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 'consumer'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:54 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181742&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FWtTkmF-1j1A%2F Cancer Among 9/11 Responders: Research published in the Lancet finds that firefighters who worked at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks were 19% more likely to later develop cancer than firefighters who didn’t work at the site, the WSJ reports. Still, experts and study authors said the study isn’t definitive and that it will take many years for data on cancer incidence to accumulate. In addition, the number of cases wasn’t large enough to draw conclusions about the rates of specific cancers, the paper says. Pulling “Firepot” Fuel: Reports of burns have led to the recall of gel fuel used in outdoor “firepot” decorations by nine companies, the Associated Press reports. The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission says consumers should stop using the f... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181742 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:25:31 +0100 5181742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181790&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FFSpBgAwfDVs%2F By Mary Grealy. When we talk about people who don’t have access to healthcare, there’s a natural assumption that it’s because they can’t afford it.  A new study shows that’s not necessarily the case. According to the study published in the journal Health Services Research, 21 percent of American adults said they had delayed care for non-financial reasons compared to 19 percent that cited cost as the primary reason for not seeking healthcare. Those non-financial reasons included not being able to get to a doctor’s office during working hours, long commutes to the medical office, or not being able to get an appointment soon enough.  As the study’s lead author said, “In reality, there are all kinds of reasons why people can’t get the care they need when they need it.” Th... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181790 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:16:36 +0100 5181790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158977&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FuWUbQhdO2ls%2F Yesterday, Healthcare IT News reported that a study due out later this month found that the addition of social media tools to online health programs seemed to positively influence the effectiveness of the programs. The study, which is being published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found that “adding an interactive online community to an Internet-based walking program significantly decreased the number of participants who dropped out.” This is just the latest in eHealth innovations – from mobile health apps to electronic medical records and so, so, so much more – leaving the medical community wondering how eHealth will fare moving forward. How do you feel about health-related social networking? Would you join an online health program? What concerns – privacy, quality... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158977 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:15:49 +0100 5158977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158852&cid=t_149025_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fmanaging-copd-as-a-long-term-condition-emerging-learning-from-the-national-improvement-projects%2F Scan or click to download 'Managing COPD as a Long Term Condition: Emerging Learning from the National Improvement Projects' Title: Managing COPD as a Long Term Condition: Emerging Learning from the National Improvement Projects The Skinny: Report from NHS Improvement offering top tips for COPD management projects and service improvement. Just giving patients a plan and telling them what they should do probably won’t change behaviour: Effort, time and skills are needed to build rapport and focus on the person’s own goals and motivation so that they want to do the right thing Different approaches work for different people The more time you invest up front with people, the less frequently you will probably see them – this and how to optimise resources are being tested To Impr... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158852 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:09:42 +0100 5158852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139627&cid=t_149025_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Flocal-square-table-learning-and-evaluation-report%2F Title: Local square table learning and evaluation report Scan or click to download 'Local square table learning and evaluation report' The Skinny: Reports on the findings of open and honest discussion and increased understanding between those who provide children’s palliative care, those who experience it and those that play a wider part in supporting children, young people and families in a particular community. Finds that: Awareness and language is seen as a barrier to service access Parents say they struggle with the current assessment process Partnership working is seen as key to ensuring the best outcomes for lifelimited and life-threatened children and young people Workforce training and development is considered a priority by parents and professionals Parents f... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139627 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:43:14 +0100 5139627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130713&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=35049&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nakedmedicine.com%2Fis-pharma-ready-for-a-conversation-on-facebook Jonathan at Dose of Digital talks about pharma’s fear of Facebook pages centering around 2 issues that pharma thinks require 24/7 monitoring: Adverse Events and negative publicity. I hear the same excuse on why pharma companies are so scared to look at patient comments on blogs: adverse events. I’m sorry, but adverse events are happening [...] (Source: NAKEDMEDICINE.COM) NAKEDMEDICINE.COM blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130713 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:28:26 +0100 5130713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118999&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FXfrSl4-LlPM%2F WE ARE REPEATING THIS ITEM FROM LAST NIGHT WHEN IT FIRST BROKE…As Johnson & Johnson attempts to resolve a raft of litigation and government investigations related to Risperdal marketing, attorney generals from approximately 40 states are deciding whether to pile on as they pursue a coordinated civil investigation into potential consumer fraud violations, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In order to make their case, the states and J&J reached a so-called tolling agreement, which essentially delays the expiration of a statute of limitation for filing a lawsuit. The disclosure was made in a J&J filing with the US Securites and Exchange Commission (see page 32). The move is the latest indication J&J is working toward a global settleme... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118999 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:57:24 +0100 5118999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118803&cid=t_149025_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FdQcll-geJVI%2F Introduction to Peer-Run Crisis Respites Two peer advocates describe the process they underwent to get peer-run crisis respite centers supported by funders in Massachusetts. A detailed and practical discussion about building community among stakeholders, elements of presentations, incorporating evidence and values, communicating a message, creating buzz, and how to present proposals to politicians. Peer-run respites (small comfortable settings for short-term psychiatric crisis peer support care, as an alternative to acute care hospitals) are growing in popularity but many people are still not sure what they are or why they have value. This very helpful video is accompanied by lots of information, research, and presentations to aid people in learning about and starting up respite centers wh... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118803 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:59:10 +0100 5118803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107509&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstevereads.com%2Fpapers_to_read%2Funcertainty_and_the_welfare_economics_of_medical_care.pdf The following is a post by Dr. Jessie Gruman from the Center for Advancing Health. This blog post was originally published at Prepared Patient Forum: What It Takes Blog. “There is a better way – structural reforms that empower patients with greater choices and increase the role of competition in the health-care marketplace.” Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)August 3, 2011 The highly charged political debates about reforming American health care have provided tempting opportunities to rename the people who receive health services.  But because the impetus for this change has been prompted by cost and quality concerns of health care payers, researchers and policy experts rather than emanating from us out of our own needs, some odd words have been called into service.  Two phrases commonly used ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107509 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:28:10 +0100 5107509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107522&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fconsumer-reports-promotes-alternative-medicine-with-questionable-research%2F2011.08.07 Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve intermittently read Consumer Reports, relying on it for guidance in all manner of purchase decisions. CR has been known for rigorous testing of all manner of consumer products and the rating of various services, arriving at its rankings through a systematic testing method that, while not necessarily bulletproof, has been far more organized and consistent than most other ranking systems. True, I haven’t always agreed with CR’s rankings of products and services about which I know a lot, but at the very least CR has often made me think about how much of my assessments are based on objective measures and how much on subjective measures. Until now. I just saw something yesterday on the CR website that has made me wonder just how scientific CR’s testing ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107522 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:00:43 +0100 5107522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103342&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-should-people-receiving-health-care-be-called-empowered-patient-vs-health-care-consumer%2F2011.08.05 “There is a better way – structural reforms that empower patients with greater choices and increase the role of competition in the health-care marketplace.” Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) August 3, 2011 The highly charged political debates about reforming American health care have provided tempting opportunities to rename the people who receive health services.  But because the impetus for this change has been prompted by cost and quality concerns of health care payers, researchers and policy experts rather than emanating from us out of our own needs, some odd words have been called into service.  Two phrases commonly used to describe us convey meanings that mischaracterize our experiences and undervalue our needs: “empowered patient” and “health care consumer.” As one who has done ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103342 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 21:00:35 +0100 5103342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103345&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F08%2F05%2Fbig-pharmas-share-in-the-consumer-price-index%2F This article will concentrate on No. 5, Medical Care, and, in particular, pharmaceuticals, which include vaccines that are tantamount to annuities for Big Pharma. But first we need to consider that some healthcare costs may not be included nor calculated in the CPI because parents often pay medical care costs for their autistic children that they receive from the alternative healthcare community, which may not be factored into statistical data. The two largest government health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid, purchased $877.2 billion of health care goods and services in 2009, accounting for 38.3 percent of total health care spending. (Martin et al. 2010). https://www.cms.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/dsm-09.pdf   Consumer Price Index If we compare 1960 healthcare costs ... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103345 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:43:41 +0100 5103345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086136&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FanILqyKbDn8%2F A few weeks back, the Institute of Medicine recommended that contraception and seven other women’s preventive health services be covered by insurers with no out-of-pocket costs. Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services signed off on those recommendations, saying the requirements would apply to new plans starting  starting on or after Aug. 1, 2012. Besides birth control, insurers will also have to cover the following services with no co-pay or deductible: Screening for gestational diabetes in pregnant women Testing for human papillomavirus in women age 30 and up Annual counseling about sexually transmitted diseases HIV screening and counseling Breastfeeding support, including pump rentals Domestic violence screening and counseling At least one preventive health visit p... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086136 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:58:16 +0100 5086136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096653&cid=t_149025_117_f&fid=34696&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.straightfromthedoc.com%2F38647165%2Fhealth_monitoring_technology_in_cars.php © epSos.deFord Motor Company is driving into the on-the-go consumer health market by developing a way to display pollen counts and other allergen levels to drivers using its existing link to smart phone apps. Ford has also made a prototype that can synchronize glucose monitoring devices via Bluetooth, and display glucose levels and sound an alert if they fall too low. The company says it has developed these technologies to meet consumer demand for on-the-to health information. However, very few deadly accidents are actually ... (Source: Straightfromthedoc) Straightfromthedoc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096653 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:53:17 +0100 5096653 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086149&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4iF1ARFK_3I%2F By Daniel J. MitchellWhile driving home last night, I had the miserable experience of listening to a financial journalist being interviewed about the anemic growth numbers that were just released. I wasn’t unhappy because the interview was biased to the left. From what I could tell, both the host and the guest were straight shooters. Indeed, they spent some time speculating that the economy’s weak performance was bad news for Obama. What irked me was the implicit Keynesian thinking in the interview. Both of them kept talking about how the economy would have been weaker in the absence of government spending, and they fretted that “austerity” in Washington could further slow the economy in the future. This was especially frustrating for me since I’ve spent years... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086149 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:13:51 +0100 5086149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077776&cid=t_149025_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F26553851%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7ELicense-to-Misbehave.htm In Dietary Decoys, we saw that adding salads to a restaurant menu actually increased sales of french fries. Research in Taiwan exposes an equally odd fact: if we take a nutritional supplement like a multivitamin, we are MORE likely to exercise less and make unhealthy food choices. Behavioral Licensing Researchers at the National Sun Yat-Sen [...] Comments“Vitamins may or may not enhance health — the jury’s ... by PagePsst . . . Don't tell anyone but tin foil actually helps to ... by Jeff LibertPlus 2 more...Related StoriesPrediction Power: Asking Gets ResultsFurry Cat Ears Show Your MoodApologies Really DO Work (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077776 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:47:36 +0100 5077776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077647&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FkY9S264Kuew%2F It’s Merck’s Turn: Merck reported a second-quarter profit increase in line with analysts’ expectations, affirmed its revenue guidance for the full year and said it would cut as many as 13,000 additional jobs by the end of 2015, Dow Jones Newswires reports. Profit rose to $2.02 billion, or 65 cents a share, up from $752.4 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier, helped by a $1.34 billion tax benefit. Excluding restructuring and other charges, earnings rose to 95 cents from 86 cents, in line with forecasts by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. Ready to Sell: Pfizer is planning to begin the auction process for its baby-formula business in September by sending out information to potential bidders such as Nestle, Danone, Abbott Labs, Mead Johnson and Unilever, Bloomberg ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077647 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:38:35 +0100 5077647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5078037&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FzlP6m6NMZek%2F Last week, the Pfizer Facebook page was hacked by ScriptKiddies, setting off a flurry of chatter about not just hacking, but the extent to which this episode would affect the way drugmakers view the virtues of Facebook and, beyond that, social media (back story). This happened just as Facebook changes it rules so that drugmakers will no longer be allowed to disable comments, prompting some to consider walking away from Facebook (see this and this). We spoke with Rich Meyer, a former Eli Lilly marketer who worked on the Prozac and Cialis brand teams, and now runs Online Strategic Solutions and the World of DTC Marketing blog, for his thoughts on the implications… Pharmalot: How bad was the hacking incident? Meyer: For consumers and patients, I don’t think it was that bad. They know ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5078037 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:23:23 +0100 5078037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069818&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FrIaNzGppPTA%2F Three years after making a proposal that would have allowed drugmakers to publish product information in consumer newspapers and magazines, the European Commission is going back to the proverbial drawing board and plans to issue a new proposal this fall, an EC spokesman writes us. The move comes after its initial effort was widely criticized and rejected by the European Parliament. “The European Commission will revise the proposals to clarify and harmonize the rules in what companies can and can’t say to patients,” Peter Arlett, who heads pharmacovigilance and risk management at the European Medicines Agency, tells Bloomberg News. The EMA, he adds, recently received a letter from the EC about its intention to revise its proposal. The original EC effort, which was unveiled in ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069818 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:04:00 +0100 5069818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069822&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F8WFD_ZbuCB4%2F Hello, everyone, and top of the morning to you. Another shiny day is unfolding on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we have much to do. You know, the drill - reading documents, making phone calls, finding interesting tidbits. To prepare, yes, we are downing that mandatory cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Wild Mountain Blueberry. So please join us. Meanwhile, here are some items from around the world. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Pfizer’s Zyvox and Antidepressants May Cause Fatal Reaction (Bloomberg News) Valeant Approaches Swedish Drugmaker Mada About A Takeover (Bloomberg News) Abortion Pill Given Via Telemedicine Is Safe And Effective (Reuters) Vertex Says Hepatitis C Drug Combo Works (Reuters) Naeja Pharmaceutical R&D Facility Catches Fire (Cal... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069822 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:41:22 +0100 5069822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069466&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2Fkacp3b2MFJc%2F The sky is the limit it seems when it comes to mobile health. Proving once again the myriad possibilities for that smartphone apps present to every facet of the health sector, Orca MD — a company dedicated to producing apps aimed at educating patients and helping them find the most effective treatment for their ailments — just released two new patient education apps – these focusing on cosmetic procedures. The new apps (FaceDecide & BreastDecide) come in addition to their six existing Orthopedic patient education apps — including an orthopedic app called ShoulderDecide, which was recently reviewed by iMedicalApps.com. While these latest apps are obviously less focused on chronic medical conditions than the original six, they do call attention to just how great the ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069466 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:05:56 +0100 5069466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050565&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FZZi-5Y7hlwk%2F By Jane Sarasohn-Kahn. Patients who perceive their visit to the doctor was patient-centered, with more communication, receive fewer diagnostic tests and referrals, and yield lower expenses for diagnostic testing. A new study finds that patient-centered care leads to lower spending on health care over one year of care due to fewer specialty care referrals. A contributing factor to lower costs is increased patient participation during the visit, which reduces patients’ anxiety and perceived need for further investigations and referrals. In the milieu of more effective patient-physician communication, physician gets more knowledge about the patient. This brings greater trust between patient and doctor, as described in Patient-Centered Care is Associated with Decreased Health Care Utiliza... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050565 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:11:21 +0100 5050565 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050875&cid=t_149025_117_f&fid=34696&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.straightfromthedoc.com%2F38647165%2Ffemale_teens_memory_more_affected_by_binge_drinking.php © foto_chTeens into binge drinking (drinking alcohol, that is) should think again. A new study reveals that binge drinking in teens may affect their spatial working memory and girls appear to be more vulnerable. The VA San Diego Healthcare System, reported in a recent news release that heavy drinking female teenagers had less brain activation in several brain regions than female non-drinking teens when doing the same spatial task. Spatial working memory is defined as the ability to perceive the space around you and ... (Source: Straightfromthedoc) Straightfromthedoc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050875 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 04:03:32 +0100 5050875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028200&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F6Yvhta4ECuk%2F By Hope Ditto. Most of the country is sweltering its way through this week’s heat wave, but there is one thing here in DC rising faster than the mercury in our thermometers – tensions on the Hill as the debt ceiling stalemate continues. Whispers [well, tweeted whispers] of default “what ifs” abound here in the nation’s capital as lawmakers continue to play a high-stakes game of chicken through day after day of floor debates, committee hearings and negotiating sessions. With interest rates, Social Security payments and America’s credit score dangling in the balance, and the clock ticking towards the Aug. 2 deadline, the air is even thicker with panic than it is with humidity (though my frizzy hair would say otherwise). As with April’s narrowly-avoided government shutdown, pun... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028200 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:00:17 +0100 5028200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028632&cid=t_149025_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2Fj1wDO3_RgCk%2Fhealthcare-associated-infections-what-is-the-message-and-what-can-we-do-about-them.html   The good people at GE and JESS3 have come up with an HAI infographic.  It's pretty, and it conveys the horrible information that many of us already know -- healthcare associated infections kill about 100,000 people a year, and add $35 billion a year to our collective health care bill (here in the US of A); 5% of hospital inpatients end up with an HAI. So what do we expect the world to do with this infographic?  The FDA has rolled out new cigarette package warnings, including graphic photos, that are presumably intended to so sicken potential purchasers of cigarettes that they drop the pack of cigarettes and run screaming from the counter.  In more measured terms, the FDA says: The introduction of these warnings is expected to have a significant public health impact by decreasing... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028632 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:18:39 +0100 5028632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008415&cid=t_149025_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthblawg.typepad.com%2Ffiles%2Fregina-herzlinger-on-healthblawg-w-david-harlow-07-2011.mp3 I spoke with Harvard Business School professor Regina Herzlinger this week about health reform – the good, the bad and the ugly – touching on ACOs and demonstration projects under the Affordable Care Act; innovations coming down the pike in the private sector either because of the law or because of market forces; social media in health care; and two key fixes to the ACA that she believes are absolutely necessary in order to make it work, or work as best it can. First of all, she expressed her delight at the passage of a federal law nudging us ever closer to universal coverage, combined with dismay at its failure to address rising costs (noting that we're looking at policies yielding an accumulated Medicare deficit of $90 trillion, as compared to an annual GDP of $12-14 trillion) and a... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008415 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:39:44 +0100 5008415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992681&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.changehealthcare.com%2Fdownloads%2Fhcti%2FHCTI_Q42010.pdf My mama told me you’d better shop around, as Smokey Robinson also told us. We now know it pays to shop the prices for digital imaging. The price of an MRI of the brain ranges from a low of $825 to a high of $3,600 within the Southeast region of the U.S. In the Northeast, the low is $1,540 and the high, $3,500. There are similar price “spreads” in other regions of the country for the same imaging study, and across other imaging modalities such as PET and CT. The greatest regional variances by service type are for MRI scans of the brain, varying 747% between a low price of $425 in the Southwest to a high of $3,600 in the Southeast, based on an analysis from change: healthcare‘s Q2 2011 Healthcare Transparency Index. USA Today reported on this study on June 30, 2011. Christopher Park... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992681 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:47:47 +0100 4992681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992649&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FjPoYyeG9nh0%2F A smoking habit is so hard to break that it doesn’t seem possible that a series of simple encouraging text messages could help in any significant way. But a study of wannabe quitters published by the Lancet suggests that those messages act like a little electronic Jiminy Cricket, doubling the quit rate compared to people who received texts unrelated to quitting. Of 2,911 smokers randomly assigned to the no-smoking texts, 10.7% were abstinent six months out. Only 4.9% of the 2,881 smokers getting texts unrelated to quitting did so. People got five text messages daily for the first five weeks and then three per week for the next six months, the study says. Other studies have also found a positive effect from text messages, but the authors (led by researchers from the London School of H... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992649 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:13:40 +0100 4992649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984442&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2Fff8Oq-VAK_A%2F Health is where we live, play, work and pray — and also where we moisturize. Eucerin is working to create a Skin Savvy Nation. Welcome, health consumers, to the Eucerin Skin Health Cost Calculator, a tool that quantifies the financial impacts of skincare habits by estimating the life-cycle costs and benefits those skin health habits would have. The Calculator takes the consumer through a battery of questions together which yield a “skin score.” These include personal health habits such as not smoking, using skin-protecting moisturizer on a daily basis, and staying out of the sun. Eucerin gauges the cost of poor skincare at $400 billion a year in the U.S., about $400 per capita for each American. This is part of Eucerin’s PR campaign called the “Skin First Movement,” in wh... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984442 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:09:26 +0100 4984442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975826&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5lkzgVd7Tog%2F By Chris EdwardsAs we close in on congressional votes to increase the federal debt limit, negotiators are coming up with all kinds of ideas to hike taxes. (Suspiciously, they haven’t revealed very many spending cut ideas so far). One idea being discussed is to raise revenue by reducing the indexing of parameters in the income tax code. Currently, tax brackets and other features of the tax code are indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It is widely recognized that the CPI overestimates inflation for various reasons, as discussed here. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has developed a more accurate (and lower) measure of inflation, called chained CPI. If the tax code was indexed to chained CPI instead of CPI, the government would receive an automatic tax increase relative to cu... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975826 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:35:34 +0100 4975826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975833&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FFJsb-MgrxMU%2F By Walter OlsonLast December the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) adopted new standards for crib design, a step mandated by the famously overreaching Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The commission decided to go well beyond a set of voluntary design standards that had been widely adopted the year before; it also chose to make the new rules retroactive, rendering unlawful the sale of many existing cribs whose overall safety record is otherwise acceptable—no one would think of subjecting them to a recall, for instance. Commissioner Nancy Nord: The day care industry did protest that the rule, as proposed, would result in approximately a $1/2 billion hit to a group that could not immediately absorb costs of such magnitude, especially on the heels of having ju... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975833 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:26:01 +0100 4975833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975820&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FRVdd5q__UKw%2F The Supreme Court decided today that it’s unconstitutional for the state of California to bar minors from buying violent video games (here’s the WSJ story). The 2005 law, which never took effect, violates children and adolescents’ right to freedom of expression, the court ruled by a 7-2 margin. But do video games actually provoke aggressive feelings, reduce activity in the frontal lobe of the brain and promote violent behavior, as the California law asserts? (Justice Stephen Breyer believes so; his dissenting opinion includes an extensive bibliography of academic literature on the topic.) Many academics and medical professionals say yes, though not all agree. The American Academy of Pediatrics came out with a statement in 2009 concluding that exposure to different forms o... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975820 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:32:15 +0100 4975820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975859&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F-NditOzSIT8%2F Every year on June 27th the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) organizes National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), in partnership with other national and local groups. They do this to send the message to both those at risk and those already living with HIV that it is critical to know your HIV status. This year marks the 17th NHTD. The CDC estimates approximately 21 percent of the 1.3 million Americans living with HIV are unaware that they have it. Voluntary HIV counseling and testing is the important first step in taking control and responsibility over one’s health, their message for NHTD “Take the Test, Take Control” reflects this. As the HIV epidemic turns thirty it is more important than ever to to heed their message. For More Information: CMS National Coverage Dete... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975859 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:29:26 +0100 4975859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953042&cid=t_149025_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F4fJ7W88-ohk%2F I’ve had some interesting reactions to my post about the various characteristics of a Jabba the Hutt EHR Vendor. One of the more interesting conversations happened by email with a reader named Richard. Yes, I have lots of interesting back channel discussions. After a lengthy email exchange, I asked Richard if I could post our discussion on the blog so you could participate as well. He agreed and even commented, “I look forward to an expansion of our discussion.” So, here you go (or at least scroll to the bottom for a short summary of my feelings). The conversation started with this email that Richard sent me: I understand your reluctance to name names in your article, BUT… this is exactly what is needed. I’ve taken a few days to ruminate over what I was going... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953042 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:49:40 +0100 4953042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952779&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FGNph6_C3V1A%2F Last fall the FDA proposed a host of new cigarette labels; today the agency announced its final selections, as the Wall Street Journal reports. While some of the nine new labels — including the one to the right — offer graphic depictions of the consequences of smoking, others focus on the impact secondhand smoke can have on other people, such as unborn fetuses, kids and nonsmoking relatives. One label notes that “quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health.” The larger, more explicit warnings were required by a 2009 law that also banned candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes and descriptions of cigarettes as “low-tar” and “light.” When we talked last fall to Jonathan Whiteson, medical director of NYU Langone Medical Center... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952779 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:48:00 +0100 4952779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952834&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F-eAzFLBs7og%2F Beginning September 2012, FDA will require larger, more prominent cigarette health warnings on all cigarette packaging and advertisements in the United States.  These warnings mark the first change in cigarette warnings in more than 25 years and are a significant and necessary advancement in communicating the dangers of smoking. The final set of cigarette health warnings contains nine different text warnings and accompanying color graphics to: increase awareness of the specific health risks associated with smoking, such as death, addiction, lung disease, cancer, stroke and heart disease; encourage smokers to quit; and empower youth to say no to tobacco. The above is one of the new warnings; to see more of the new warnings of to learn more about them click here. Watch today’s ann... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952834 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:41:40 +0100 4952834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952988&cid=t_149025_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2Fbetter-by-mistake-an-interview-with-alina-tugend%2F Afraid to make a mistake? Don’t be. According to author Alina Tugend, the best way to become an expert in your field is by making mistakes, lots of them, but to cooperate with the brain on learning from them. In her new book, Better By Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong, explains the science of making mistakes and why learning from them is vital in a culture of perfectionism. Tugend has been a journalist for nearly 30 years and for the past six has written the ShortCuts column for the New York Times business section. She has written about education, environmentalism, and consumer culture for numerous publications, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, and Parents and is a Huffington Post contributor. I have the honor of conducting an exclusive in... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952988 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:06:34 +0100 4952988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952783&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FfHUKuGPZ8jE%2F Waivers to End: After Sept. 22, employers won’t be able to apply for a waiver of the health-care overhaul law’s $750,000 minimum annual-benefit payout requirement, the WSJ reports. Health-benefit providers can be exempted from the requirement if it would mean a significant premium boost or benefits reduction; those receiving waivers so far have mostly been employers offering so-called mini-med, or limited-benefit, plans, the paper says. Not So Harmless: A study published in Pediatrics finds that an average of 23 kids drown each year in portable pools, in some cases in only a few inches of water, USA Today reports. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 11% of all pool drownings among kids under five occur in portable pools. Parents need to supervise kids jus... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952783 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:56:28 +0100 4952783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934089&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F4vWf8_Fzi24%2F The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the advocacy arm of the ACS, says it knows the best three-pronged strategy for getting more people to quit smoking: increasing tobacco taxes, passing laws that ban smoking at bars, restaurants and in the workplace and funding state tobacco cessation and prevention programs. Two new reports from the group try to put some numbers on the potential impact of those first two prongs. Raising the tax on cigarettes by a buck a pack in every state and D.C. could get 1.4 million adults to quit, prevent nearly 1.7 million youths from starting, save 1.32 million lives and about $645 million in heart-disease, stroke- and lung cancer-related costs, and boost states’ revenues by a total of  $8.62 billion, says one of the reports. Those projections... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934089 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:30:29 +0100 4934089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934093&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fpvkf-nNAJAA%2F The FDA’s much-anticipated new sunscreen rules are out, nearly four years after the agency originally proposed changes. Though we’re all used to picking a sunscreen on the basis of its sun protection factor (SPF), that number refers only to UVB rays, which cause burning and skin cancer. The longer-wavelength UVA rays can wreak their own damage, though, including playing a role in premature aging and contributing to skin cancer. (Here’s how the Skin Cancer Foundation explains the types of radiation.) The FDA is now requiring sunscreens to indicate whether they protect against UVA rays, too. If you see “Broad Spectrum SPF” on the label, that means the product has cleared the agency’s bar for protecting against both types of ultraviolet radiation. And the S... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934093 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:17:27 +0100 4934093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911474&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FvTd5C6HI4mk%2F The following is a post by Dr. Jessie Gruman from the Center for Advancing Health. This blog post was originally published at Prepared Patient Forum: What It Takes Blog. It was also posted on Better Health. By Jessie Gruman.“The most important thing I learned was that different doctors know different things: I need to ask my internist different questions than I do my oncologist.” This was not some sweet ingénue recounting the early lessons she learned from a recent encounter with health care.  Nope.  It was a 62-year-old woman whose husband has been struggling with multiple myeloma for the last eight years and who herself has chronic back pain, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and was at the time well into treatment for breast cancer. Part of me says “Ahem.  Have you bee... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911474 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:07:06 +0100 4911474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893380&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FxszvO1XVIkU%2F We now know that the strain of E. coli implicated in a European outbreak that has sickened more than 1,600 people, many severely, is both rare and very virulent. (That’s the genetic code of the rare strain of the bacteria at right.) But we still don’t know the source of contamination. As the WSJ reports, fresh produce is still the chief culprit, so authorities in Europe are warning against eating raw lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers. Almost everyone who has fallen ill either lived in or recently traveled to Germany. It’s not likely any contaminated produce would reach the U.S. (no shipments of those products have been imported from Germany since January, an FDA official tells the WSJ), but the agency is still increasing its inspections of produce imported from European cou... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893380 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:49:05 +0100 4893380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893382&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fl7PMit-JvCY%2F The food pyramid is dead. Long live the plate! The USDA today announced the latest attempt to conceptualize the government’s dietary advice in a way consumers can understand. (The pyramid was widely regarded as confusing, if not incomprehensible.) Half of the plate (at right) is made up of fruits and vegetables and the other half grains and protein, with the sections for vegetables and grains slightly bigger than those for fruits and protein. Off to the side is a cup representing milk or other dairy product. As NYU nutrition professor Marion Nestle notes on her Food Politics blog, other organizations have already been using plates to convey dietary advice. The USDA’s ChooseMyPlate web page also summarizes some of the messages from the latest iteration of the government’s ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893382 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:11:14 +0100 4893382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893921&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FREZzViN0L2Q%2F The other day, the US Congressional Budget Office issued a brief that spelled out the upside and downside of a moratorium on direct-to-consumer advertising (see here). That bottom line message suggested that DTC does offer a public health benefit and that drugmakers would likely shift much of their promotional efforts to doctors. But a new survey suggests that DTC may have reached the proverbial point of diminishing returns, according to Cutting Edge Information, which queried 19 drugmakers and found that many, if given the opportunity, would spend additional promotional dollars in other ways. Drugmakers surveyed say they make 14 percent more money by using DTC than if the advertising was discontinued and spending remained static for other promotional efforts. But the return on DTC is als... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893921 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:26:28 +0100 4893921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883906&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0AeYJTTYrjk%2F Over the past several years, Congress has regularly considered legislation to restrict direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, perhaps for the first couple of years after a med has been approved by the FDA. The rationale has been that DTC ads encourage unnecessary use of some meds and lead to usage before risks are fully known. Nothing has passed yet, but the idea lives on. And so the US Congressional Budget Office has issued a brief and found drugmakers would probably expand marketing to docs in order to substitute for any banned ads; the number of prescriptions filled for some drugs would probably decline, but for others, scrips may not change, since there would be other forms of promotion, and any change in prices would depend on changes in demand. Moreover, a moratorium c... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883906 Tue, 31 May 2011 13:57:51 +0100 4883906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883570&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2Fay59W2uSotU%2F The following ran on May 26th as a part of CNN Health’s coverage on the empowered patient. It is written by Elizabeth Cohen. By Elizabeth Cohen. As much as she would like to, Dr. Lissa Rankin, a gynecologist, will never forget the woman who planned her wedding while lying naked on her examining table. “Every 15 seconds, her cell phone was going off, and she was answering it!” Rankin recalls. “It was like, ‘That’s not the cake I ordered,’ and, ‘No, it’s the other gown,’ and I said to her, ‘Is this a bad time? Should I come back later?’ ” The bride may have been doing great things for her wedding, but she was sabotaging her own care — and it was a really important visit, as she was newly pregnant. Talking on ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883570 Tue, 31 May 2011 13:26:53 +0100 4883570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862484&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=35049&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nakedmedicine.com%2Fpharma-and-social-media-its-not-about-controlling-the-conversation-but-finding-the-right-venues-for-engagement Now that Facebook Pages is to Marketing what LinkedIn Profiles is to Job Seeking – pharma companies are in pickle: Facebook is going to open up comments no matter what. This means pharma companies can no longer restrict people from commenting on their Facebook pages. Er…. DUH! Why is this big news? People get on [...] (Source: NAKEDMEDICINE.COM) NAKEDMEDICINE.COM blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862484 Wed, 25 May 2011 17:33:14 +0100 4862484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4853217&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FZdvfQlG4ejw%2F The ‘phantom recall’ scandal last year in which Johnson & Johnson hired contractors to yank over-the-counter meds such as Motrin from store shelves rather than conduct a proper recall prompted congressional hearings and contributed to a consent decree, among many other things. And during one hearing, the FDA agreed to review procedures that allowed the health care giant to, essentially, circumvent agency oversight (back stories here, here and here). Now, though, Darrell Issa, who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which held those hearings, has written FDA commish Margaret Hamburg to say the agency has failed to take “promised and necessary corrective actions at its San Juan office.” And he complains that he encountered “great ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4853217 Mon, 23 May 2011 18:19:57 +0100 4853217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848149&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FnYI5PNwOxzs%2F A Pennsylvania state court jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $10 million in damages to the family of a 13-year-old girl who suffered skin burns and eye damage after she took Children’s Motrin to treat a fever and cough, Bloomberg News writes. After deliberated for 10 hours over two days, the jury decided that J&J’s McNeil Consumer Products unit was liable for injuries suffered by Brianna Maya, now 13, who was left blind in one eye and suffered burns over 84 percent of her body. The injuries were sustained after she took Motrin in 2000, when she was 3-1/2 years sold. Her lawyer charged J&J didn’t include a warning that year alerting consumers the med can cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. J&J companies later warned that ibuprofen, the active ingredient, could ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848149 Fri, 20 May 2011 20:27:29 +0100 4848149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841472&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FQDJmCLnbB54%2F By Jane Sarasohn-Kahn. Americans are opting for Botox and cosmetic procedures more than colonoscopies and cancer tests, according to a story in Reuters. This trend makes companies like Allergan, makers of Botox and the Lap-Band for gastric surgery, very happy indeed. Plastics and gastric bypass surgeries are back up to pre-recession levels as of 2Q11. However, for companies and providers in other segments of the health care and surgery value-chain, prospects for bounceback in 2011 aren’t as promising. Various indices on consumers’ health care sentiment — such as the Thomson-Reuters Consumer Healthcare Sentiment Index and the EBRI Health Confidence Survey, show U.S. consumers’ perceptions of their ability to pay for needed health care falling. Health Populi’s Hot Points:  T... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841472 Tue, 17 May 2011 13:30:41 +0100 4841472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4821183&cid=t_149025_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Fconsumer-reports-diet-rankings-a-waste-of-time%2F Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers as health foods? Seriously? This NPR Health blogger “get’s it” – she argues there are profits to be made from their selling of processed foods. She says, of the “savory” steak and ranch flatbread … But there was nothing very whole or natural to be found among the ingredients. We counted no fewer than 80 distinct substances on the list from salt and soybean oil to titanium dioxide and ammonium chloride. Hmmm… makes you “think”. How can they promote healthy eating and sell you THAT food-like substance? If anyone gets the allure of dieting, it’s me. I swear if you could get a PhD in diets, I’d have at least five. I actually have more experience dieting (started at 12) than I do as a registe... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4821183 Thu, 12 May 2011 12:51:37 +0100 4821183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813405&cid=t_149025_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F85sOFDSPdJM%2F I’m not sure where I came up with the following idea. I had stored it in my list of future posts and I didn’t have any reference for it. So, if I forgot to acknowledge who provided me the comment I’m sorry. This is the comment that I received from someone, “EMR provides benefits to the patient (better patient care) and payers (cost savings).” Of course, we could argue these two points until we’re blue in the face. In fact, feel free to argue either point in the comments below. That will be interesting. I’ll just say that there’s the potential for better patient care and the potential for cost savings to the payers. Whether the potential will become a reality will be a fun discussion in the comments. When I saw the above statement I started to... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813405 Wed, 11 May 2011 22:45:06 +0100 4813405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789634&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FDTpKxYjCFGk%2F Several drugmakers - including Johnson & Johnson - will discontinue over-the-counter infant drops of meds that contain acetaminophen in hopes of avoiding confusion among parents that can lead to dangerous overdoses. The move was disclosed late yesterday by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, an industry trade group, which says the phase out will begin later this year. At that time, the OTC makers will only sell a single formula for all children under the age of 12. Right now, the infant formulations on store shelves contain half of the amount of acetaminophen that is found in regular children’s formula. Acetaminophen, you may recall, is a key ingredient in Tylenol, Nyquil and many other OTC meds sold to combat pain and fever. The announcement comes just before an FDA p... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789634 Thu, 05 May 2011 12:59:42 +0100 4789634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4780292&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-bKAEJ36A_Q%2F By Mark A. CalabriaThe Wall Street Journal has pointed out that in his recent press conference Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke used the words “inflation expectations” (or some variation) 21 times. His argument is that we need not worry about inflation because we will see it coming, and then the Fed will do something about it. Such an argument relies heavily on the ability of inflation expectations to predict inflation. Which of course raises the question, just how predictive are inflation expectations? The graph below compares inflation, as measured by CPI, and inflation expectations, as measured by the University of Michigan consumer survey, the longest times series we have on inflation expectations. Clearly the two move together. For instance, the correlation between c... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780292 Tue, 03 May 2011 17:17:37 +0100 4780292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775459&cid=t_149025_113_f&fid=34631&url=http%3A%2F%2Fehealth.johnwsharp.com%2F2011%2F05%2F02%2Fsocial-media-moving-into-healthcares-mainstream%2F TuDiabetes Study Two articles today demonstrate the growth of influence in social media in the healthcare arena. The first is a research article about TuDiabetes.org 15,000 members on PLosONE permitting data donation to measure H1c in diabetics to demonstrate a model for cohort and translational science and for use as a complementary surveillance  approach.  This research combined with a recent study of PatientsLikeMe demonstrate the potential power of utilizing patient reported results and outcomes as a research tool. The second article appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine, “Professionalism in the Digital Age.” Get a copy of the full version if you can. It represents a positive approach to social media for physicians and other healthcare providers while noting some c... eHealth blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775459 Tue, 03 May 2011 02:10:00 +0100 4775459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4767974&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fj-Gjwpb3DUI%2F At the start of this year, Merck indicated it might be sell off the consumer health products business it acquired as part of its takeover of Schering-Plough. “We have to look at it to see what role it could play longer term in a portfolio. Can it be a significant contributor to a company of our size?” Merck CEO Ken Frazier told investors attending the Goldman Sachs Healthcare CEO’s conference. The pharma giant’s consumer business sells products like Coppertone suntan lotion, Dr. Scholl’s shoe inserts and Claritin over-the-counter allergy medicine. That’s not necessarily a good fit for a company specializing in prescription drugs and animal vaccines. Consumer health made up just $517 million of Merck’s $11.6 billion in sales during the first quarter... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4767974 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:42:20 +0100 4767974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4759038&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FuO-4Fn87I3M%2F File this under ‘better late than never…sort of.’ Several years after the Internet took off and branded product web sites began appearing, the FDA is now getting ready to study the extent to which risk and benefit information is presented and digested. The details are expected to appear tomorrow in the Federal Register. “This research is relevant to current policy questions and debate and will complement qualitative research we plan to conduct on issues surrounding social media. The original regulations that presently determine FDA’s position on DTC promotion were written at a time when the available media for DTC promotion were print and broadcast, and the primary audience was health care professionals. This dynamic is shifting, and evidence is needed to support ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4759038 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:34:57 +0100 4759038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747703&cid=t_149025_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fpatients-as-consumers.html " Here’s my question: How did it become normal, or for that matter even acceptable, to refer to medical patients as “consumers”? The relationship between patient and doctor used to be considered something special, almost sacred. Now politicians and supposed reformers talk about the act of receiving care as if it were no different from a commercial transaction, like buying a car — and their only complaint is that it isn’t commercial enough. What has gone wrong with us?"What people do not realise is that when patients start behaving as consumers, the doctors you deal with will stop behaving as trusted professionals and will start behaving as businessmen who will focus on their bottomline. When you are ill, you need a trusted advisor - and if you do not treat your doctor as a he... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747703 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 02:50:00 +0100 4747703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4744846&cid=t_149025_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fcomplaints-about-doctors.html " Second, anonymous reviews should not be allowed. Not only can anonymous posts be manipulated by someone bearing a grudge, glowing narratives can be planted by a doctor or his staff. Ratings accountability allows doctors to use real patient feedback to constructively improve their practice. Angie’s List, a leading fee-based consumer rating service, sets an example by not allowing anonymous reviews of health professionals."I agree ! It's very easy for a disgruntled patient to write a complaint about Dr Malpani - and I am sure our friendly competition may even egg on their patients to do so . These kind of complaints can cause a lot of damage and are very hard to fight, because the poster is anonymous - and can say what he likes and get away with it ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4744846 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:37:00 +0100 4744846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747723&cid=t_149025_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Fneil%2F2011%2F04%2F21%2Fmore-unrealistic-expectations-from-the-public-this-time-involving-cds%2F Yet again, someone needs to educate the general public about healthcare in general and health IT in particular. HealthLeaders last week asked the question, “Does Decision Support Make Docs Look Dumb?” The story, apparently based on a 2007 study (not 2008, as HealthLeaders reported) in the journal Medical Decision Making, says: “Most clinicians would agree that evidence-based decision support tools have the potential to improve clinical quality. But patients’ perception of the tools—and the physicians who use them—might be yet another barrier to their adoption. The problem is twofold: Some patients are skeptical of docs who need a computer to help them make a diagnosis. And some physicians don’t want to be seen as being too reliant on technology.” We’ve... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747723 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:05:53 +0100 4747723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734095&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwill-our-healthcare-system-end-up-looking-like-an-apple-or-android-product%2F2011.04.21 The future direction of American health care is unclear.  Certainly the cost trend as it exists is unsustainable with health care costs being a major concern of the private sector, the government, and individuals.  How does the nation manage costs while ensuring high quality medical care, access, and service?  Proposals include increasing competition among insurers, providers, and hospitals to drive down prices or giving more financial responsibility to patients via higher deductibles and co-pays with the belief that they will demand price transparency, shop around for the best price, and as a result slow health care costs. What if both ideas are wrong? While it is possible these plans might work, I cannot help but notice the similarities in the challenges for patients in navigating the... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734095 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:00:00 +0100 4734095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734081&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fmoney%2F2011%2F04%2Fftc-lawsuit-acai-berry-juice-fake-news-websites-deceptive-marketing.html The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is taking a harsh legal stand against 10 companies and individuals marketing acai berry weight-loss products online by using fake news websites which imply endorsement from major media outlets—including Consumer Reports. According to the FTC, the defendants' deceptive online practices involve creating "news" that seem to be from legitimate organizations such as ABC, CBS, Consumer Reports, CNN and others. And although the fake online news sites may contain headlines ("Acai Berry Diet Exposed: Miracle Diet or Scam?") and logos from major news organizations, they really are just advertisements, says the FTC. David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in today's news release: Almost everything about these sites is f... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734081 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:30:00 +0100 4734081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723786&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNFg2b0upjHA%2F By Walter OlsonAs Iain Murray points out at National Review‘s “Corner,” there’s no date on the calendar each year that reminds us, the way income tax filing day does, of the huge share of our economic labors that the government commands in the name of regulation. In part this is because the costs of regulation are even better disguised than those of taxation: while paycheck withholding may lull us into complacency about our income tax burden, it is downright transparent compared with the costs of regulation, which the ordinary citizen may never recognize when passed along in the form of higher utility bills or sluggish performance by some sector of the economy. Iain notes the good work done by his colleagues at the Competitive Enterprise Institute: Regulations cost... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723786 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:19:45 +0100 4723786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723784&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FkWOH3STMOUc%2F Direct-to-consumer genetic tests are controversial, with Congress last year scrutinizing their scientific accuracy and marketing practices. There’s also a philosophical debate raging about whether the public is ready for the type of information currently available about the risk of certain diseases. But what about kids? A study published online in Pediatrics finds that some parents, at least, are willing to have their children tested to see their genetic risk of developing adult-onset diseases and conditions including diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease and certain forms of cancer. With a few exceptions, the information you can get from these tests isn’t particularly definitive. It might indicate you have an above average chance of developing heart disease, but that doesn... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723784 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:20:04 +0100 4723784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4715014&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpYq3k6eZCQ4%2F Four years after the merger between the CVS drugstore chain and the Caremark pharmacy benefits manager, which has spurred numerous investigations and lawsuits over anticompetitive concerns, a handful of consumer groups have written the US Federal Trade Commission to ask the agency to break up the company. Why? The groups charge CVS Caremark limits choice through various programs, the merger has given CVS unfair advantage over other retailers, patients are steered toward CVS and confidential patient information is improperly shared. Such concerns have already prompted investigations by the FTC and attorneys general of 24 states. CVS Caremark has previously said it is cooperating with the probes. “There is strong evidence that the CVS Caremark merger has harmed consumers,” says the lett... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4715014 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:18:08 +0100 4715014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693506&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F4zogyJRhrJY%2F Some assignments are more challenging than others. And Denice Torres will certainly have a big mountain to climb now that she is running Johnson & Johnson’s beleaguered McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit, the division responsible for numerous manufacturing gaffes that led to an eye-popping series of product recalls and a spate of troubles for the once-venerable healthcare giant. Since 2009, Torres headed CNS (or central nervous system) for North America Pharmaceuticals for J&J’s Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit. For two years prior to that post, she was an Ethicon sales and marketing vp, and an Ortho McNeil Neurologics marketing vp. She reports to Pat Mutchler, who was recently named company group chair for US over-the-counter and nutritional products (see this)... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693506 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:20:38 +0100 4693506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4676776&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fmoney%2F2011%2F04%2Fcost-of-health-care-down-for-2011-retirees.html Couples who retire this year can expect to pay 8 percent less in health-care costs over the course of their retirement, thanks in large measure to health-care reform, according to an estimate from Fidelity Investments. It’s the first drop since 2002, when Fidelity first started making the estimate. Fidelity says retiring couples around the age of 65 will need an average of about $230,000 to cover medical expenses for their retirement years, excluding nursing-home expenses. The decline stems from the Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, both of which were signed in 2010 and are expected to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses for many seniors who purchase prescription drugs. Until this year the estimated cost had increased an average of 6 percent a... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4676776 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:45:00 +0100 4676776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4676749&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F3xJnejpjyZo%2F Consumers should be getting mental health benefits on par with those for medical and surgical care, thanks to the 2008 federal mental health parity law. But whether they are actually getting equal coverage remains a question. Some employers have dropped mental-health coverage altogether to avoid having to beef up their offerings. And many patients don’t know enough about their benefits or parity to ask questions about changes. Even those who pay attention to their mental-health benefits may not be well-informed about improvements in coverage, or receive old or inaccurate information when they call their insurer to ask for additional information, according to a small survey of consumers in New York — where there has been a state mental health parity law since 2007 — recent... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4676749 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:06:47 +0100 4676749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664170&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jointcommission.org%2Fassets%2F1%2F6%2FARoadmapforHospitalsfinalversion727.pdf Lee Kirksey Interview by Disruptive Woman Glenna Crooks. Meet vascular surgeon Lee Kirksey, MD, MBA. He is assistant professor at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, with a surgical practice based in Philadelphia. His concerns transcend those of his own surgical expertise, his own patients and this region, however.  He is an ardent, engaged, articulate spokesman for cultural competence in health care. I think about cultural competence sometimes, but I really ‘got it’ talking with him; for the first time seeing how cultural incompetence impacted my family. Here’s the story: a number of years ago as my Father lay in a coma, the physician in charge of his care refused to speak with my Mother. It required an attorney and intervention of hospital administrators to learn a... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664170 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:30:25 +0100 4664170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658619&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fiz2I6GLsZGY%2F After more than a year of embarassing and debilitating mishaps, Johnson & Johnson is reorganizing its McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit, which has been responsible for the vast majority of the tens of millions of product recalls that led to a consent decree with the FDA (see this). The move, which is expected to be made official on April 4 but was announced internally last month, will transform McNeil into a separate US entity and will be led by Patrick Mutchler, a J&J company group chairman. Meanwhile, the embattled Peter Luther, who has been McNeil president, is taking on a new role - president of US Consumer Healthcare. His replacement at McNeil has not been named. The reorganization follows a difficult year for the health care giant, which experienced a series of manufacturing... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658619 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:59:40 +0100 4658619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658379&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FNrjsnVepAsI%2F By Archelle Georgiou. At 9:55 am on a Wednesday morning. I was 15 miles from home and making good time getting to my 10:30 meeting until I realized that I’d left the power cord for my Mac computer at home. There was no way I’d have enough battery power to get through my presentation. So, I had a choice: turn around, go home and be late or run by the mall and buy a new power cord at the Apple store.  Since the mall was only ¼ mile away, I could arrive just as the store opened and likely be the first customer. The decision was easy. As expected, the parking lot had a scant number of cars and I got a plum spot by the entrance. Racing past several stores en route to my destination, I noticed employees in the sporting goods store dribbling basketballs waiting for their first customers. Ga... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658379 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:30:58 +0100 4658379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658626&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FX_coy97_9ZY%2F Perhaps there is a strategy at work here. Once again, Johnson & Johnson has issued a product recall. In the scheme of things, this is a very modest one - exactly one lot of Tylenol 8-Hour Extended Release Caplets, which amounts to 34,000 150 bottles, according to a statement the health care giant issued yesterday afternoon. Given the overwhelming number of recalls over the past year - tens of millions of products, including over-the-counter meds, hip replacement devices, syringes and contact lenses, among others - perhaps the J&J team has figured out that the public, investors and consumers alike, has tired of hearing about such things and will start ignoring the ongoing problems. Of course, J&J is obligated in some ways to release such info. But the events have become so ro... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658626 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:56:41 +0100 4658626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658359&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FJUldICkQw3Y%2F FDA V. Food Colors: For the first time, the FDA is assessing whether or not foods like Jell-O, Lucky Charms and Minute Maid Lemonade should carry warnings that their artificial colors could worsen behavioral problems in kids, the New York Times reports. The FDA has previously decided that there is not a link between the colors and behavior or health problems, but the NYT says that it will ask a panel of experts on Wednesday and Thursday to review the evidence. More and more studies have suggested a link, the Times says. Drug  Deal: Valeant Pharmaceuticals of Canada last night made a hostile bid for Cephalon for $5.7 billion, the WSJ reports. The all-cash offer is a 24.5% premium, and Valeant CEO J. Michael Pearson said he would be willing to increase it “somewhat.” Cephalon sa... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658359 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:44:14 +0100 4658359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4653397&cid=t_149025_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fmobile-health-and-dumb-phones.html Given the fact that practically every one on this planet will soon have their own personal mobile phone, it's a very tantalising goal to be able to use this personal phone to help people improve their personal health ! Mobile phones are personal; private and ubiquitous and can be very powerful tools ! Mhealth has become a "hot area" today - and there are many clever applications available which help phones to become health monitoring devises.However, most of these apps have been developed in the West and they are designed for "smartphones". They are cool and fun to play with but we desperately need clever developers to produce apps for dumb phones - the kind of phones the billion who are at the "bottom of the pyramid" have to use daily. This is a much bigger challenge - but the results can... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4653397 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 03:39:00 +0100 4653397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789189&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=35049&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nakedmedicine.com%2Fwhy-i-chose-not-to-be-a-doctor I was once a premed. I chose not to become a doctor because I wasn’t truly interested in the profession, it was something I felt I “had” to do or “should” do because I happened to major in biology. And being a first generation Asian-American there was also pressure from being a “Tiger Cub”: we [...] (Source: NAKEDMEDICINE.COM) NAKEDMEDICINE.COM blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789189 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:45:25 +0100 4789189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642570&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F7lj1zDfVKeo%2F A number of hospitals and health systems around the country are adopting safety programs to reduce harm to both mother and infant in the delivery room, according to a story in the WSJ’s special report on health-care innovation. But in at least one case, innovation has drawn some unexpected–and apparently unwanted–attention. In  last month’s issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology , New York Weill Cornell Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital reported impressive results from an obstetrics safety program, which trained teams in standard protocols to reduce the risk of  birth injury. Now the hospital and the study authors are protesting the fact that a bill being introduced in the state assembly would mandate its use for all hospitals in the sta... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642570 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:37:26 +0100 4642570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642588&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FeM2gzPgZi_c%2F Women experience differences in their health care services and outcomes. The fact sheet, Healthcare Quality and Disparities in Women: Selected Findings, summarizes key findings from the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports related to health care for women. Related posts:Update From Haiti: Despair Sets In And Women Consider Suicide The Society for Women’s Health Research: A Case Study of Advocacy for Women Disruptive Women on the Radio…with Real Women on Health (Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care) Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642588 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:42:36 +0100 4642588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642997&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FC17j0hNlPIg%2F The trade group that represents over-the-counter drugmakers is running radio ads against a Missouri proposal that would require a prescription to buy certain cold med containing pseudeophredine, a key ingredient used for making methamphetamine, the Associated Press reports. The ads urge people to call their lawmakers and tell them to “keep government out of your medicine cabinet.” The move, of course, is a bid to maintain sales of such products as Sudafed, Claritin-D, Advil Cold & Sinus and Mucinex-D, and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association is explaining its position by describing the proposal as overly restrictive and certain to increase costs for consumers (additional co-pays, for instance), state programs and lost sales tax revenue (see this statement). &#8220... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642997 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:33:49 +0100 4642997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636411&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FdFl1yrlFTy0%2F A study out today finds that high-deductible health plans do cut down on health-care spending – but also prompt patients to get less preventative care. The RAND Corporation, which ran the study, says it is the largest ever of its kind. The group studied more than 800,000 families and found that when they moved to plans with deductibles over $1,000, health spending dropped an average of 14%. But the study also found that those families cut back on things like childhood immunizations, cancer screenings and diabetes tests. Childhood vaccination rates among families in traditional plans rose, while they dropped among those in the high-deductible plans, for instance. RAND says that drop happened even though high-deductible plans waive the need to pay a deductible when receiving preventative s... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636411 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:36:53 +0100 4636411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626827&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FTrEXv67U4VI%2F A year after President Obama signed health reform into law, the public remains deeply divided over the landmark legislation, with a year of political debate over its merits and the beginning stages of its implementation doing little to alter Americans’ opinions about the law. In March, one year after enactment, 42 percent of Americans hold favorable views of the law while 46 percent view it unfavorably, a basic division that has changed little during the last 12 months. (In April 2010, 46 percent had favorable views and 40 percent unfavorable ones, but both figures have ticked up and down over the last year.) Opinion of the law continues to break sharply along partisan lines, with 71 percent of Democrats backing the law and 82 percent of Republicans opposing it. About half (51%) of Ame... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626827 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:45:14 +0100 4626827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4610770&cid=t_149025_86_f&fid=34464&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDavidrothmannet%2F%7E3%2Fa7-xh3dXrAY%2F My Primary Care Physician is a good guy.  His practice implemented an EMR a few years ago- each time I see him, I ask him how that’s going and he lets me see how it looks on the tablet PC he carries into the exam room. My last visit was for an annual checkup a few weeks ago and we were talking about point-of-care tools and integration with his EMR.  It turns out that their EMR has no useful functionality to help find or produce patient education handouts he can quickly sent to a printer I told him it would not be difficult to make a tool that would enable him to find authoritative handouts quickly and easily from the paid resources his practice has available, and he expressed interest in that idea. He hasn’t followed up, but I found the idea interesting, so I started thinking... davidrothman.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4610770 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:20:05 +0100 4610770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592398&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-your-medication-list-makes-you-the-perfect-pharma-target%2F2011.03.14 Give me your medication list and I’ll tell you your health problems. It happens every day in emergency rooms across the country as confused elderly patients present for an acute problem unable to describe their past medical history, but equipped with a list of medications in their wallet: Metformin = Type-2 diabetes Synthroid = Hypothyroidism Lipitor + Altace + Lasix + Slo-K = Ischemic cardiomyopathy Lexapro = A little anxious or depressed Viagra = Well, you know… I bet I’d be right better than 90 percent of the time. Now, imagine you’re a pharmaceutical company wanting to target people with those chronic diseases. Where might you find them? No problem. Just pay the insurers to provide you patients’ drug lists. No names need be exchanged in keeping with HIPA... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592398 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:00:00 +0100 4592398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4565881&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Ff93yZld-Qoc%2F Lung-Drug Recommendation: An FDA advisory panel backed the approval of a 75-microgram dose of Novartis’s drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, indacaterol, but not the higher dose of the drug used in Europe, the WSJ reports. That’s significant because Novartis is developing another lung drug that contains a dose of indacaterol that’s higher than 75 micrograms, the paper says. The FDA often, but not always, takes the advice of its advisory committees. Appeal Filed: The Obama administration has officially appealed Judge Roger Vinson’s ruling that the health-care overhaul law is unconstitutional, Politico reports. Last week the judge stayed his ruling while the appeal works its way through the legal system, as long as that appeal was filed within seven days. ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4565881 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:31:03 +0100 4565881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560592&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FI1z98X2z8YI%2F And so the sorry saga of Johnson & Johnson manufacturing problems continues. This time, though, the FDA has tagged the health care giant for problems at its Cordis stent facility in San German, Puerto Rico. Over a two-year period, the plant failed to follow up a protocol failure and to ensure devices conformed to specifications (read the letter here). To date, manufacturing issues plaguing J&J involved screw ups at McNeil Consumer Healthcare plants that make over-the-counter meds. In fact, one plant in Fort Washington, Pa., which is where McNeil offices are based, is now shuttered and being re-tooled. However, another is located in Las Piedras , Puerto Rico, further indicating J&J units are unable to rectify problems near and far. The manufacturing problems at the Las Piedra... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560592 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:19:19 +0100 4560592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560593&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fa3XeUYxmKn0%2F More than a decade has past since direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs has become a fixture of American culture. More recently, though, the so-called unbranded ad - which discusses diseases instead of specific meds - has become equally ubiquitous. But how do these resonate with consumers? A new study finds that non-branded ads compared favorably with conventional ads for specific branded meds. A total of 437 people were divided into two groups and then four subgroups, who were shown branded or non-branded ads for either allergy meds or oral contraceptives (drug and company names were fictitious in order to reduce bias). They were asked 16 questions to measure involvement and attitude toward the ads, the companies and the pharmaceutical industry. The upshot? Not surprisingl... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560593 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:54:11 +0100 4560593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536043&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FmUBrbPUQsr4%2F If you ever needed someone to make the case for why it’s important to smile, think of today’s talk by Ron Gutman at TED University. (That’s a short series of presentations by TED conference participants.) Gutman, a member of the TED conference team and CEO of health-information company HealthTap, pointed out a study from the University of California, Berkeley that measured smiles in high school yearbook photos and looked at what the students were up to decades later. The bigger smilers were more likely to be in a long-lasting marriage and to have a better sense of personal well-being. Another study found that the size of major league baseball players’ smiles in their trading-card photos predicted longevity. Players who didn’t smile at all lived an average of 72.9 years,... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536043 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:29:11 +0100 4536043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512391&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fconsumer-driven-healthcare-why-it-will-fail%2F2011.02.23 With the creation of consumer-driven health plans and health insurance policies with high deductibles linked to a savings option, more financial responsibility shouldered by patients and employees and less by employers was completely inevitable. The American public likes to have everything, whether consumer electronics or other services, as cheap as possible. With escalating healthcare expenses rising far more rapidly than wages or inflation, it’s not surprising employers needed a way to manage this increasingly-costly business expense. In the past, companies faced a similar dilemma. It wasn’t about medical costs, but managing increasingly expensive retirement and pension plan obligations. Years ago, companies moved from these defined benefit plans to defined contribution plan... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512391 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:00:00 +0100 4512391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507582&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fjhk8uLvM9QY%2F Call it congressional deja vu. Last week, a pair of bills that previously went nowhere were again introduced and both take aim at brand-name drugmakers. The first, called the Say No to Drug Ads Act, would eliminate tax breaks for direct-to-consumer advertising and was introduced by Jerry Nadler, a Democratic Congressman from New York who failed to enlist any co-sponsors. The rationale for his repeat effort is that DTC ads allow drugmakers to “keep prices artificially high, steering consumers – and physicians – away from generics…It’s bad enough that TV drug ads mislead consumers and tout benefits of high-priced drugs without properly conveying the risks, but the drug companies don’t need extra subsidies to do so,” he says in a statement. (You can read the bill her... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507582 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:27:06 +0100 4507582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489634&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FAYMt_GHill8%2F If started within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms, consuming zinc is associated with a shorter and less severe cold. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489634 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:31:37 +0100 4489634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477761&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmeasuring-the-patient-experience%2F2011.02.15 There’s a growing recognition within the medical-industrial complex that the patient is a key element of the enterprise, and that patient satisfaction, patient experience, patient engagement, patient activation, and patient-centeredness are very important. Some research shows that patient activation yields better patient outcomes, and that patient activation can be measured. Patient-centeredness and patient engagement are two of the key metrics to be used by the feds in describing Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), if the internecine battles within government are resolved soon enough to actually release draft ACO regulations in time to allow for sufficient advance planning for the January 2012 go-live date. (Wearing one of my many hats, I’ve had the opportunity to submit ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477761 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:00:44 +0100 4477761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4472950&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fconsumer-health-information-the-new-third-party-in-the-exam-room%2F2011.02.13 It was sometime in the mid-nineties that parents started showing up in my office with reams of paper. Inkjet printouts of independently unearthed information pulled from AltaVista and Excite. Google didn’t exist. In the earliest days of the Web, information was occasionally leveraged by families as a type of newfound control. A young father and his inkjet printer One case sticks clearly in my mind. It was that of a toddler with medically unresponsive acid reflux and chronic lung disease. After following the child for some time, the discussion with the family finally moved to the option of a fundoplication (anti-reflux surgery). On a follow-up visit the father had done his diligence and appeared in the office with a banker box brimming with printed information. He had done his homewo... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4472950 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 16:00:39 +0100 4472950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464705&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FUzPmlJi0yIs%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that AstraZeneca hired John Yee as vp and US head medical officer. Previously, he was vp and global head, evidence-based medicine and health outcomes research at Genzyme, where he spent eight years. And before that, Yee was a faculty member at Harva... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464705 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:13:18 +0100 4464705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4459957&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoctors-and-patients-wish-their-relationship-was-better%2F2011.02.10 Physicians said in a survey that noncompliance with advice or treatment recommendations was their foremost complaint about their patients. Most said it affected their ability to provide optimal care and more 37 percent said it did so “a lot.” Three-quarters of patients said they were highly satisfied with their doctors. But they still had complaints ranging from long wait times to ineffective treatments. Those are just some of the findings from two surveys, the first a poll of 660 primary care physicians conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center in September 2010 and the second a poll of 49,000 Consumer Reports subscribers in 2009. The magazine reported its results online. In the doctors’ poll, physicians named these top challenges: – 76 percent o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4459957 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4459957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460181&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FwKUwtDU-Yns%2F The floodgates opened in 1997. That was when the FDA decided to allow direct-to-consumer advertising on television, initiating a great debate about the virtues of such DTC ads for prescription drugs between drugmakers, doctors and patients that, eventually, embroiled legislators, ad agencies and First Amendment lawyers. Why? Doctors have been angry that patients were incorrectly pressuring them for prescriptions. Other critic complained that ads minimized risks, steered patients toward expensive meds and promoted unnecessary usage. Pharma, meanwhile, has pointed out that ads successfully enlighten consumers and drive them to learn more about their health, sometimes having meaningful discussions with docs. Now, though, TV ads may have reached a watermark. Why? Writing in The New York Times,... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460181 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:26:07 +0100 4460181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4459961&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdo-it-yourself-lab-testing%2F2011.02.10 Traditionally, people get blood tests when their doctor recommends it, an event that usually occurs at the conclusion of an office visit. But nowadays, patients are deciding to get lab tests on their own. Their reasons vary. Some want to keep track of cholesterol or hemoglobin A1C levels. Others want to assure their blood will test negative prior to a job search, to test for the presence of a disease like hepatitis C or AIDS, or obtain a chemistry panel that provides a broad picture of their overall health. The biggest reason for consumer-directed lab testing however, is an economic one. Growing numbers of uninsured people, and those with high-deductible insurance plans find it cheaper to do-it-themselves, since it avoids the cost of an office visit. The savings can add up. A lipid pro... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4459961 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:00:25 +0100 4459961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455265&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fclinically-proven-theres-no-such-thing%2F2011.02.09 I heard yet another commercial on the radio this morning for some menopausal cure-all that was “clinically proven” to reduce hot flashes, improve sleep, increase energy, help you lose weight, and probably cure bad breath to boot. Anyone who calls in the next ten minutes gets a month’s supply for free. “Hurry.” Don’t. At least they finally stopped running the one for the colon cleansing product that helped remove the “five to ten pounds of waste some experts* believe are spackled along the inside of the large intestine.” (*Emphasis mine. “Some experts” also believe the moon landing was a hoax, the Holocaust never happened, and homeopathy is effective medicine.) Somehow this colon cleansing stuff helps you preferentially lose belly fat. Not really sure what belly ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455265 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:00:02 +0100 4455265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455240&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=35049&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nakedmedicine.com%2Ffda-has-to-slow-down-to-keep-up-with-drug-companies Steve Woodruff is hopping mad with the apparent gross inefficiency and indecision of the “guidance process” for pharma company promotional practices when it comes to social media, and I can’t blame him! But I’m on the FDA’s side this time. Let me say up front that I never liked how the FDA remains vague and [...] (Source: NAKEDMEDICINE.COM) NAKEDMEDICINE.COM blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455240 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:53:09 +0100 4455240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450263&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=35049&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nakedmedicine.com%2Fbig-pharma-shilling-and-webmd-com-mayoclinic-com-smack-down New York Times Online is likening WebMD’s “information” as “using the meretricious voice of a pharmaceutical rep”. I don’t know… I never found WebMD’s interface “apparently attractive” but I suppose some people like all the flashy stuff. I mean, I find the ads on NakedMedicine.com mildly annoying, but these only go toward keeping the site [...] (Source: NAKEDMEDICINE.COM) NAKEDMEDICINE.COM blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450263 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:42:06 +0100 4450263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4445797&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FeIsknPHxr8M%2F By Glenna Crooks. This is the week many of us will consider – or finally make – Valentine’s Day purchases. Some of us will consider chocolate. Maybe more of us should. I wondered about that as I saw some disparate bits of data over the weekend. An article on Valentine’s Day spending was informative: couples will spend just under $70 on each other and we’ll spend, on average, $5 on pets, $6 on friends, $5 on teachers and $3.50 on co-workers. What will we be buying? In all, about $12.B in treats for the day: $3.5B on jewelry, $1.6B on clothing, $3.4B on dinner, $1.7B on flowers, $1.5B on candy (of which $285M will be on chocolate) and $1.1B on greeting cards. I get interested in items like this when I hear that we ‘can’t afford health care.’ I’ve noticed over the years how ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4445797 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:48:38 +0100 4445797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411519&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2Fpkd6PIGGRnM%2F By Jane Sarasohn-Kahn. While 8 in 10 U.S. adults want a physician to have primary responsibility for the diagnosis and management of their health care, many people are not sure who’s a medical doctor. Surprisingly numbers of health consumers don’t think that orthopaedic surgeons, family practitioners, dermatologists, psychiatrists, and ophthalmologists are MDs. The American Medical Association‘s survey, Truth in Advertising, published in January 2011, follows up the AMA’s 2008 survey which had similar results.  Data based on consumers answering the question, “Is this person a medical doctor,” are organized in the chart. 90% of people say that a physician’s additional years of medical education and training are ‘vital’ to optimal patient care. At the same time, only 51% ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411519 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:29:15 +0100 4411519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405006&cid=t_149025_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2Fskin-conditions-facing-people-of-color%2F People of African, Asian, Latin and Native American backgrounds know that their skin, hair and nails are subject to conditions that do not affect lighter skinned people. “While most of these are not serious, they may be disturbing, troubling or unsightly,” says Joshua Fox, MD, a leading dermatologist, founder of Advanced Dermatology and an official [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersSkin Conditions Facing People of Color (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405006 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:53:40 +0100 4405006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4406032&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FT2t_UxFOels%2F Every three months, the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices releases an update on drug safety after examining adverse event reports and so here are the latest findings: Pfizer’s Chantix quit-smoking pill continued to account for large numbers of reported serious psychiatric side effects; Johnson & Johnson’s Levaquin was suspect in more reports of serious injury than any other antibiotic. Still more safety signals were spotted for the Multaq heart drug sold by Sanofi-Aventis, and reports of serious injuries associated with Johnson & Johnson recalls continued to dominate all new case reports indicating a product problem. Overall, the FDA received 33,068 domestic reports of serious injury, disability or death associated with drugs, a 12 percent increase from a year ear... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4406032 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:11:17 +0100 4406032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399519&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2Fb7EWJZGcRrU%2F When someone develops an infection at a hospital or other patient care facility that they did not have prior to treatment, this is referred to as a Healthcare-Associated (sometimes hospital-acquired) Infection (HAI). Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) are a global crisis affecting both patients and healthcare workers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at any point in time, 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infections acquired in hospitals. A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report published in March-April 2007 estimated the number of U.S. deaths from healthcare associated infections in 2002 at 98,987. The risk of acquiring Healthcare-Associated Infections in developing countries is 2-20 times higher than in developed countries. Afflicting thousands of patient... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399519 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:18:55 +0100 4399519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4398995&cid=t_149025_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2Fcosmetic-and-surgical-laser-sales-service%2F Imagine the astonishment as Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer credited with discovering the legendary Fountain of Youth in 1513, teleports to present time. He would the manifestation of disappearing wrinkles, shaving bumps, spider veins, tattoos, scars, acne, hair removal and the effects of similar aesthetic rejuvenations, not with an elixir but with light. Nearly [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersCosmetic and Surgical Laser Sales & Service (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4398995 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:33:30 +0100 4398995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4386271&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-peddling-of-genetic-tests%2F2011.01.22 In a recent issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), journalist Ray Moynihan wrote: “Beware the fortune tellers peddling genetic tests.” (Subscription required for full access.) Excerpts: “For anyone concerned about the creeping medicalisation of life, the marketplace for genetic testing is surely one of the latest frontiers, where apparently harmless technology can help mutate healthy people into fearful patients, their personhood redefined by multiple genetic predispositions for disease and early death. … Again a tool that’s proved useful in the laboratory has escaped like a virus into the marketplace, incubated by entrepreneurs, lazy reporters, and the power of our collective dreams of technological salvation, this time in the form of personalised medici... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4386271 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:00:22 +0100 4386271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382762&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Frealistic-medicine-the-kind-of-thinking-to-look-for%2F2011.01.21 There are several stages in becoming an empowered, engaged, activated patient — a capable, responsible partner in getting good care for yourself, your family, whoever you’re caring for. One ingredient is to know what to expect, so you can tell when things seem right and when they don’t. Researching a project today, I came across an article* published in 2006: ”Key Learning from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s 10-Year Patient Safety Journey.” This table shows the attitude you’ll find in an organization that has realized the challenges of medicine and is dealing with them realistically: “Errors are everywhere.” “Great care in a high-risk environment.” What kind of attitude is that? It’s accurate. This work began after the death of Boston Globe healt... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382762 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:00:29 +0100 4382762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382766&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-doctors-feel-about-patients-who-google-their-symptoms%2F2011.01.21 Many doctors roll their eyes whenever patients bring in a stack of research they printed out, stemming from a Google search of their symptoms. A piece by Dr. Zachary Meisel on TIME.com describes a familiar scenario: The medical intern started her presentation with an eye roll. “The patient in Room 3 had some blood in the toilet bowl this morning and is here with a pile of Internet printouts listing all the crazy things she thinks she might have.” The intern continued, “I think she has a hemorrhoid.” “Another case of cyberchondria,” added the nurse behind me. It’s time to stop debating whether patients should research their own symptoms. It’s happening already, and the medical profession would be better served to handle this new reality. According to the Pew Internet and ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382766 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:00:37 +0100 4382766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382950&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-uLkBowhkas%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Concert Pharmaceuticals hired James Shipley as chief medical officer. Previously, he was was senior vp of clinical development, medical and regulatory affairs at Indevus Pharmaceuticals, which is now owned by Endo Pharmaceuticals, and before th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382950 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:08:51 +0100 4382950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377571&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpersonal-genetic-testing-psychological-and-behavioral-effects%2F2011.01.20 In conclusion, personal genetic testing does not seem to generate a lot of distress, although the study was clearly limited by a high dropout percentage of 44 percent and the self-selection of participants who opted to do the test. Article in New England Journal of Medicine: Effect of Direct-to-Consumer Genomewide Profiling to Assess Disease Risk Flashback: An Interview with Navigenics… *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377571 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:00:21 +0100 4377571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360331&cid=t_149025_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2Fmedical-tourism-for-cosmetic-surgery-pros-and-cons%2F Medical tourism is a growing trend when it comes to plastic and cosmetic surgery. Some Americans believe that they can get the same cosmetic procedures for a lower cost outside the U.S. Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and Colombia are the most popular destinations among American medical tourists. An interesting fact: some of the better surgeons were [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersMedical Tourism for Cosmetic Surgery – Pros and Cons (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360331 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:29:18 +0100 4360331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349693&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJ86XMYwBbHU%2F Talk about burying bad news on a Friday afternoon - and before a long holiday weekend, too. Johnson & Johnson has initiated yet another recall, though, and this time the withdrawn products include various types of Tylenol, Bendaryl, Sudafed and Sinutab that were sold in the US, Brazil and the Caribbean. Also withdrawn was Rolaids Multi-Symptom Berry sold in the US (see this). In making the ‘let’s-hope-this-gets-somewhat-ignored’ announcement, J&J also issued a separate statement saying these recalls were initiated as a result of a so-called Comprehensive Action Plan that was given the FDA last summer. This was undertaken to revamp procedures at its McNeil Consumer Healthcare plant in Fort Washington, Pa., which is now closed for retooling. The added statement i... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349693 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:22:26 +0100 4349693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349514&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-the-term-patient-is-so-important-in-healthcare%2F2011.01.14 An online friend, col­league, and out­spoken patient advocate, Trisha Torrey, has an ongoing e-vote about whether people prefer to be called a “patient,” a “con­sumer,” a “cus­tomer,” or some other noun to describe a person who receives healthcare. My vote is: PATIENT. Here’s why: Providing medical care is or should be unlike other com­mercial trans­ac­tions. The doctor, or other person who gives medical treatment, has a special pro­fes­sional and moral oblig­ation to help the person who’s receiving his or her treatment. This respon­si­bility — to heal, hon­estly and to the best of one’s ability — over­rides any other com­mit­ments, or con­flicts, between the two. The term “patient” con­stantly reminds the doctor of the spe­cialness of... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349514 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:00:02 +0100 4349514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338263&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVC1l-JK4VRw%2F Citing the infamous ‘phantom recall’ episode, the Oregon attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson for putting consumers at risk. At issue is the decision by J&J’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit to hire a private contractor to quietly remove defective Motrin bottles from store shelves while maintaining the FDA sanctioned the action (back story). “Companies that break the rules and put consumers at risk will be held accountable,” said Oregon attorney general John Kroger says in a statement. He noted that, in July 2009, one of the contract employees in Oregon became concerned about the secrecy of the recall and contacted the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, which notified the FDA. You may recall that J&J did not announce an official... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338263 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:59:39 +0100 4338263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337896&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F27kp3yYOnPs%2F Out of the ten companies that now make up Dossia, six have deployed a digitized health record, Critelli tells us. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337896 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:46:17 +0100 4337896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4330990&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FsOCSe52-qKs%2F A full 77% of respondents said they'd find a web- or software-based personal health record very or somewhat helpful to track medications, test results and other data. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4330990 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:50:13 +0100 4330990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322509&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat%25e2%2580%2599s-wrong-it%25e2%2580%2599s-a-generic-drug-rip-off-thats-what%2F2011.01.07 Cute packaging and product placement in the checkout lane at Duane Reade will get you generic Tylenol for a price equivalent to $50 for 100 tabs, as opposed to $6 per 100 count in the usual package. *This blog post was originally published at tbtam* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322509 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:00:26 +0100 4322509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322502&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FfJDMBnWLqrc%2F The following is an interview conducted by Hope Ditto of Disruptive Women with Grace Bender. “Take responsibility for your own health care.” That’s the message that Grace, a Disruptive Woman and an experienced patient advocate, wants you to take away from her story. “You have to be your own advocate, but if you can’t, don’t be afraid to ask a family member or friend to step in and speak up on your behalf.” Grace can speak from experience about being an advocate, both for herself and for her loved ones. In fact, Grace created mymedmanager™ , a personal health care and medication organization system, after her experience as an advocate for her mother. (You can read about this in a previous blog post here). While that experience focused primarily on managing medication intake,... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322502 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:29:01 +0100 4322502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322693&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FTPqRZ55bYTQ%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Huron Consulting promoted Manny Tzavlakis to managing director in the Life Sciences Advisory Services practice, where he focuses on disclosure reporting, aggregate spend, transparency, sales and marketing compliance, commercial operations and b... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322693 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:26:38 +0100 4322693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318302&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FYPcUXa8yuRE%2F Depending on the disease and accuracy of the test, people said they'd pay up to $622 to know if they would get the disease. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318302 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:34:10 +0100 4318302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304866&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FRqSctVSZqyA%2F Nintendo cited no research to back up the assertion of possible harm, and many vision experts were skeptical that any such evidence existed. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304866 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:47:59 +0100 4304866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305102&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FCxc41W3S1Z8%2F And so it has come to this: a direct-to-consumer ad for Rapaflo, which is used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, including urinary frequency and urgency, is being promoted in a magazine ad that shows a man peeing by the side of the road. Certainly, the sudden need to pee is a universal phenomenon and relieving oneself in unusual venues is hardly unique (although there can be consequences: three of The Rolling Stones were arrested for doing so on the wall of a London gas station in 1965). And given that the photo suggests there is no bathroom in the desert, the poor fellow can hardly be blamed for splashing the dusty roadside (perhaps he forgot to bring a handy-dandy bottle for such occasions?) In running the ad, Watson Pharmaceuticals, which markets Rapaflo, and its ad agency, mo... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305102 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:57:40 +0100 4305102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302124&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpractice-variation-essential-to-e-patient-awareness%2F2010.12.31 This is the first of the follow-up posts I hope to write from participating in the Salzburg Global Seminar titled “The Greatest Untapped Resource in Healthcare? Informing and Involving Patients in Decisions about Their Medical Care.” One of our purposes on this site is to help people develop e-patient skills, so they can be more effectively engaged in their care. One aspect is shared decision making, which we wrote about in September. A related topic, from August, is understanding the challenges of pathology and diagnosis. Both posts teach about being better informed partners for our healthcare professionals. I’ve recently learned of an another topic, which I’m sure many of you know: Practice variation. This is a big subject, and I’ll have several posts about it. It’s complex, ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302124 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:00:02 +0100 4302124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300533&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FhNpyp0HxEUo%2F A judge ruled yesterday that only the federal government has the legal authority to regulate cigarettes in this way (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300533 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:43:31 +0100 4300533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4298622&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbecoming-a-savvy-healthcare-consumer-a-difficult-science%2F2010.12.29 Dr. Kent Bottles is in the midst of a very thoughtful multi-part blog post under the heading, “The Difficult Science Behind Becoming a Savvy Healthcare Consumer.” Part I examined “the limitations of science in helping us make wise choices and decisions about our health.” Part II explores “how we all have to change if we are to live wisely in a time of rapid transformation of the American healthcare system that everyone agrees needs to decrease per-capita cost and increase quality.” Both parts so far have addressed important issues about news media coverage of healthcare. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4298622 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:00:30 +0100 4298622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4298623&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgood-health-information-can-save-lives%2F2010.12.29 My colleagues at Harvard Health Publications and I have a mission: To provide accurate, reliable information that will help readers live healthier lives. We work hard to fulfill that mission, and the feedback we get from folks who read our newsletters, Special Health Reports, books, and online health information indicates we are on the right track. Every so often we hear something from a reader that makes me especially proud of the work we do. This letter was recently sent to the editor of the Harvard Women’s Health Watch: One of your mailings undoubtedly saved me a lot of grief. (My kids, anyway.) I was aware of a woman’s heart attack symptoms being different from a man’s, and your brochure contained a paragraph confirming that. Early in June I was packing for a trip to celebrate my... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4298623 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:00:36 +0100 4298623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4298613&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FVULPWtaBtTE%2F Also: looking into radiosurgery equipment; Pepsi's new snack; salmonella hits sprouts, cilantro and parsley. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4298613 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:51:22 +0100 4298613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294606&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FVH514jlTkCw%2F The Kaiser Family Foundation counts 21 provisions taking effect next year. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294606 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:03:22 +0100 4294606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4287410&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FtEPigHaEmy0%2F By Casey Quinlan. I have this dream. It’s about how, when I make an appointment to see my doctor – my primary care physician – the process is easy, honors my time as much as it does my doctor’s, and winds up running smoothly for both parties. The dream starts this way: I realize it’s time for my annual physical, or any other usual-suspects periodic visit to my PCP. I open up my browser, point it to my doctor’s website, and log in to the secure patient portal. The one where I can see all my prescriptions, my personal health record, make an appointment (using the handy calendar function), request a prescription refill, ask the nurse or doctor a question via email, or download a PDF of my health record. In my dream, using the handy scheduling function in the portal, I select a dat... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4287410 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:26:57 +0100 4287410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285199&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fhealthmash_iphone_app_screen_shot2.png HealthMash, WebLib’s next-generation semantic health search engine, will release an iPhone application in January. It utilizes proprietary natural language processing and semantic technology tools and resources in order to find highly relevant, reliable, and recent health information from the most trusted sources and facilitate user exploration and discovery. *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285199 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 20:00:26 +0100 4285199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285202&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchinese-bloodletting-forbidden-in-california%2F2010.12.23 In November 2010, the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) finally decided to act responsibly and forbid the prevalent practice of Chinese bloodletting by licensed acupuncturists. The practice became a concern for the DCA when allegations of unsanitary bloodletting at a California (CA) acupuncture school surfaced. The incident allegedly occurred during a “doctoral” course for licensed practitioners. The instructor was reportedly demonstrating advanced needling and bloodletting techniques. During the process, he took an arrow-like lancing instrument that is called a “three-edged needle” (三棱针), sharpened it with sandpaper, cleaned it with alcohol, and then asked a student-volunteer to roll a towel around his neck. The instructor then cleaned the student’s temporal ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285202 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:00:17 +0100 4285202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277807&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FPa6VCRHzPYQ%2F Puzzles can sharpen the ability to do certain things -- to concentrate, pay attention, improve your working memory. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277807 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:03:32 +0100 4277807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277809&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FVLZG-PE096o%2F A number of health books for lay readers published in 2010 offer practical advice for patients, as well as some page-turning narratives, according to today’s Informed Patient column. But for those inside the business of health care, two titles offered thought-provoking ideas on how to fix a flawed system. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277809 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:14:02 +0100 4277809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275307&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F5S5sLq2EA2U%2F For patients with varicose veins, a number of new less invasive treatments are replacing a difficult surgical procedure known as stripping that was often the only solution in the past, according to Health Matters. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275307 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:29:25 +0100 4275307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265669&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FqaJ7OML1bP0%2F A J&J spokesman says the company will "quickly provide a detailed response to the FDA and work to address these most recent observations." (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265669 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:57:34 +0100 4265669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265672&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FKFISs6wWy_0%2F Also: health-care law is subject of Florida court arguments; more private-equity investors eye health care; the secrets of staph. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265672 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:19:05 +0100 4265672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4259032&cid=t_149025_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FXzPIfCIS5Y8%2F Yesterday I had the chance to chat with Yaakov Stern, leading Cognitive Reserve researcher at Columbia University, and then with a group of 25 lifelong learners in Arizona who attended a brain fitness class (hello, Robert and friends!) based on our consumer guide The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness. On reflection, I found both conversations to be very stimulating for the same reason: they were forward-looking, focused not so much on status quo but on how emerging research, technology and trends may impact our society and lives in years to come. Let’s continue the conversation. Let me share the 10 main trends that we analyzed/ forecasted in our book, and then ask you, sharp readers, to add your own 2 cents to the discussion. 1. We predict an increased emphasis on brain maintenance in ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4259032 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:51:03 +0100 4259032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258833&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FKte39KRlNyE%2F A soda tax might not be effective at all if it prompts people to purchase more calorie-dense foods instead. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258833 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:09:46 +0100 4258833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258870&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-marketing-more-money-wasted%2F2010.12.13 There was a series of ads on the radio awhile back that went something like this: When Mrs. Willis had a stroke, her husband never slept alone. Her daughter never had to go dress shopping for the prom by herself. And her son didn’t have to sit out the Mother-Son dance at his wedding. Why? Because she came to Hospital A…and she didn’t die! There’s another ad for one of the big downtown hospital’s cancer center (sorry, “advanced cancer center”): Every cancer, every stage. Your life depends on it! Let’s see: No one ever dies at Hospital A. And the big downtown cancer center can cure any cancer. That’s certainly what those ads would have you believe. Even the little local suburban hospitals have taken to advertising: Billboards around the neighborhoods, kiosks at the outlet m... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258870 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:00:15 +0100 4258870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4253115&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJUZ16IwmECU%2F By David BoazJournalists talk endlessly these days about the need for more consumer spending to revive the economy, and for government programs to juice consumer spending. Economist Steven Horwitz takes on the assumption that spending is the key to economic activity: One of the most pernicious and widespread economic fallacies is the belief that consumption is the key to a healthy economy.  We hear this idea all the time in the popular press and casual conversation, particularly during economic downturns.  People say things like, “Well, if folks would just start buying things again, the economy would pick up” or “If we could only get more money in the hands of consumers, we’d get out of this recession.”  This belief in the power of consumption is also what has guided much of e... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4253115 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:02:34 +0100 4253115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245278&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FH8sAYA4cfPQ%2F The recall covers 96 product lots and more than 13 million packages, a company spokesman tells the Health Blog. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245278 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 21:52:27 +0100 4245278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245288&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0CMv_mxQ5SM%2F By Mark A. CalabriaMuch of what drives the policy choices of Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve is a belief in the ability to trade higher inflation for lower unemployment, known within the economics profession as the “Phillips curve.”   But does this trade-off actually exist?  While its true that many have found a negative correlation between inflation and unemployment prior to 1960, looking at U.S. data, this relationship appears to have broken down in the mid-1960s, just about the time policy-makers thought they could exploit it (Lucas critique anyone?). It is hard, looking at the graph, which displays the annual change in consumer prices over the previous year and unemployment, to see much of a relationship.  In fact, since 1960, the correlation between changes in CP... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245288 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:38:09 +0100 4245288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245602&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FTPdP0IO_UZo%2F For those struggling to keep track of all the Johnson & Johnson recalls and misdeeds over the past year, the FDA web site is a treasure trove of information. The agency offers a handy-dandy tally of all of the millions of bottles of over-the-counter medications recalled this year as well as a dirty laundry list of manufacturing problems at its McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit. To wit, there are nine - count ‘em, nine - separate listings for extensive recalls this year of such venerable products as Tylenol, Mylanta, Motrin, Rolaids and Benadryl, which means the tally is incomplete (see this). How so? The ‘phantom recalls’ that were disclosed by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform took place last year (see here and here) Elsewhere, the FDA lists no fe... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245602 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:58:15 +0100 4245602 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233152&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FxaCSGpHzM7Y%2F A panel sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has guidelines for food allergies, but questions remain. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233152 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:16:32 +0100 4233152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219717&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FSjOO3L0nsXc%2F Now we have a running list. Did we miss any? (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219717 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 23:34:10 +0100 4219717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219720&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F3HFsaQ79P40%2F The industry group for OTC drugs said its goal is that medications will follow the guidelines by the end of 2011. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219720 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:17:09 +0100 4219720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220454&cid=t_149025_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fxqi0xobah4I%2F The possibility that the FDA may take more severe action against Johnson & Johnson may be more likely. After all, the agency last month issued a 483 enforcement report, which detailed all sorts of problems at the healthcare giant’s Las Piedras facility in Puerto Rico, mostly to do with quality control and following written procedures (take a look). Yet some violations cited were also found in a previous 483 report stemming from FDA inspections at the same facility last January and February. Being a repeat offender, especially after being warned not to do so amid multiple and serious manufacturing issues at this plant and another in Fort Washington, Pa., does not bode well for Johnson & Johnson. Consequently, “we see increased risk of a consent decree or seizure, eithe... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220454 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:44:46 +0100 4220454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214100&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FTJG61_5n1nI%2F In this study, Botox for migraines was only tested in patients with 15 or more days of headaches per month. There was no difference in the number of headaches, but treated patients had 1.4 fewer headache days per month. For effectiveness, each quarterly treatment session requires 31 injections of Botox, and the annual cost is about $4000 per year. Individuals with chronic migraines may get some relief with Botox but it is certainly not a silver bullet or a “cure for migraines.” While Botox can be used off-label for those with less frequent migraines, it has not been studied and it is unlikely to be covered by insurance. Oh, by the way….the new migraine indication for Botox is estimated to add $1 billion to Allergan’s top line within five years. Headline: “New ‘Vacci... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214100 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:24:03 +0100 4214100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214066&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fxe58zBaA0J0%2F The group set the upper limit of safe consumption for vitamin D at about 4,000 IUs, saying that "the risk for harm begins to increase" after that. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214066 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:19:54 +0100 4214066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214070&cid=t_149025_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FuOsVBGVSJZc%2F Probiotics might shorten the length of time by which otherwise healthy babies and kids are laid up with a stomach bug, the AAP says. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214070 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:40:03 +0100 4214070