll see those numbers come out as more people get their EMR stimulus checks. The first EMR stimulus checks on t...

“Just In Case” Heart Tests: Can They Do More Harm Than Good?

Better Health — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:00:10 +0100

Here’s an important equation that all of us — doctors include — should know about healthcare, but don’t: More ≠ Better “More does not equal better” applies to diagnostic procedures, screening tests meant to identify problems before they appear, medications, dietary supplements, and just about every aspect of medicine. That scenario is spelled out in alarming detail in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Clinicians at the Cleveland Clinic describe the case of a 52-year-old woman who went to her community hospital because she had been having chest pain for two days. She wasn’t having symptoms of a heart attack, such as shortness of breath, unexplained nausea, or a cold sweat, and her electrocardiogram and other tests were fine. The woman’s doctors concluded that her ...

How your doctor can reduce your fertility - a guide from Dr Malpani

The Patient's Doctor — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 02:38:00 +0100

Infertile patients expect that their doctors will provide them with treatment to improve their chances of having a baby. Tragically, some medical procedures can actually end up reducing your fertility !Here's a list of the top ten procedures which can actually harm you, rather than help you ! If your doctor advises any of these, please get a second opinion before agreeing !1. D&C ( dilatation and curettage) . This is a "minor" surgical procedure in which the doctor dilates the mouth of the uterus ( the cervix) and scrapes the uterine lining using a curette( curettage). This endometrial tissue is then sent for pathological examination. In the past, when doctors had very little to offer to their patients, this used to be the mainstay of the treatment of an infertile couple. In fact, even...

Chocolate cysts - how we manage them at Malpani Infertility Clinic

The Patient's Doctor — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:52:00 +0100

A chocolate cyst of the ovary ( also known as an endometrioma, endometrioid cyst, or endometrial cyst) is found in some infertile women who have endometriosis. In this disease, the inner lining of the uterus ( called the endometrium ) grows in various abnormal locations within the pelvis . One of the commonest sites this aberrant endometrial tissue can be found in is the ovary. With every menstrual period, this tissue grows, enlarges , bleeds, and sloughs off . Here it forms a cyst; and because the contents of this cyst are black, tarry and thick, they resemble dark chocolate , hence the name ! ( I feel that sometimes doctors can have a perverse sense of humor . For most women, the word chocolate produces happy feelings, because chocolates are a woman’s favourite treat. To label a diseas...

Winterize Your Mind And Body

Better Health — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 17:00:17 +0100

This is a guest post from Dr. Jena Wider. ********** Winterize Your Mind And Body During the winter months, certain health issues may arise that women should have on their radar. From mental health issues like stress, depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), to physical concerns like skin care, the winter can certainly pack an extra punch. Depression peaks during the holiday season, affecting more than 17 million Americans, according to the National Mental Health Association. On average, women are more vulnerable to stress-related illnesses like depression and anxiety than men. One study, conducted by Pacific Health Laboratories, revealed that 44 percent of American women report feeling sad through the holidays compared to 34 percent of American men. “Depression of any kind ...

Patients with poor ovarian reserve - flogging a dead horse ?

The Patient's Doctor — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 04:37:00 +0100

For many IVF clinics, the patients which cause the most distress are the ones who are poor ovarian responders. These are patients who have poor ovarian reserve - and are often heartsink patients, because no matter what we do , it's very difficult to get them pregnant !It is possible to get them to grow eggs and make embryos - and this actually makes the matter even more complex. This often creates false hopes - if I can make eggs and embryos, of course I can get pregnant ! All I need to do is to get the embryo to stick !Unfortunately, there is no easy answer, and every patient needs to look into their own heart to resolve this personal quandary for themselves. While we are very happy to aggressively superovulate these patients, I feel using expensive and unproven treatments ( suc...

Great Story About Value of Healthcare Information

EMR and HIPAA — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:22:08 +0100

I recently got a message from Jerry Theis of MyCrisisRecords. He sent me a story that I thought was a great way to start off the new year. It talks about the value of health care data interoperability and in this case a device and PHR with a person’s health information. Enjoy the story! Yesterday, one of my members called me to tell me she was taken to the emergency room suffering combinations of complications caused by a rare condition, Polymorphous along with a flare up of fibromyalgia which caused to her go into cardiac arrest. The ER doctors were able to effectively treat her because she had her digital device which provided them all of her medications, conditions, allergies (she is allergic to latex). Because of this rare condition and her acute distress she was told by the doct...

Get more patients by treating them as VIPs - a guide by Dr Malpani

The Patient's Doctor — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:08:00 +0100

How to get more patients by treating them as VIPs - Dr MalpaniView more presentations from malpani. (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

Quality certification for primary health centres this year

The Patient's Doctor — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:02:00 +0100

" On Sunday, the quasi-governmental organization, Quality Control of India, will introduce the accreditation process with the first stop of healthcare for most consumers: neighbourhood doctors. “Once the government passes the Clinical Establishments Act, it will be binding on all healthcare providers to seek accreditation,’’ said QCI secretary general Dr Giridhar Gyani. How will Cliniq 21st help patients ? It will mean that a doctor with the brand has been attending continued medical education (CME) lectures, he or she will provide health checkups for his/her staff and the clinic will have minimum required emergency care equipment and the place will be fumigated once a week. “Once patients or their relatives see this Cliniq 21st board outside a doctor’s chamber or a clinic, they ...

What are my chances of getting pregnant with IVF ?

The Patient's Doctor — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:12:00 +0100

The commonest question patients will ask before starting an IVF cycle is - what are my chances of getting pregnant ?While it's true that the chances of success do depend upon how good your IVF clinic is, it's also true that the chances do depend upon biological factors which are outside your control - the most important one of which is your age !You can now use the Free IVF Predictor to estimate how good your chances of success are ! While you cannot do much about your age, you can improve your chances of success by choosing a world class IVF clinic ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

Testing for pregnancy after an embryo transfer in an IVF cycle

The Patient's Doctor — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 03:04:00 +0100

While all IVF patients understand with their heads that not every IVF cycle results in success, in their heart of hearts, every patient expects to get pregnant every time they do IVF ! This is why the 2ww after the embryo transfer can be so nerve-wracking ! Am I pregnant or not ? Have the embryos implanted or not ? The suspense during the 2ww can be even worse than the pain of the IVF injections !Most patients would love to have a test which will allow them to find out if they are pregnant immediately after the embryo transfer ! Have the embryos stuck or not ? Why can’t we do a pregnancy test and find out right now ? Even if I am not pregnant, at least it’s better to know than to be unsure.To understand why patients ( and their doctors ) still have to suffer through a 2 week wait to fi...

India's first free phone service for educating infertile patients

The Patient's Doctor — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:11:00 +0100

Malpani Infertility Clinic have just launched India's first free phone service to educate infertile couples about infertility.This innovative IVR ( interactive voice response) service called FertilityFactsFoneLine, powered by BolTell, walks patients through their treatment options, and helps to dispel many myths and misconceptions.Best of all, it's free !Try it out by dialling 08042658370 ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

The Medical Profession is a Conspiracy against Patients

The Patient's Doctor — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:03:00 +0100

I am a full-time practising doctor and yet sometimes I believe that the medical profession is not always completely honest with patients.Now, I am not talking about the rubbish which alternative medicine practitioners are selling about how the medical establishment is out to rip patients off with unnecessary surgery and exorbitantly priced drugs. And neither is it true that doctors will gang up on patients and refuse to testify against other doctors when a medical mishap occurs. I believe that most doctors are honest professionals who are doing their best to try to help their patients to get better.The truth is far worse. Sadly, most doctors do not realise the harm they often end up inflicting on their patients. They mean well, but because they become arrogant and brainwashed as they get o...

Interview with Dr Malpani - IVF specialist

The Patient's Doctor — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:18:00 +0100

You can now read the transcript of the interview below the video ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

Why do I have to wait 2 weeks to do a pregnancy test ?

The Patient's Doctor — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 03:28:00 +0100

Most patients find that one of the most difficult things to manage during an IVF cycle is the dreaded 2 week wait ( 2ww) after the embryo transfer. Time seems to come to a halt and you live in a state of suspended animation - a bit like Schroedinger's cat ! Am I pregnant ? Am I not pregnant ? Every ache and twinge sends you scurrying to the bathroom to check if your periods have started - and you over-interpret every signal your body sends you. Am I feeling nauseous ? Is this a good sign ? Do my breasts feel fuller than usual ? Is this just PMS ? You try to prevent your mind from playing games with you, but this is surprisingly hard to do. Every hour seems to stretch on like a day ! You obsessively compare notes with all your online IVF friends - and drive your husband batty with your inte...

New cartoon video - The Older Woman and Fertility

The Patient's Doctor — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:09:00 +0100

Along with watching the video, you can now also read the transcript - it's just below the video ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

Patient educational DVDs now being produced in India in Indian languages !

The Patient's Doctor — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:53:00 +0100

By passing the Clinical Establishment Act, the Indian government is planning to make accreditation compulsory for clinics, to ensure that patients get good quality medical care from doctors, because they will be forced to meet basic standards.I am thrilled to observe that one of the requirements for accreditation is that doctors provide patient educational materials in their clinics.The good news is that innovative companies like PEAS ( in which I am an angel investor) are producing patient educational DVDs in Indian languages, customised for Indian patients !Information Therapy will hopefully become an integral part of Indian medical practise ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

Behaviour nurture not nature, says IVF children study

The Patient's Doctor — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:41:00 +0100

A long-term study following 1,000 families with children born using IVF between 1994 and 2002 in the UK and US has shown the importance of parenting in the outcome of a child's behaviour. In the study, which investigated the mental wellbeing of both the parents and children, some of the children were biologically related to their parents, while others were unrelated and conceived using either donor sperm or eggs, or both. This gave the researchers a unique opportunity to compare the role of nature (genes) and nurture (the environment) in the development of a child's behaviour.This is why patients who use donor gametes for IVF after counselling and forethought are usually very happy with their kids ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

Why the HCG blood test is better than a home urine pregnancy test

The Patient's Doctor — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 03:57:00 +0100

Blood tests for checking the beta HCG level are better than home urine pregnancy tests for the following reasons.1. They are more accurate , sensitive and reliable. A negative test ( HCG level of less than 10 mIU/ml) can reliably rule out a pregnancy with 100% accuracy. Urine tests are not as reliable or accurate. This is because they can have false negatives. A false negative is the situation when a woman is pregnant, but the urine pregnancy test comes back as negative. This can be because her HCG levels are low, so that they cannot be picked up by the urine test ( which becomes positive only after the blood HCG levels cross more than about 30-50 mIU/ml). Other reasons the urine test can be incorrectly negative is when it’s not done properly by the patient ( who is not an expert, after...

Infertility edutainment to help infertile couples to become expert patients !

The Patient's Doctor — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:20:00 +0100

Infertile couples need to learn about IVF - but it's boring to read pages and pages of text. The good news is that we've made learning about IVF fun ! You can actually learn all about infertility while playing solitaire ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

Creating something out of nothing

The Patient's Doctor — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 03:33:00 +0100

Society takes great pride in depicting business barons as being role models of success. They are revered as "wealth creators" and admired in a capitalistic society.However, in reality, many of these businessmen are just traders . They do not actually create anything - they just accumulate money. While it's great to be rich, all they have done is merely transfer assets from others into their pocket, without creating anything new.The real creators are the creative artists, who actually produce something out of nothing. However, while it's true that a work of music is a piece of art, this is a luxury which only affluential societies can afford to indulge in !The true creators are the farmers ! Unfortunately, most of us have never been to a farm, so it's hard to remember what a miracle growing...

Psych Central by the Numbers, 2010

World of Psychology — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 23:00:52 +0100

In October 2010, according to comScore Media Metrix, Psych Central had 820,000 unique U.S. visitors to the site, and in November 2010, we had 933,000 visitors. That puts us in the top 50 most-visited of all health websites on the Internet today — a first for us! Combined with our international audience, Google Analytics tells us we reach over 1.5 million unique visitors each and every month. Astounding, considering our humble beginnings of indexing other psychology and mental health resources online 15 years ago. To put this in some context, more people visit Psych Central every month than any one of these sites: The American Cancer Society The American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association combined The American Medical Association The American Diab...

Patient Centered Health Internet

The Patient's Doctor — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 15:11:00 +0100

: "Eventually, the IHE-based Health Internet will support patients as equals on the Health Internet. Eventually, the routing between different IHE nodes will be more direct, and then the benefits of IHE might begin to outweigh the benefits of the simple Direct Exchange.But for now, the Direct model empowers the patient in ways the IHE model could never hope to."New models will allow patients to share their medical records with other doctors - and with other expert patients as well - many of whom can give excellent advice, since they've "been there , done that " ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

Leading Healthcare Systems Collaborate On Best Practices For Common Conditions

Better Health — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Six of the nation’s leading healthcare systems will collaborate on outcomes, quality, and costs across eight common conditions or procedures in an effort to share best practices and reduce costs with the entire healthcare system. Cleveland Clinic, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Denver Health, Geisinger Health System, Intermountain Healthcare, and Mayo Clinic will to share data among their 10 million patients with The Dartmouth Institute, which will analyze the data and report back to the collaborative and the rest of the country, according to a press release. The collaborative will focus on eight conditions and treatments for which costs have been increasing rapidly and for which there are wide variations in quality and outcomes across the country. The first three conditions to be studies are ...

Dr. William Seitz Builds Patient Gavin Azzopardi a Set of New Fingers

Inside Surgery — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:19:56 +0100

Cleveland Clinic orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Seitz is building fingers for patient Gavin Azzopardi, who was born with just a thumb and a pinkie finger on each hand. (Source: Inside Surgery)

ACO = Arrogant Clinical or Aggressive Care Oligopoly?

Health Care Renewal — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:51:00 +0100

In the 1970s, it was managed care organizations. In the 1990s, it was vertically integrated health care systems. In the 2010s, the fashionable concept for improving health care, apparently beloved by left-wing policy wonks and right-wing health care executives is the "accountable care organization." (ACO). Development of the ACO is funded by the recently passed US health care reform legislation. The official definition of ACO from the US Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is: An Accountable Care Organization, also called an 'ACO' for short, is an organization of health care providers that agrees to be accountable for the quality, cost, and overall care of Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in the traditional fee-for-service program w...

A Taste Of Canadian Healthcare On Chicago’s South Side

Better Health — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:00:41 +0100

This past September, a group of medical residents at my institution began seeing primary care patients at a free clinic down the street from our tertiary academic medical center (“hospital clinic”). Far from my expectations, the care we are able to provide at our free clinic is in many ways better than our hospital clinic. Somewhat paradoxically, the experience has given me a taste of what the practice of medicine is like in single-payer healthcare systems like Canada’s. When I volunteered to start seeing patients at a nearby free clinic, I had little idea what I was signing up for. The term “free clinic” conjured up memories as a medical student in East Baltimore tending to patients at a local homeless shelter with severe frostbite or at a student-run clinic rummaging through th...

The Stroke Robot Will See You Now - Mayo Clinic Video

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:07:00 +0100

Mayo Clinic — April 30, 2010 — Imagine this: you're eating dinner with your family and suddenly your left arm feels numb. Your speech is slurred. It could be a stroke, so you've got to get to the hospital fast. But what if your hospital doesn't have a stroke specialist or what if that doctor is out of town? The answer may be telemedicine. Doctors at Mayo Clinic are using a telemedicine robot that allows them to be face to face with patients who are miles away. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Patient Mental Illness in a Dental School Clinic

Twelve Step Facilitation.com — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 17:53:15 +0100

This study examined the degree to which patients seeking routine dental care report these diagnoses.Data was gathered from records of 508 consecutive new patients whose treatment plans were submitted for faculty approval.The patient’s self-reported mental illness was obtained from the patient questionnaire and physical evaluation forms of the dental record.One hundred thirty-six patients (27%) reported at least one mental illness.Of all diseases and disorders recorded in the medical history, self-reported depression was second only to hypertension in frequency.Substance abuse (alcoholism, addiction, medication), anxiety, anorexia, bulimia, insomnia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were also common findings.This study establishes the need for training of de...

Talk To Patients Before Running Tests

Better Health — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0100

The Associated Press ran a provocatively-titled piece recently, “Family health history: ‘best kept secret’ in care”, which noted how a geneticist at the Cleveland Clinic discovered that asking about family members and their history of breast, colon, or prostate cancer was better than simply doing genetic blood testing. Surprising? Hardly. This is what all medical students are taught. Talk to the patient. Get a detailed history and physical. Lab work and imaging studies are merely tools that can help support or refute a diagnosis. They provide a piece of the puzzle, but always must be considered in the full context of a patient. They alone do not provide the truth. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Saving Money and Surviving the H...

"Do Not Give Up Hope" - Spring Point Project

Diabetes Daily — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100

I recently attended a local 'Adults With Type One' meeting. A couple of volunteers from the JDRF have been organizing this group for the last 18 months, though this was only my second meeting. I'm making it a priority to get to more of these because the two I have attended have been really valuable. The guests were Tom & Patty Cartier. Their son, Cory, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 18 years ago. As parents, they are giving all they have to make sure he is cured and no longer has to wrestle with diabetes. We will all benefit from their hard work and dedication to their son. Tom & Patty are the people behind the Spring Point Project, a nonprofit organization providing medical grade porcine islet cells to the University of Minnesota's Schulze Diabetes Inst...

Why are patients so naive ?

The Patient's Doctor — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 07:52:00 +0100

I just saw a patient who was at her wit's end. She had done 4 IVF cycles at the same clinic and had failed all of them. She was angry; and was complaining bitterly about how badly the doctor at the IVF clinic had treated her. " She would make us wait for hours - and we only got a chance to talk to her at the first consultation. After this, all the care was provided by her assistants, who refused to allow us to meet Madam ! "I asked her some basic questions about her medical treatment. " I need more details about your prior IVF cycles . What were the medications which were used for superovulation ? What was the dose used ? How many follicles did you grow ? How many eggs were collected ? What was the E2 ( estradiol) level in the blood ? How many embryos were transferred ? What was the embryo...

Family History Better than Navigenics/DTCG Shill for Cancer Genes?

Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 01:07:00 +0100

Yes,You heard it here. A recent study abstract and pressed about from my friend Charis Eng MD PhD, Clinical Geneticist, Internist and all around really smart lady spoke today about her findings of a head to head, DTCG vs Family History at discovering cancer risk. You can watch the webcast about it here!I actually sent some data Ken Offit's way about a similar thing way back when, Ken is yet another, really smart guy. He wasn't surprised. Nor was I when I heard Dr. Eng's findings.First, Caveat Emptor This is an abstract! Repeat after me......What does that mean? 1. It is not peer reviewed fully2. It is not published yet3. It is preliminary dataThis test was Navigenics Compass vs Family History in 22 females with breast cancer, 22 males with prostate cancer and 44 people with colorectal canc...

Vaccines: Top 10 Reasons To Get Your Shots

Better Health — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:32 +0100

Vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical intervention in history. They are incredibly safe and effective and are well-tolerated by most people. In the US, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carefully reviews all reports of adverse reactions that could be associated with vaccines. Over decades of review, they have found that the rate of potential severe reactions is so low that they cannot even calculate a risk. There are many vaccines available for babies, children, and adults. Please check these vaccine schedules to make sure that you and your family are fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. (Or you can ask your doctor/nurse to review your vaccine needs with you in person.) Vaccines for ages 0-6 click here. Vaccines for ages 7-18 click here. Vac...

Italian Surgeons Jailed For Performing Unneeded Surgeries

Inside Surgery — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:20:43 +0100

In a case being dubbed “The Clinic of Horrors” Italian surgeon Pier Paolo Brega Massone and his associates have been jailed and given prison sentences for performing surgeries on patients that were not indicated. (Source: Inside Surgery)

What Can You Do To Burn Calories at Work - Cleveland Clinic Video

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:59:00 +0100

Dr. Mike Roizen answers the question - What can you do to burm calories at work? Stay awake, have walking meetings, and go to the furthest bathroom to get some extra steps. Visit www.letsmoveit.org - Cleveland Clinic | September 23, 2010. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Irish Heart Surgeon Maurice Neligan Has Died

Inside Surgery — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:44:38 +0100

Well-known Irish heart surgeon Maurice Neligan died suddenly at his home on October 9, 2010 of unknown causes. Neligan was on occasion an outspoken critic of the National Health Service and was the founder of the Blackrock Clinic. (Source: Inside Surgery)

A brief treatise on finding steady ground

Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:24:59 +0100

Deepest Health has been in a transitional time for a while. We’ve seen a facelift (though more is coming) and the addition of a great new writer in Michael Reynolds. At the same time, there’s been a lot going on in the rest of my life – including the recent moving of my clinic. It’s been an amazing process, but a lot of work. I thought instead of hanging my head about my lack of writing, or simply not writing, I’d write about how I’m searching for consistency in my clinical life as well as in my writing. My thought is people who have been following along throughout this blog’s history will enjoy the update. Some of you may even resonate with where I find myself. I’ve been in practice now for just over a year, if you don’t coun...

How much exercise is enough? Cleveland Clinic video

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 23:59:22 +0100

Dr. Michael Roizen, Cleveland Clinic Chief Wellness Officer, answers the question "How much exercise is enough?"Three parts of exercise have been shown to be beneficial to health:1. Moving the equivalent to 10,000 steps a day.2. Resistance exercise for 30 minutes a week.3. 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise.The videos are part of the Cleveland Clinic Let's Move It! program. See the CEO promoting it: Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Hospitals, CRM and PRM

The Patient's Doctor — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:40:00 +0100

CRM ( customer relation management ) is a tool which all service industries to keep their customers happy. While one would expect hospitals to use CRM routinely, unfortunately, most hospitals still do not bother. Given the large patient:hospital bed ratio in India, most hospitals continue to take the approach that patients do not have a choice as to where they can go for their treatment, which is why most hospital staff adopt a high-handed attitude towards patients . Stories of hospital staff rudeness and arrogance are innumerable - and this is reflected in the increasing number of incidents of violence against doctors and hospitals.Progressive hospitals are willing to learn lessons from the hospitality industry , and are willing to implement CRM to help their patients have a better experi...

Mayo Clinic’s Social Media Advisory Board Has No Physicians

Better Health — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 11:00:16 +0100

The Mayo Clinic has always been at the forefront of the social media and health care intersection, and is the first institution to have an official Center for Social Media. When they recently announced the invited first 13 members of their Advisory Board for the Mayo Clinic Center for Health Care Social Media, the first thing I noticed that there were zero physicians, and few with clinical experience. What a slap in the face. There’s little question that the qualifications of the selected members are beyond reproach, and all are respected luminaries in the health care social media field. But this is the Mayo Clinic, one of the leading health care institutions in the country, so it’s odd that clinician-bloggers were blatantly ignored. (more…) *This blog post was originally...

2010 Free Flu Shot Clinic Templates Released

Implementing EMRs — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:15:24 +0100

In 2008, we released our Flu Shot Clinic Package for NextGen for free. The package was met with resounding success, allowing flu shots to be documented in just two clicks – including pulling up the patient’s chart! We have just released an updated version of the Flu Shot Clinic Package for 2010. This year, the changes include support for KBM 7.8 and EHR 5.6. If you would like a copy of the 2010 Flu Shot Clinic Package, please complete our online form. Also, we will be releasing a new free template package for UGM in November! Watch for an announcement soon! Related Posts September 9, 2010 — 2010 Free Flu Shot Clinic Coming Next Week September 6, 2010 — New EPSDT Template Suite September 3, 2009 — NextGen Continues to Do Well in CHC Market (Source: Implement...

Personalizing Your Health: An Interview With Thomas Goetz

Better Health — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:44:29 +0100

As an invited media guest at Mayo Clinic’s Transform 2010 symposium earlier this week, I had the pleasure of interviewing presenter Thomas Goetz, Executive Editor of Wired Magazine and author of the new book The Decision Tree: Taking Control of Your Health in the New Era of Personalized Medicine. Thomas writes about science, health, and medicine and believes that engaging people in their health and involving them as participants and decision makers leads to improving their behavior and their health outcomes. He knows there’s a technology emergence of cheaper, better tools that have the ability to offer people a way “in” — from self-tracking gadgets to online disease communities and beyond. Thomas is intrigued by the confluence of ideas and technology that ...

Google Hits Reset Button on Google Health

Healthcare IT News Blog — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:58:28 +0100

Google Health has seemingly been stuck in neutral almost from the start. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog)

The Mayo Clinic - Social Media Center

Diabetes Daily — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:15:00 +0100

I have lived with diabetes since April of 1980. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disorder. For reasons nobody knows, my immune system has attacked a part of my pancreas. My pancreas is the organ responsible for micro-managing my blood sugar level. More often than once a second, it measures and adjusts multiple hormones, constantly keeping a perfect blood sugar; a job I now try to mimic. I have rudimentary tools, imperfect measurements, and lots of unknowns to contend with. If the level of sugar (or glucose) in my blood is higher than normal, I am damaging my body. Over time, high blood sugars can cause all of the scary complications associated with diabetes (amputations, kidney failure, blindness, etc.). If the level of sugar in my blo...

The Weekly Scoop in Healthcare Social Media #36

Fox ePractice — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:40:19 +0100

This article addresses how much time users spend on Facebook, the effectiveness of Facebook ads and trends among online merchants. Read the report… // < ![CDATA[ new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'profile', rpp: 2, interval: 6000, width: 250, height: 250, theme: { shell: { background: '#e4eff2', color: '#007e9a' }, tweets: { background: '#FBFBFB', color: '#595959', links: '#007e9a' } }, features: { scrollbar: false, loop: false, live: false, hashtags: true, timestamp: true, avatars: false, behavior: 'all' } }).render().setUser('amyporterfield').start(); // ]]> This Week’s The Chair of Cheer “The Chair of Cheer” is our pick of the week display of great social media execution in the healthcare industry. ...

2010 Free Flu Shot Clinic Coming Next Week

Implementing EMRs — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:34:46 +0100

The 2010 version of our popular flu shot clinic template suite is due out next week. And yes, its still free! The changes for this year include: Removing the H1N1 vaccine checkboxes. Support for NextGen 5.6. Support for KBM 7.8 and 7.9. If you’d like to sign up now for a copy, just fill out this online form and we will send you the files once they’re released. Related Posts November 7, 2008 — Announcing NextGen Flu Clinic September 6, 2010 — New EPSDT Template Suite September 9, 2009 — Free Flu Shot Package Updated for H1N1 (Source: Implementing EMRs)

ECT: The Electric Personality Change

World of Psychology — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:26:14 +0100

Patrice was misery incarnate. Unlike some of my depressed patients, who lived the proverbial life of quiet desperation, Patrice did not hide her suffering. She wept. She moaned. She regaled our walk-in clinic with a kind of biblical keening, which, understandably, attracted the attention of our clinic director. He took me aside one day and said, as gently as possible, “You really need to do something with that lady.” He was right, of course, and thus far I had done little to help Patrice, despite months of treatment. Aside from being poor and dealing with some physical limitations, Patrice had no discernible cause for her chronic depression. Her marriage was good, and despite her straitened circumstances, Patrice lived in a modest but comfortable home. Unlike many depressed patients, P...

Designer Hospital Gowns Make Debut at Cleveland Clinic

Inside Surgery — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:50:19 +0100

In one of the true medical advances of this young century, Diane von Furstenberg designed hospital gowns are now being trialed at the Cleveland Clinic in an attempt to provide more patient comfort, security, and warmth. The effort is being lead by nurse Jeanne Ryan of the Office of Patient Experience. (Source: Inside Surgery)

How Oligopolists Rationalize Their Market Domination: the Examples of Sutter Health and the Carilion Clinic

Health Care Renewal — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:17:00 +0100

Advocates of laissez faire commercialized health care often trumpet the advantages of competitive markets as a rationale for deregulation. While there are theoretic, and possibly empiric reasons to think that competitive markets are the optimal way to distribute goods and services, we recently discussed aspects of health care that make it extremely hard for health care markets to be ideally competitive. Meanwhile, two news articles gave some case-based evidence about how current health care markets are hardly competitive. Sutter HealthA Bloomberg article focused on Sutter Health in northern and central California. Sutter Health commands a substantial part of a very large market:Sutter Health Co., the nonprofit that owns Sutter Davis, has market power that commands p...

Five More Physicians Leave Sadler Clinic in Texas

Inside Surgery — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:48:26 +0100

In what appears to be an ongoing trend, five additional physicians have resigned from Sadler Clinic in the Houston, Texas area because they are apparently unhappy with the way the clinic is being run. These departures come on the heels of the departure Dr. Catherine Hart, who left the clinic earlier and who is now being sued for violation of the non-compete clause. (Source: Inside Surgery)

The Pill and Depression

Recovery Is Sexy.com — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:04:00 +0100

Depression as a side effect of the contraceptive pill. Millions of women worldwide use the combined oral contraceptive pill as an effective form of contraception. However, the focus on its side effects to date has mainly been on physical aspects, even though the most commonly stated reason for discontinuation is depression. There are surprisingly few large studies investigating depression related to oral contraceptive use. A pilot study was conducted showing that women using the combined oral contraceptive pill were significantly more depressed than a matched group who were not. More research is needed to better inform women and doctors about depression related to oral contraceptive use, and clinical guidelines are needed regarding the different types of oral contraceptives and their ...

Dr. Vishal Michael Shah Reports That NFL Players Return After ACL Injury Related To High Draft Status

Inside Surgery — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:58:23 +0100

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vishal Michael Shah of the Richmond Bone and Joint Clinic in Richmond, Texas has compiled statistics that show that less than two thirds of NFL players who sustain tears of the anterior cruciate ligament ever return to play – and that those that do are usually high draft picks. (Source: Inside Surgery)

Should you consider doing IVF ?

The Patient's Doctor — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:56:00 +0100

IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization (also known as a test tube baby) is a medical treatment that fertilizes the egg cells by the sperm outside the uterus. IVF is currently the most successful treatment option for infertility .IVF is usually used after other simpler treatments have been unsuccessful. The process requires the woman to begin hormone therapy for superovulation, to help in the production of multiple eggs. These eggs are then removed from the woman’s ovaries , and are combined with sperm in the IVF lab, where the fertilization process occurs. Once the eggs are fertilized, the resulting embryo is transferred to the woman’s uterus , and if it implants, then a pregnancy is established.When IVF is used for treating male infertility (caused by sperm which are defective and are unable ...

New Study Shows Some ACL Injuries Do Not Require Surgery

Inside Surgery — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:58:14 +0100

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have published a report in the New England Journal of Medicine showing that some torn ACLs will heal sufficiently without reconstructive knee surgery. Dr. Bruce Levy of the Mayo Clinic comments. (Source: Inside Surgery)

Cleveland Clinic Targets The “Heart” Of Chicago

Better Health — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:00:00 +0100

All I can say is, best of luck. From the Chicago Tribune: In a move likely to shake up the market for heart care in the Chicago area, the well-known Cleveland Clinic’s cardiac surgery program said Thursday that it has signed an affiliation agreement with Central DuPage Hospital in the western Chicago suburbs. The internationally known Cleveland Clinic draws patients from more than 85 countries around the world for everything from open-heart surgery and valve replacement to heart transplants. Its deal with Central DuPage, in Winfield, is designed to enhance the heart care provided at the 313-bed community hospital and potentially bring Cleveland Clinic patient referrals at a time heart surgeries are less needed than they were a decade ago. This won’t shake up the market in Chicago. ...

2010-2011 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” List

Libby's H*O*P*E* — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:16:29 +0100

This week, U.S. News & World Report issued its 2010-2011 rankings of the best U.S. hospitals for adults. The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is rated #1 in cancer treatment, and Johns Hopkins is rated #1 in gynecology and #1 overall based upon all medical specialties. If you would like more information regarding [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*)

An Important Tip For Men Who Use Viagra

Better Health — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:00:00 +0100

The medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings recently contained some clinical pearls that I wanted to pass on to my men readers who take medication for erectile dysfunction (ED). They reported on a healthy 67-year-old male who took two 25mg doses of Viagra (sildenafil) but still did not get erections. He was frustrated and inquired about other treatments for ED. The article reported that patients often take Viagra and other phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (Cialis, Levitra) incorrectly. To be effective, Viagra must be taken on an empty stomach at least one hour before intercourse. Research has shown that approximately half of patients who don’t respond to Viagra will have success when they take it properly. The dose can go up to 100mg, but there is no need to increase the medi...

Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Philip Schauer Studying Bariatic Surgery in Diabetics

Inside Surgery — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:23:17 +0100

Cleveland Clinic bariatric surgeon Dr. Philip Schauer is enrolling diabetic patients who are obese but not as heavy as typical weight loss surgery patients in a study to see if this type of surgery can cure their diabetes. Diabetes patient Cristina Iaboni opted for surgery instead of conventional weight loss attempts to lose the 50 lbs it took to control her diabetes. (Source: Inside Surgery)

A true epidemic, with no easy scapegoats

Suboxone Talk Zone — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:56:29 +0100

Today an article on the web site Medscape describes the epidemic of opioid dependence in this country. The article describes what people who work with addiction already know– that the use of opioid medications has increased in a way never seen before for any medication. The article does a good job of presenting the statistics, and puts forward the more obvious conclusions that can be made about the cause of the problem and some possible ways to reduce the magnitude of the problem. As the article suggests, the databases newly established in many states to monitor narcotic prescriptions will reduce doctor shopping. Some experts have called for requiring special training and certification for doctors who prescribe opioids. I am surprised that at a time when so many states ar...

COMFORTING patients

The Patient's Doctor — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:09:00 +0100

This study appears in Volume 59 of Communication Education, a publication of the National Communication Association. For more information about NCA or its journals, please visit www.natcom.org. (Source: The Patient's Doctor)

How bad IVF clinics reduce their patients' chances of having a baby

The Patient's Doctor — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:17:00 +0100

I just got this email from a patient.I am a patient with azoospermia. My wife's reports are perfect with no fertility problems.We are undergoing TESE- ICSI in a fertility clinic in Bangalore. My wife was superovulated with RECAGAN 100IU which she has been taking for the last 10days . Today's scan result shows 14 mature follicles . The sizes are:Right ovary 2.1*1.7 1.8*1.4 1.7*1.3 1.9*1.2 1.6*1.5 1.6*1.4 1.6*1.4 Left ovary 1.8*2.2 1.9*1.6 1.6*1.5 1.8*1.4 1.4*1.3 1.7*1.2 1.5*0.9According to the original plan , we were supposes to take HCG tonight (11th day of the period) and the egg retrival was planned for Wednesday . However, due to non-availability of " TESA Specialist " they are postponing the egg retrival by 3 days and HCG injection by 2 days. We have been asked to continue injection RE...

Congrats to the 5 Winners of Our "Become an EX" Quit Smoking Giveaway!

Breastfeeding 1-2-3 — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:08:09 +0100

Guess what Peggy, Angela, Allan, Susan, and Lee? It’s high time to give up those cancer sticks, because you just won: One EX Quit Pack, which includes: an EX backpack, an EX quit manual, a cigarette pack tracker, an air freshener, an EX cup holder, and quit smoking trigger cards with stickers. Congratulations to all five of you and best of luck! We know you’ll quit smoking for good this time. (And if you didn’t win, read below for info on how to Become an Ex.) At Blisstree, we think smoking is a big deal. And apparently, so do you. (One of our posts: What Happens to Your Body If You Stop Smoking Right Now? currently has 4,282 comments.) For those of you who didn’t win our giveaway, BecomeAnEX is a FREE online and social-media-based quit smoking program. Get t...

Natural Skin Care Tips and the Mayo Clinic

Skin MD — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 12:07:00 +0100

The Mayo Clinic provides the following natural skin care tips for avoiding wrinkles and other signs of aging. Protect your skin from the sun. Use moisturizers and don’t smoke. They also provide one that is not so natural. They suggest that you choose skincare products with “built-in” sunscreen. I don’t agree with that recommendation. I have nothing against the Mayo Clinic. They provide a great deal of helpful information. But, there are many problems with their sunscreen advice. Many researchers agree that the benefit of including sunscreens in most skincare products is questionable. The combination of different ones included in different products could be dangerous. No one knows how the sunscreen chemicals interact. Your day cream and your foundation might contain ...

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Breastfeeding 1-2-3 — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:07:57 +0100

Last Chance to Become an EX: Quit smoking with this week’s exclusive giveaway. Five Blisstree readers will win an EX Quit Pack to help them kick the habit for good. To enter, let us know how long you’ve been smoking and why you want to quit by this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3)

A Clinic For Diarrhea And International “Travelers?”

Better Health — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:00:00 +0100

I’m not sure what country this photo was snapped in, but the clinic owners were smart enough to help international travelers seek care for traveler’s diarrhea. There’s no beating around the bush on this one. If you’re in this waiting room staring at strangers, they’re all going to know why you’re there. Diarrhea Clinic — that’s simple brilliance. That doctor needs to be hired by the ACP and SHM and ABIM to help us answer questions like ”What is an internist?” and “What is a hospitalist?” For these doctors, everyone knows exactly what he does — no questions necessary. *This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist* (Source: Better Health)

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Breastfeeding 1-2-3 — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:48:22 +0100

Quit for Good: Now is as good a time as any to quit smoking, and it’ll be even easier with an EX Quit Pack. You could win one just by letting us know by this Sunday how long you’ve been a smoker and why you want to quit. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3)

Become an EX and Quit Smoking: Enter This Week's Giveaway

Breastfeeding 1-2-3 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:07:23 +0100

Do you smoke or know someone who does? More importantly, do you want to quit? At Blisstree, we think smoking is a big deal. And apparently, so do you. (One of our posts: What Happens to Your Body If You Stop Smoking Right Now? currently has 4,282 comments.) That’s why we’re partnering with EX® for this week’s giveaway to support smokers who want to kick the habit, as well as non-smokers who want to help them do it. BecomeAnEX is a FREE online and social-media-based quit smoking program. Get this: 70% of smokers in the U.S. want to quit, but only about 5% of smokers are successful in quitting long-term. Most people just don’t know how to quit. That’s where EX comes in. The free EX Plan, available at BecomeAnEX, teaches smokers how to “re-learn” life without cigar...

Pharmalot… Pharmalittle… Good Morning

Pharmalot — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:54:48 +0100

Rise and shine. Another day is on the way. To top it off, the sun is shining here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we are hustling the short people off to the schoolhouse. Wish us luck. Meanwhile, there is much to do. So why not start with the mandatory cup of stimulation and the news of the world. Have a great day, everyone… Glaxo Wins FDA OK For Prostate Combo Drug (Reuters) Cheap Generic May Save Lives After Bleeding From Accidents (Bloomberg News) ACRO Wants More US & European Trial Investigators (Outsourcing Pharma) Waiting For The Human Genome To Yield Drugs (The New York Times) Georgia Creates Bioscience Center (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Cleveland Clinics Inks Research Deal With Lipitor Creator (Crain’s Cleveland Business) (Source: Pharmalot)

Deep Vein Thrombosis - Videos by Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:54:00 +0100

Deep Vein Thrombosis - Cleveland Clinic.John Heit, M.D., a cardiovascular physician at Mayo Clinic. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Tips for Choosing a Dermatology Clinic

Skin MD — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:45:50 +0100

Choosing a dermatology clinic is easy when there is only one in your area. But in most communities, there are dozens to choose from. Here’s some advice for making the right choice. Find Out About Insurance Depending on the Kind of health insurance you have, you may need a referral from your primary care physician. If no referral is necessary, you will want to call the office and make sure that they take your insurance before you make an appointment. Generally speaking, insurance providers will not cover cosmetic procedures. But, a flexible spending plan can usually be used to cover those procedures. Ask About Payment Plans In the event that the procedure you want is not covered by insurance, you will want to get an estimate and find out about payment plans before you make a commi...

Experimental Melanoma Drug Shows Major Survival Advantage

Inside Surgery — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:44:49 +0100

Dr. Steven O’Day and colleagues at the Angeles Clinic and Research Institute in Santa Monica, California have announced results that show that the experimental drug ipilimumab (aka “ipi”) has cut mortality in advanced cases of melanoma by about 30% (Source: Inside Surgery)

Mayo Clinic launches its mobile strategy

Nicola Ziady — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:16:55 +0100

Every major hospital and medical school is trying to figure out how best to go mobile. Mobihealthnews interviewed Scott Eising, director of product management for Mayo Clinic Internet Services, to discuss the group’s strategy for moving Mayo Clinic’s online offerings to the mobile platform. Eising offered a peek behind the curtain at Mayo to discuss how the not-for-profit, integrated medical practice is planning to do just that. To read more on the Mayo Clinic and its mobile strategy. (Source: Nicola Ziady)

Dr. Vincent Tuohy Reports Breast Cancer Vaccine Works In Mice

Inside Surgery — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:24:02 +0100

Dr. Vincent Tuohy and other researchers at the Cleveland Clinic report that a breast cancer vaccine has worked in mice. (Source: Inside Surgery)

Heart Disease Myths Dispelled by a Cleveland Clinic Cardiologist

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:49:00 +0100

Cleveland Clinic — May 14, 2010 — Dr. Rimmerman, cardiologist and author of "The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Speaking With Your Cardiologist,"dispels common myths regarding heart disease. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Is a Breast Cancer Vaccine on the Horizon?

Life with Breast Cancer — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:37:07 +0100

The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio is vaccinating mice against breast cancer — and they are seeing some very promising results. This means that there may be a breast cancer vaccine in the foreseeable future; this is too wonderful to even hope for. The scientists working on the vaccine were able to prevent tumors from growing, but were also able to reduce the size of already growing tumors. They were able to target a protein found in most breast cancers and use it in the vaccine. Dr. Vincent Tuohy, an immunologist and the lead scientist, suggests that human studies could begin as early as next year. It will be a long process to work through FDA requirements and raise the funding for further studies in humans, but this is so promising. Dr. Tuohy was inspired by the vaccines that protect children...

Health Benefits of Pets - Mayo Clinic Video

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:32:00 +0100

May 10, 2010 — Health Benefits of Pets.People will do a lot for their pets - see below:- Somebody found a solution: Smokers are motivated to quit to protect their pets from secondhand smoke http://is.gd/iZ58- "Do it for Fido: smokers may quit smoking because of their pet" http://is.gd/iZtQ Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

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Healthbolt — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:16:28 +0100

Possible Breast Cancer Vaccine Discovered: A scientist at Cleveland Clinic has found a vaccine that prevents breast cancer in mice. If all goes well in human testing, the vaccine could be available in ten years. (via USA Today) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt)

1Care scheme

Malaysian Medical Resources — Sat, 29 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

The Health Ministry is working with the MMA to implement 1Care, a scheme whereby we should see “the government and private clinics working together to provide better healthcare for the people”. The Star reports: Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the scheme, once approved, would have an immediate impact on improving the country’s healthcare system while also addressing the scarce distribution of government clinics in Sabah and Sarawak. At present, there are 800 government health clinics nationwide with 6,500 general practitioners. “If we work together with the private clinics, we will be able to increase this number to more than 7,000 doctors nationwide,” Liow said at the MMA’s 50th annual general meeting on Friday night. Liow said the ministry was in discussion wi...

Rheumatoid Arthritis on the Rise In Women

Breastfeeding 1-2-3 — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:13:33 +0100

photo: Thinkstock Rheumatoid arthritis may sound like something you’ll worry about in your twilight years, but it’s actually an auto-immune disease that’s becoming more and more common in women. It usually affects women between 40-60 years old, and causes joints and their surrounding tissue to become inflamed, leading to pain, stiffness, and a variety of not-fun side effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, the number of cases of rheumatoid arthritis had been falling for 40 years, but between 1995 and 2007 they increased by 2.5%. However, in the same time period, cases have fallen among men. Women are three times more likely than men to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Since rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder, there isn’t much rhyme or reason as to...

Getting Good Sleep

Better Health — Sat, 22 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Our busy lifestyles often aren’t conducive to getting the recommended amount of sleep at night. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. Dr. Kenneth Berg of the Mayo Clinic states that people who get less than seven hours of sleep per night have a higher mortality than those who have adequate sleeping habits. Inadequate sleep has been linked to increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, an increase in body mass index and a greater likelihood of obesity due to an increased appetite caused by sleep deprivation, increased risk of diabetes and heart problems, increased risk for psychiatric conditions including depression and substance abuse, and decreased ability to pay attention, react to signals or remember new informa...

What’s Next: On Conferences and Coming Home

Disruptive Women in Health Care — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:56:42 +0100

By Becca Camp. I am a pre-med student. In the last year, I’ve had the unique opportunity to attend several conferences that shaped my sense of vocation. Perhaps most significant was Mayo Clinic’s TRANSFORM Symposium, hosted by their Center for Innovation; over the course of a weekend, my calling to study care delivery (how to get high-quality care to people who need it the most) was unearthed. Volunteering at TEDMED first left me feeling discouraged; surely there was no way I’d ever make the same impact as the Dean Kamens and Craig Venters of the world. Almost immediately, though, I found myself surrounded by attendees who looked at me plainly and asked, “Why not?” They had no doubt in their mind about my potential, and as the conference progressed, I was able...

Video: Cleveland Clinic Model of Medicine

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:06:01 +0100

ClevelandClinic — May 12, 2010 — "Innovation has made Cleveland Clinic a world leader in medicine, and is the only true long term solution to high quality affordable healthcare. The founders of Cleveland Clinic launched a revolutionary model of medicine, collaborative, patient centered, dedicated to innovation." Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

RECs Using Government EMR Selection Process

EMR and HIPAA — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:16:51 +0100

I’ve now heard two times of a REC using a government RFP process to narrow down the field of EMR vendors. Does this really make sense to anyone? First, how does the government RFP process relate to small clinics (large versus small is very different)? The government clinics that are going through the RFP process are large clinics with multiple locations and much deeper reporting needs than regular clinics really need. I know. I worked for a state funded clinic for a lot of years and we needed deep reporting to be able to justify our existence. Needless to say, government clinics have very different goals for EMR use than a normal ambulatory clinic. This is true as far as size, but also revenue. Yes, I’m not shy about saying the outside clinics worry about revenue. Many people d...

Iconic Surgery Painting “The Gross Clinic” Goes Under The Knife

Inside Surgery — Sun, 02 May 2010 18:38:10 +0100

Art conservation experts lead by Mark S. Tucker at the Philadelphia Museum of Art have started a multi-year restoration project on the Thomas Eakins painting The Gross Clinic. (Source: Inside Surgery)

Different types of kidney transplantation - Mayo Clinic video

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:18:00 +0100

"Dr. Raymond Heilman, Medical Director of the Kidney Transplant Program of Mayo Clinic in Arizona, gives an overview on the different types of kidney transplantation, including living donor and paired donor exchanges, and explains what kidney donors can expect." Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow on Twitter and Buzz, and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

Childhood Obesity: Should You Put Your Kid on a Diet?

Genetics and Health — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:34:39 +0100

In our fast food, TV-obsessed nation, childhood obesity is a huge problem. Poor diet and lack of exercise has led to an epidemic among children in which childhood obesity has increased by three times over the past 30 years. One in three children are overweight or obese, and the country spends $150 billion each year to treat conditions related to obesity. Let’s face it – our kids are fat! Overweight Kid Being overweight as a child can lead to the development of high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, orthopedic problems, depression, and a number of other diseases and ailments. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. Recently, First Lady Michelle Obama has been leading a nationwide campaign called “Let’s Move”...

Nonsurgical Weight Loss with a Liquid Meal Program - Mayo Clinic Video

Clinical Cases and Images - Blog — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:16:00 +0100

"Surgery may be an option for some people, but for those who don't want surgery or can't have it for medical reasons, there is another option. Doctors at Mayo Clinic developed a liquid meal program geared toward people who need to lose a lot of weight." Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow on Twitter and Buzz, and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog)

A Bombay doctor visits Ahmedabad - an eye opener !

The Patient's Doctor — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:33:00 +0100

I was recently invited to give a talk to the Ahmedabad medical association on How to be a Successful Doctor. After my talk, I went to visit 2 private hospitals, to see how doctors in Ahmedabad delivered medical care.This visit was quite an eye-opener. Bombay is widely accepted as the Medical Center of India - and Bombay doctors treat patients from all over the country, including lots of patients from Ahmedabad !I saw two hospitals. One was an IVF center; and the other was a Urology clinic. Each of these was a stand-alone 4-floor purpose-built building , covering about 20000 square feet. In comparison, in Bombay, where real estate is about 10 times as expensive, the typical private nursing home or hospital is about one tenth the size !Because there is no shortage of space in Ahmedabad, doct...

Observations of Daily Living (ODLs) and Patient Engagement

Disruptive Women in Health Care — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:00:30 +0100

By Julie Murchinson. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded program, Project HealthDesign, is pursuing the identification, interpretation and integration of observations of daily living (ODLs). As defined by Project HealthDesign, ODLs are sensations, feelings-thoughts-attitudes, and behaviors that occur in the course of everyday life – such as sleep patterns, diet, exercise levels, pain episodes, and mood – that are not typically part of one’s clinical record, but are critical to managing an individual’s health and guiding their treatment. During the recent Project HealthDesign workshop, I was struck by the question of what ODLs have the potential to do to engage patients in their health. Will ODLs be the patient’s true representation of issues they own and manage as part ...

Getting medical and health information from the Internet

Malaysian Medical Resources — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100

This is a follow-up to the post on Using the Internet to make self-diagnoses. Most respondents to my post in the social networking site Facebook agreed it is in general not a good idea for patients to make their own diagnoses using the resources they can find on the Internet. A simple Google search for the symptoms will lead to a myriad of confusing diseases. Even with a site like WrongDiagnosis.com, which has a multi-symptom checking tool, it is extremely difficult to make an accurate diagnosis based on symptoms alone. A medically trained person would be more attuned to using these tools which may be helpful in listing differential diagnoses, especially rare ones which we sometimes don’t think about, in difficult cases. One should appreciate that diagnoses are not only derived from ...

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy Becoming More Widespread

Inside Surgery — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:57:31 +0100

Drs. David Karli of the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado and E. Edward Khalfayan of the Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks professional sports teams discuss the burgeoning use of the technique that uses patients’ own blood components to treat injury and degenerative conditions. (Source: Inside Surgery)