MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'consolidation'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:26:16 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062332&cid=t_240818_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2011%2F07%2F13%2Findependent-thinking-of-doctors-limits-ehr-vendor-consolidation%2F I’m not sure all the details of why this is the case (but I’m sure some will tell me why in the comments), but doctors are some of the most independent thinkers that I know. I’m not saying whether this is a good or a bad thing. It’s just an observation based on thousands of interactions with doctors from all specialties. This independence is shown in a plethora of areas from charting to treating to diagnosing to the business of medicine. Turns out, this independence is part of why I’ve heard doctors say hundreds of times that they basically want their own EHR and not a mainstream one. Doctors want an EHR that fits their unique practice style. Thus they have an expectation that whatever EHR they choose should understand that each doctor is different and natural... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062332 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:08:26 +0100 5062332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953050&cid=t_240818_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FMzBp8c6lN5A%2F What happened in the M&A arena had interesting ramifications, but what didn’t happen might be equally significant: The overcrowded electronic health records market didn’t consolidate. Well over 200 EHR vendors are fighting for meaningful use business. How crowded is the field? As of mid-April, the federal government lists 393 Complete or Modular certified ambulatory EHR products, along with 182 certified inpatient Complete or Modular products. There were several good reasons for the non-event, but consolidation’s got to come soon, says Rob Tholemeier, senior research analyst at Crosstree Capital Partners, a Tampa-based corporate financial advisory firm. “There has never in the history of software been 200-plus companies selling similar functionality,” he ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953050 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:17:31 +0100 4953050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455262&cid=t_240818_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fintegrating-major-health-systems-could-make-things-worse%2F2011.02.09 Health reformers propose the proliferation of integrated health systems, like the Mayo Clinic or Kaiser Permanente, which, according to the Dartmouth Atlas, lead to better patient care and improved cost control. To that end, accountable care organizations (ACOs) have been a major part of health reform, changing the way healthcare is delivered. Never mind that patients may not be receptive to the new model, but the creation of these large, integrated physician-hospital entities that progressive policy experts espouse comes with repercussions. Monopoly power. To prepare for the new model of healthcare delivery, physician practices have been consolidating. In many cases, they’re being bought by hospitals. Last year, I wrote how this is leading to the death of the private practice physician... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455262 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:00:58 +0100 4455262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455363&cid=t_240818_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FR9zgtX2BwpU%2F This article from the Dana Foundation asks a very interesting question: Can we disrupt the reconsolidation of traumatic memories that contribute to PTSD and bring relief to patients suffering from this disorder? This complete and stimulating read tells us how memories are formed and consolidated. The authors discuss the different techniques used or under research that can help PTSD patients. Since available therapies have success rates of only 60%, this is a pressing topic these days. The ethical question of whether it is okay to look for solutions to erase memories is also raised. Related article: Can Brain Fitness Innovation Enhance Cognitive Rehab? (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455363 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:04:49 +0100 4455363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118933&cid=t_240818_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fphysician-referrals-be-daring-and-ask-for-a-special-order%2F2010.10.28 As a specialist, one of the saddest truisms about practicing medicine in the private world has always been how little one’s clinical skills determines referrals. Unfortunately, as our present healthcare climate pushes “providers” to consolidate along the lines of major hospital networks this injustice will only worsen. A decade or so ago when I started private practice it was obvious that referrals came to me because of my association with an established group. This association was essential, as one could have been the next Michael Jordan of electrophysiology, but referrals would still have gone along historic lines, to the favored group. It would have taken a Herculean effort, over years, to encroach upon such long-established referral patterns, etched over the bonds of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118933 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:00:00 +0100 4118933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632402&cid=t_240818_136_f&fid=36163&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomahope.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fasco-headline-maintenance-works.html And so does consolidation. This may be the most important new information for myeloma patients this weekend. ASCO is the American Society of Clinical Oncology, currently holding its annual meeting at McCormick Place in Chicago, 30,000 strong. I am here as a guest of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), to observe the information presented by the many speakers, and to blog about it from the perspective of an ordinary patient. Yay for the IMF! And thank you. I love this stuff. But be advised: I am not a doctor, just an engineer. You should get your medical advice and even your facts from your doctor. The ASH (American Society of Hematology) conference a half-year ago suggested that maintenance works, and ASCO confirms it. What is it? Consolidation is a drug therapy given AFTER a ste... Myeloma Hope blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632402 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:41:00 +0100 3632402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2408558&cid=t_240818_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fb8ZS_LjRIko%2F Despite television, cell phones, and Web “twitter,” traditional reading is still an important skill. Whether it is school textbooks, tech manuals at work, or regular books, people still read, though not as much as they used to. One reason that many people don't read much is that they don't read well. For them, it is slow, hard work and they don't remember as much as they should. Students, for example,may have to read something several times before they understand and remember what they read. Why? You would think that schools teach kids how to read well. Schools do try. I work with middle-school teachers (see http://peer.tamu.edu) and they tell me that many students are 2-3 years behind grade level in reading proficiency. No doubt, television, cell phones, and the Web are major contribu... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2408558 Fri, 15 May 2009 03:04:28 +0100 2408558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2167459&cid=t_240818_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FLntQrSKFshY%2F Considering the tremendous amount of political talk about EMR and EHR systems, you’d think that the number of EMR companies would continue to grow (see my EMR list of over 400 companies).  It makes sense that entrepreneurs would chase after the $$’s that they see being invested in EMR, EHR and health care IT.  However, I personally believe that the number of EMR companies will decrease in the next year rather than increase. The number one reason that EMR companies will descrease over the next year is that we’re going to see an amazing number of EMR companies failing.  The current economic climate is not the best time to be an EMR company.  Those EMR companies who require sales of EMR software to survive are going to have major troubles surviving.  Many EMR companies ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2167459 Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:25:31 +0100 2167459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996437&cid=t_240818_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2F468457163%2F I’m not an economist of any kind, and have yet to figure out what a credit swap is. However, my lack of knowledge has not kept me from noticing things… especially almost two years ago, when I was lying in my bed that we had set up in the TV room where I stayed during the first couple of months or so after I was home from my cancer surgery. At that time, about all I could do was sit in bed and watch TV for enough contiguous hours to notice patterns in advertising (also patterns in the story lines of various true crime shows, but that’s neither here nor there). Almost all of a three or four minute commercial break was, during those days, occupied by two sorts of commercials: commercials for credit cards, and commercials for debt consolidation services and refinancing companies. Aft... white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996437 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:47:49 +0100 1996437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1918437&cid=t_240818_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F436389196%2F In this study, 72% of the students had a My Space account, 76% had a cell phone, and 68% had an IM address. Those who had a MySpace account had significantly lower grades than those without an account. The same was true for those that used IM, compared with those who did not. Cell phone use was also associated with lower grades and the effect was magnified if text messaging was used on cell phones. Not surprisingly, if these devices were used during homework, the grades were even lower than for students who used these technologies outside of homework. Almost half reported text messaging during class time, and their grades were lower than the students who only used IM outside of class. These are correlational data and do not prove that using these devices causes lower grades. But it is a go... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1918437 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:33:50 +0100 1918437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1606787&cid=t_240818_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F331380368%2F This study also showed that the subjects could not predict how well they would remember, which is consistent with my 45 years experience as a professor. Students are frequently surprised to discover after an examination that they did not know the material as well as they thought they did. Tests not only reveal what they know and don't know, but serve to increase how much they eventually learn. If I were still teaching, I would give more tests. And I would encourage students to use self-testing as a routine learning strategy, something that one study revealed to be a seldom-used strategy. The repeated self-tests should include all the study material and not drop out the material that the student thinks is already mastered. Source: Karpicke, Jeffrey D., and Roedinger, Henry L. III. 2008. The... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1606787 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:55:29 +0100 1606787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487475&cid=t_240818_122_f&fid=35072&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforebrain.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F12%2Fboosting-slow-oscillations-during-sleep.html In this study, the authors trained the subjects of paired-asscociate word learning task before sleep, and induced artificial slow-waves (0.75Hz, transcranial stimulation) just before the subjects fell into SWS in the first 45 min of sleep, and tested their memory on the subsequent morning. There is an enhancement after sleep for all subjects, but more importantly, the group that received the stimulation gained more than the sham group did. They checked one more declarative task and two more procedural tasks to confirm that such effect only exists for declarative tasks. They did some further control for non-specific stimulation effect, by stimulating in the last 45 min of sleep, and did not get the enhancement. They also tried another stimulation frequency (5Hz, theta band), and that stimul... SCLin's neuroscience blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487475 Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:43:00 +0100 487475