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 'fisher'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:59:56 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050582&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-are-humans-so-drawn-to-sunlight-despite-its-negative-consequences%2F2011.07.20 It doesn’t make sense: If sunlight causes cancer, why are human beings so drawn to it, flocking to sunny beaches for vacation time and hoping for sunshine after a rainy spell? One answer, says David Fisher, chief of dermatology at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, may be that humans are literally addicted to sunshine so our skin can make vitamin D. New evidence suggests that we get the same kick out of being in the sun that we get from any addictive substance or behavior. It stimulates the so-called “pleasure center” in the brain and releases a rush of feel-good chemicals like endorphins. So there may be more than a desire to look good in a tan behind the urge to soak up the sun’s rays. This craving may be a survival mechanism that evolved over thousands ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050582 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:00:34 +0100 5050582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592398&cid=t_102841_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=4565905&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Findependent-peer-reviewed-scientific-journals-just-how-independent-are-they%2F2011.03.09 On September 27, 2010, the peer-reviewed scientific journal Europace published online-before-print a case report entitled “Spontaneous explosion of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator” by Martin Hudec and Gabriela Kaliska. In the pdf of that case report a figure containing a color photo of the affected patient’s chest, chest X-ray, and two pictures of the extracted device (one seen here) were included. The pictures and case presentation were dramatic and the case very rare. Both were perfect reasons to report such an important case to the medical literature. And so these doctors sent the case to Europace on June 29, 2010, and the article was accepted after revision on August 16, 2010, with the article appearing online September 27, 2010. The authors must have felt v... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4565905 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4565905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549778&cid=t_102841_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F04%2F15-quotes-that-motivate-and-inspire%2F I recently joined “The Psychology Network” on LinkedIn and have been enjoying the discussion among mental health professionals (since I’m not really one, but pretend to be all the time). Especially intriguing was the discussion thread called “What are some of your favorite quotes that have motivated and inspired you?” They are quotes that they share with patients or with each other, or that they just think are cool and sound good. Here are just 15 from the 70 or so responses: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” –Hilary Cooper “If you can keep your wits about you while others are losing theirs and blaming you, the world will be yours.” –Rudyard Kipling “Give a man a fish and you fe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549778 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:35:15 +0100 4549778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532212&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhen-headlines-bash-doctors%2F2011.02.28 While I know it grabs the eye, it really didn’t matter what the article was about. The headline says it all: Doctors are the problem, not the system, right? -WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532212 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4532212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489675&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Foutpatient-cardiology-services-and-an-out-for-hospitals%2F2011.02.16 It’s no surprise that hospitals are acquiring cardiology and primary care groups groups in droves lately. It seems there’s a signficant financial incentive to do so for now, but doctors (and especially cardiologists) should read the tea leaves ahead. From Becker’s Hospital Review: While hospitals are limited to paying fair market value for practices, they can gain an edge over competing hospitals by offering longer employment contract terms or better electronic medical record systems and management services. If hospitals move forward with a transaction, Ms. Kaplan suggests they limit employment contracts to no more than two years if possible and rebase compensation annually based on productivity. “In healthcare you shouldn’t assume anything is permanent,&#8221... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489675 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4489675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464494&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcardiologists-as-heart-whisperers%2F2011.02.11 From the Dallas Morning News, a creative moniker if there ever was one, but it should probably be reserved for primary care specialists instead: DALLAS — Heart attacks are the No. 1 cause of death and a major cause of disability in America. For nearly half of the casualties, the first symptom is the last. That’s how cardiovascular disease has earned the nickname “silent killer” — you never know when it will strike. Doctors are trying to change that by treating heart disease as a progressive problem. They are becoming “heart whisperers,” seeking new tests to read the small stresses that can, unchecked, grow into big ones. “By the time someone rolls in with a heart attack, his family will look at me bewildered, and the patient may say, ‘Doc, wha... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464494 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4464494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4441972&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fis-february-heart-marketing-month%2F2011.02.06 Heart disease and February: What relationship could be more cozy? From the scary risks of shoveling snow (yep, you could die, so be sure to lift a little at a time), Mercedes-sponsored red dress parades and government-sponsored National Wear Red Day®, to tips for identifying heart attacks in women (men, you need a different month I guess), February has all the important stories to improve your awareness. Such a polite term “awareness.” But I wonder, now that the Internet is upon us and people are seeing their insurance rates and co-pays skyrocket, if maybe we’re shooting ourselves in the foot with all this heart-month marketing hype. People are sick and tired of testing “just to be sure.” It’s starting to directly cost them a fortune, and people are fr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4441972 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 22:00:00 +0100 4441972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424236&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-eroding-doctor-label%2F2011.02.01 It came as a Twitter “follow” from @coldfeet65, a self-proclaimed “Nurse Practitioner Hospitalist.” I had never heard this term before. Does it mean a nurse practitioner who cares for hospitalists? Or is it a hospitalist who is a nurse practitioner? Or maybe it’s a nurse practitioner who helps hospitalists? (Honestly, I think I know which one she means, but you get my point.) Perhaps this is a prescient glimpse to healthcare of the future, where our more typical nurse and doctor labels are supplanted by more and more monikers that serve to confuse, rather than clarify, each of our roles in healthcare delivery. As specialists in cardiology, we’ve seen a similar trend with cardiology hospitalists. But we should be clear what this means to the patients and ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424236 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4424236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4414523&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhen-a-surgeons-note-has-to-begin-with-i-certify%2F2011.01.28 You know it’s bad when the attending surgeon has to write this at the beginning of his operative note: “I certify that the services for which payment is claimed were medically necessary and that no qualified resident was available to perform the services.” So there you have it. -WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4414523 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4414523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411526&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhen-a-surgeons-note-has-to-begin-with-i-certify%2F2011.01.28 You know it’s bad when the attending surgeon has to write this at the beginning of his operative note: “I certify that the services for which payment is claimed were medically necessary and that no qualified resident was available to perform the services.” So there you have it. -WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411526 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4411526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4352711&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealthcare-cybersecurity-an-internet-id-for-all-americans%2F2011.01.15 From CBS News: President Obama is planning to hand the U.S. Commerce Department authority over a forthcoming cybersecurity effort to create an Internet ID for Americans, a White House official said here today. It’s “the absolute perfect spot in the U.S. government” to centralize efforts toward creating an “identity ecosystem” for the Internet, White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt said. That news, first reported by CNET, effectively pushes the department to the forefront of the issue, beating out other potential candidates including the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. The move also is likely to please privacy and civil liberties groups that have raised concerns in the past over the dual roles of police and intel... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4352711 Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4352711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4324794&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-a-bra-interact-with-a-pacemaker-or-defibrillator%2F2011.01.08 This comment [with a specific photo] was posted on my blog earlier: “I was reading one of your old posts about magnets and I was wondering if a magnetic front closure on a bra would be a problem? There’s a warning on the label but I know part of that is just due to liability. What about this bra that has a magnet clasp on the front? If the magnet hits right in between the breasts would it be close enough to the device that it could interfere? Also does having a magnet that close change the settings or turn off a defibrillator/pacemaker early? I’m sure most doctors would say just wear another bra but this bra in particular is very comfy! I’ve tried it on but not worn it for extended periods of time. Luckily this is one of the only major complaints I’ve had abo... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4324794 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4324794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272289&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-musical-chairs-of-medical-speciality%2F2010.12.19 The consolidation of physician specialty practices into larger corporate healthcare systems in urban areas is creating a new challenge for today’s doctors when the music stops: There might not be a chair available. There are simply many fewer hospital systems in large urban areas than there are specialy practices, so the number of specialist positions a large healthcare system is willing to absorb might be limited. As doctors and hospital systems coalesce into as-yet-to-be-clearly-defined “accountable care organizations,” the cost of too many specialists in an organization is being carefully weighed. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272289 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 20:00:00 +0100 4272289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265740&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdefibrillators-on-the-top-10-health-technology-hazards-list%2F2010.12.16 In a desperate attempt to reach an even number it seems, hospital defibrillators were added to ECRI.org’s “Top 10 Health Technology Hazards” list of devices that threaten to kill or maim patients: The Top 10 Health Technology Hazards list is updated each year based upon the prevalence and severity of incidents reported to ECRI Institute by healthcare facilities nationwide; information found in the Institute’s medical device problem reporting databases; and the judgment, analysis, and expertise of the organization’s multidisciplinary staff. Many of the items on this year’s list are well-recognized hazards with numerous reported incidents over the years. If one honestly looks at the number of lives saved versus the number of deaths from defibrillators, I wonder how m... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265740 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4265740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258869&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-illusion-of-healthcare-reform%2F2010.12.13 The greatest minds are assembled to discern the answer in healthcare reform. Powerful interest groups are aligned to design solutions to protect their turf. Rubrics, formulas, slogans and taglines get designed, spun, pitched and thrown out. The burden of finding alignment, an answer, a plan that suits everyone seems insurmountable — unless we don’t. The idea of a fit for all is an illusion. Justice and equity are seen differently. We imagine some public consensus at our own peril. But honesty has been in short supply. To paraphrase Oprah: What do we know for sure? Some people want a relationship with a trusted doctor who knows them well. They want to pick the doctor, the neighborhood and the hospital they attend. Others want immediate access and have little trust or interest in a p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258869 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:00:00 +0100 4258869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4241724&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsocial-media-for-doctors-the-pros-and-cons%2F2010.12.08 The pros and cons of social media for physicians are nicely reviewed by a number of prominent medbloggers (including yours truly) by Bonnie Ellerin in her recent white paper (pdf). An excerpt: There is a profound change sweeping the world of medicine. Technology is the driver, but it has nothing to do with a new drug, device or procedure. Rather it is about the change in physician behavior and mindset that technology — the Internet more specifically — has unleashed. Today, physicians of all ages and specialties are online, whether via laptop, desktop, or mobile. With physicians’ acceptance of technology has come a new type of openness among a small but growing number. In the past, the only doctors who were likely to air views publicly were medical journalists. But, today, there are p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4241724 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:00:00 +0100 4241724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225254&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoctors-right-to-freedom-of-speech%2F2010.12.02 Imagine having a medical device that is being tested in multiple centers, but one doctor thinks the device has problems. He says so at a national conference despite glowing reviews by others. Should the company sue the doctor for liable and remove him from their investigative panel? Today, it seems that might not be such a good idea. This is, in fact, what NMT Medical did regarding comments made by Peter Wilmshurst, M.D. regarding NMT’s patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure device called Starflex: NMT sued Dr. Wilmshurst for libel after he criticized its research at a US cardiology conference in 2007. The doctor vowed to take the case to trial in order to defend scientists’ rights to free academic debate. The company threatened Dr. Wilmshurst with libel a second time for subsequen... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225254 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4225254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214112&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwikileaks-what-it-means-for-healthcare-privacy%2F2010.11.29 From the official White House statement yesterday regarding WikiLeaks disclosure of diplomatic cables: “By releasing stolen and classified documents, WikiLeaks has put at risk not only the cause of human rights, but also the lives and work of the individuals. We condemn in strongest terms, the unauthorized disclosure of classified documents and sensitive national security information.” No matter what people think of WikiLeaks disclosure of approximately 250,000 classified diplomatic cables to the Internet yesterday with the help of the New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and Le Monde, the implications to electronic healthcare information security are significant. Day in and day out, I type huge volumes of information on my patients on a computer and my fellow physicians ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214112 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4214112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4200560&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthanksgiving-a-heart-attack-for-dessert%2F2010.11.25 It seems the Washington Post, cloaked under an anonymous author, wants to use scare tactics to keep most of us from enjoying Thanksgiving with their ominously titled article, “And for dessert, a heart attack?” They spew all kinds of garbage with very little data about how eating a high-fat diet might give you a heart attack. If you want to know more, consider this article* from some pretty smart folks at Harvard. Then eat, drink, and be merry without guilt (courtesy of Dr. Wes). Happy Thanksgiving! - WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. *REFERENCE: Renata, M. and Mozaffarian, D. “Saturated Fat and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes: a Fresh Look at the Evidence.” Lipids, 31 Mar 2010. [Photo credit: La... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4200560 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:00:00 +0100 4200560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190157&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsudden-cardiac-arrest-how-fast-does-it-cause-unconsciousness%2F2010.11.21 How fast does sudden cardiac arrest cause unconsciousness? In just seconds. Here’s a video of Salamanca soccer player Miguel Garcia’s episode. At the start of the video, Mr. Garcia can be seen in the background of the image kneeling behind the players in the foreground. Watch carefully as he stands after tying his shoes. Although it is difficult to see, it appears an automatic external defibrillator arrives in about two minutes, though given the fact his shirt is still on as he’s taken from the field, we note the device is on his gurney as he’s hurried to a nearby ambulance. Reportedly, he survived this sudden cardiac arrest event: This was NOT a heart attack, but rather a loss of cardiac function caused by a rapid, often disorganized heart rhythm disorder. Compar... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190157 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4190157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179330&cid=t_102841_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3710 As I walked back from lunch today, I passed an exhibit that advertised the UCL Haiti Development Project. It was good to see that somebody still cares. Now the dire problems of Haitians have got worse, At least 500 people have been killed by cholera. In stark contrast, I also had today another email form Kate Birch. She used to be vice-president of the North American Society of Homeopaths (NASH), though she now appears to be only a “registered teacher”. I wrote twice about Kate Birch in 2007 In August, Homeopathic “cures” for malaria: a wicked scam  and in October, A visit from Kate Birch. When I googled "Kate Birch" homeopathy I was surprised to see that these two posts came in 2nd and 1st position respectively. Since then, she has emailed me from time to t... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179330 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:27:25 +0100 4179330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179521&cid=t_102841_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FkeyFm8US98k%2F Now that some drugmakers are starting to disclose just how much they pay doctors for speaking engagements, a new wrinkle is emerging - some of these docs have rather questionable qualifications. Such as? Some were sanctions for prescribing unjustified or excessive meds; having inappropriate sexual relations with patients and making serious medical errors. And the disclosures are making some drugmakers uncomfortable. Consequently, at least three pharma companies - Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca and Pfizer - now say they will take steps to monitor docs who are retained as speakers, according to ProPublica, which recently compiled several databases of info based on web site postings by drugmakers, and followed up by searching for docs who have transgressed. This is no small matter, by the way. ProPub... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179521 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:37:56 +0100 4179521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164521&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-cigarette-labels-from-the-fda%2F2010.11.14 The FDA will soon require new cigarette package labeling to deter smoking. So in politically-correct governmental fashion, they are asking which labels you’d like to see. (You can pick your favorites here.) My personal favorite (so far) is the one shown to the left, but its impact factor pales in comparison to this example found in England. (That, my friends, is cancer!) Ironically, it appears the FDA isn’t too sure how forceful it should be in these warnings about the dangers of smoking. They offer a cornucopia of milquetoast labeling options, many of which contain cartoons. Might such unrealistic portrayals defy they hard-hitting message they want to project? Worse, at least one cartoon (seen here) even seems to promote cigarettes AND drug use together! In an even more astoni... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164521 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100 4164521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133707&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-e-prescriptions-are-just-like-twitter%2F2010.11.04 I’m surprised I didn’t notice this sooner, but e-prescriptions will only accept 140 characters in their instructions, just like Twitter. If you have longer instructions, you must print the prescription and hand it to the patient for it to be manually filled at their pharmacy. Then again, maybe doctors will start to use some twitter-like abbreviations in their instruction fields, like: “Chk ur BP b4 taking b/c itz K 2 hold if nl. TIA.” Dude. That’d b fab. -WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133707 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:00:00 +0100 4133707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118955&cid=t_102841_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3632 Jump to follow-up The Prince of Wales’ Foundation for Integrated Health shut down amidst scandal in April 2010. In July, we heard that a new “College of Medicine” was to arise from its ashes. It seemed clear from the people involved that the name “College of Medicine” would be deceptive. Now the College of Medicine has materialised, and it is clear that one’s worst fears were well justified. At first sight, it looks entirely plausible and well-meaning. Below the logo one reads “There is a new force in medicine. A force that brings patients, doctors, nurses and other health professionals together, instead of separating them into tribes.” "That force is the new College of Medicine. Uniquely, it brings doctors and other health professiona... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118955 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:41:37 +0100 4118955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105669&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-new-healthcare-law-so-sad-its-funny%2F2010.10.25 Thanks to Scott Hensley over at Shots, NPR’s Health Blog, for highlighting this sad but funny video on where we’re going with healthcare. Scary what happens when theory meets reality: -WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105669 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0100 4105669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4097941&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealthcares-facebook%2F2010.10.22 [Recently] the Wall Street Journal‘s front page story exposed a significant privacy breech of online personal information via the world’s most popular social networking site, Facebook: Many of the most popular applications, or “apps,” on the social-networking site Facebook Inc. have been transmitting identifying information—in effect, providing access to people’s names and, in some cases, their friends’ names—to dozens of advertising and Internet tracking companies, a Wall Street Journal investigation has found. The issue affects tens of millions of Facebook app users, including people who set their profiles to Facebook’s strictest privacy settings. The practice breaks Facebook’s rules, and renews questions about its ability to keep ident... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4097941 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:00:00 +0100 4097941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082093&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Facos-the-gathering-storm%2F2010.10.18 Those of you who’ve read this blog for any length of time know that I have been a pretty strong advocate for healthcare reform. This has been primarily motivated by my passion for universal coverage, but also with my frustration with the cost of the current healthcare system, the generally crummy outcomes, and the overall level of fragmentation in the whole affair. Even today, I had to repeat blood tests on a cancer patient who came to the ER. He had had blood tests at the cancer center ACROSS THE STREET before presenting, but, so sorry, our computers don’t talk to theirs and it’s after 5pm now, so forget about getting those results.  So it’s with a mixture of enthusiasm and dread that I consider the coming onslaught of accountable care organizations (ACOs). What ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082093 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4082093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074062&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fun-insurance-reform%2F2010.10.15 Who doesn’t need insurance reform? Why, the insurers like Aetna, Cigna, and BCS Insurance, that’s who! From Emergency Physicians Monthly: By threatening to raise health care premiums by 200 percent or threatening to drop coverage altogether, the companies got the Department of Health and Human Services to cave. Now the companies have our government’s blessing to continue offering “insurance” to their employees that is capped at a few thousand dollars per year instead of the $750,000 required in the health care law. Perhaps GruntDoc said it best: “I am not an Obamacare fan, and would like it repealed, with smaller, more focused Bipartisan fixes, but if the government is going to pass something then roll over this easily to special interests… it’s already worse th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074062 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4074062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045095&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsex-and-your-defibrillator%2F2010.10.08 Have a defibrillator and feel like getting frisky? For the first time that I can recall, there’s a very helpful article published in Circulation addresses the concerns of implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) patients and sexual activity. There’s all kinds of helpful tidbits, like this one: A study of 1,774 patients who had experienced an acute myocardial infarction showed that sexual activity was a likely contributor in fewer than 1 percent of cases. In fact, regular physical exertion, such as that associated with sexual activity, was associated with a decreased risk of cardiac events in patients. Now that’s helpful! Recall that defibrillators are designed to detect rapid, potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Most of the time, sexual activity does not lead to hea... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045095 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 +0100 4045095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4027160&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-struggle-to-retain-physicians%2F2010.10.03 Some states are finding it tough to retain physicians. Take Virginia for instance: A recent study found Virginia retains only 35 percent of its medical school graduates and ranks 31st among other states in retaining doctors. In 2008, Virginia spent more than $50 million from the general fund to support medical education and had nearly 600 new physicians graduate from Virginia’s four medical schools. Despite this, Virginia still struggles to retain medical graduates, with less than 25 percent of Virginia’s physicians graduating from medical schools in the Commonwealth. Some feel incentives might work: Dr. Greenawald says other states including North Carolina have incentives to keep medical students in state. He hopes Virginia considers following suit. Dr. Greenawald also said t... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4027160 Sun, 03 Oct 2010 14:00:00 +0100 4027160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4002883&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpre-heart-attack-screening%2F2010.09.26 Imagine: There you are sitting outside on a warm, sunny day having a leisurely picnic with your family. You hear an ambulance in the distance getting closer. You’re not on call. Suddenly, the paramedics hop from the vehicle’s cabin and pronounce: “Excuse me sir, your heart’s not getting enough oxygen and you might develop a heart attack. Please, come with us.” Sound far fetched? Well, maybe not. A new device is being tested that might detect “silent” ischemia and notify a patient (or even call 911) that he or she is showing signs of heart ischemia on the wire installed in his or her chest. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4002883 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:00:00 +0100 4002883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993906&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Flarge-healthcare-systems-are-they-gouging-patients%2F2010.09.22 With patients having to pay more of what’s charged for their healthcare, comparisons between medical systems like this one in Pennsylvania make us wonder if bigger necessarily means better. From the Times-Tribune: The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council study looked at four regional hospitals that offer cardiac surgery: Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Plains Twp.; Community Medical Center and Mercy Hospital, Scranton; and Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg. Among the four, Geisinger Wyoming Valley carries the biggest price tag. In 2008, the average hospital charge for a coronary artery bypass graft surgery was $108,029 and the average hospital charge for valve surgery was $132,740, according to information in the report. (more…) *This blog post was original... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993906 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3993906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942797&cid=t_102841_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3423 Conclusion At the moment, it appears that the renaming of the RLHH is empty re-branding. No doubt UCLH Trust see homeopathy as something that brings shame on a modern medical service. But to remove the name while retaining the nonsense is simply dishonest. Let’s hope that the name change will be followed by real changes in the sort of medicine practised, Changes to real medicine, one hopes. Other blogs on this topic Gimpyblog was first, with Farewell to the RLHH, hello to the RLHIM Quackometer posted An Obituary: Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, 1849-2010 Follow-up (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942797 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:01:34 +0100 3942797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907582&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcOzoiIF6P2M%2F By Michael F. CannonCome September, National Journal will host a policy summit titled “Prescription For Growth,” funded by Eli Lilly, that will probe “the potential impact of recently passed health care reform as an economic engine” and ask whether “health care reform [will] serve as a jobs creator and accelerate growth in health-related industries?” Oy, where to begin? I suppose I could start with how a news organization that bills itself as “the leading source of nonpartisan reporting” could lend ObamaCare a positive gloss by calling it “reform” — a term that even NPR declines to ascribe to actual legislation (for that reason). Next, there’s this inane question of whether ObamaCare will spur job growth in the health ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907582 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:29:02 +0100 3907582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854519&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fe-visits-with-patients-for-greedy-doctors-or-not%2F2010.08.10 Dr. Wes (a cardiology blogger whom all should read) wrote a very compelling post about technology and the bondage it can create for doctors: The devaluation of doctors’ time continues unabated. As we move into our new era of health care delivery with millions more needing physician time (and other health care provider’s time, for that matter) –- we’re seeing a powerful force emerge –- a subtle marketing of limitless physician availability facilitated by the advance of the electronic medical record, social media, and smartphones. Doctors, you see, must be always present, always available, always giving. These sound like dire words, but the degree to which it has resonated around the Web among doctors is telling. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Mus... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854519 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:03 +0100 3854519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655588&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fshort-people-got-no-reason-to-worry-about-higher-heart-risk%2F2010.06.11 “Short people have higher heart risk” screams the headline on CNN.com, treating it as a statement of fact. “Shortness Boosts Heart Disease, Death Risk” is the headline in a HealthDay story seen on BusinessWeek.com. Wrong. Such a study as the one being described can only establish association — it CANNOT prove causation. So it’s wrong to say short people have higher risk. It is wrong to say shortness boosts risk. Blogger and cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Wes Fisher beat me to the punch by blogging about the continued journalistic confusion between association and causation. He wrote: “About the only thing that can be concluded from this so-called “analysis” is nothing more than maybe we should consider studying if this association actu... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655588 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:00:17 +0100 3655588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3546847&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-baby-to-practice-with%2F2010.05.09 Dr. Jon LaPook talks to author Lisa Grunwald and psychiatrist Bill Fisher about the history of childrearing as it relates to Grunwald’s new novel “The Irresistible Henry House.” Watch CBS News Videos Online Don’t Date This Guy!   The guy is Henry House, the title character of my friend Lisa Grunwald’s latest novel, “The Irresistible Henry House,” and in addition to the fact that he’s fictional, he’s not a good bet. Henry knows how to please women — how to talk to them, react to them, how and when to touch them.   The problem is that he is — or at any rate seems to be — utterly incapable of making a true connection with any of them.   Though pure fiction, Henry is based on pure fact: From the 1920s until the end of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3546847 Sun, 09 May 2010 11:40:12 +0100 3546847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3475990&cid=t_102841_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FCidgQA7t-QY%2F Rev. Julie Blake Fisher from Kent, Ohio gave Barbie this Episcopal Priest makeover, calling her Rev. Barbie, and even giving her a Facebook page. Reverend Barbie’s not for sale, but that’s not stopping Fisher from expanding her line. On her current projects, she tells Facebook that “Episcopal Priest Barbie: Cathedral Edition” is up next: “Barbie will be elected bishop. She will also be African-American. The Cathedral Dean will be Hispanic and the permanent Deacon will be Ken’s African-American friend (appropriately) Stephen. Barbie’s little sister Kelly will be an acolyte. I’ll post pictures on the Friends of Episcopal Priest Barbie FB page when they are all complete.” But WWJD about those heels? Photo: Wenn.com Post from: BlissTree Pho... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3475990 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:30:54 +0100 3475990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370417&cid=t_102841_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2855 Malaria in the news, yet again. Today I had a not-very-friendly letter from Kate Birch From: kate birch <katebhom@hotmail.com> To: david colquhoun <d.colquhoun@ucl.ac.uk> Subject: FW: Abha Light Products: Announcing NEW MalariX InfoSheet As I said we keep on working. while you and your kangaroo committee put on a good show. Try to take this one to the cleaners and more and more people will begin to see the fools that you really are. I hope western medicine saved you for your health crisis but that maybe when you depart you will see the how your bitterness twisted things and made you suffer so. You may recall the expose in which homeopaths in the UK were caught, in 2006, recommending their sugar pills for prevention of malaria, Lethal advice from homeopaths about... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370417 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:31:33 +0100 3370417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142833&cid=t_102841_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F09Znvrxgu9Q%2F The highly charged debate over vaccines took an unusual turn late last month when a widely quoted anti-vaccine crusader, Barbara Loe Fisher, filed a lawsuit against Wired magazine and one of its writers, along with Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, over a recent story. The November piece quotes, Offit, who is regularly villified by those questioning vaccines especially in connection with the debate over autism, as criticizing Fisher, who runs the National Vaccine Information Center, a self-described vaccine watchdog. Specifically, Offit says that Fisher “lies” (here is the lawsuit). In her suit, Fisher complains the article wrongfully portrays Offit, who is credited as one of the developers of Merck’s Rotateq vacc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142833 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:31:11 +0100 3142833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008115&cid=t_102841_106_f&fid=34805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAwfulPlasticSurgery%2F%7E3%2FaaXk1J2e_eM%2F Carrie Fisher looks like she... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit MyWebsite.com for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Awful Plastic Surgery) Awful Plastic Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008115 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:30:54 +0100 3008115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851750&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5mFvHNabPSs%2F In the last few days, we have witnessed an almost unprecedented chorus of warnings about inflation prospects by senior Fed officials. Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher said the Fed must be prepared to tighten monetary policy by raising short-term interest rates with “alacrity.” President Charles Plosser of Philadelphia had spoken of the need to raise interest rates before unemployment returns to normal in order “to prevent the Second Great Inflation.” The comments of the two Reserve Bank presidents reinforce those made by Fed Governor Kevin Warsh. Financial markets are confused because the Fed’s policy-making committee (the Federal Open Market Committee) had just indicated its intention to keep interest rates low for an extended period. The inflation warning... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851750 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:24:51 +0100 2851750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842505&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fp7rYR_cKqYs%2F Don Fisher, co-founder of the The Gap chain, passed away on Sunday. Not only was Fisher a partner in the construction of a vast retail empire that would make any entrepreneur proud, he was also a partner in funding the expansion of the KIPP chain of charter schools — something that would make any philanthropist proud. Thanks to the $60 million that he and his wife Doris committed to KIPP’s growth, it now serves 20,000 students in 82 schools across America. In k-12 education, public or private, that level of growth is unusual. But how can it be sustained? How can those who share Mr. Fisher’s commitment to bringing excellent educational options within reach of all children ensure that his efforts are not simply maintained but expanded? And how can we ensure that not just KI... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842505 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:12:57 +0100 2842505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688658&cid=t_102841_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2043 Conclusion This selection of slides shows that much of the stuff taught in degrees in herbal medicine poses a real danger to public safety and to public health. Pittilo’s idea that imposing this sort of miseducation will help safety is obviously and dangerously wrong. The Department of Health must reject the Pittilo recommendations on those grounds. Follow-up (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688658 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:24:29 +0100 2688658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561208&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Frk5rlbNLXNk%2F The European Union has helped create a continental European market and knock down protectionist barriers, which is good.  But it also has created another opportunity for meddling bureaucrats to interfere with people’s lives.  Now consumer protests have led to at least one victory for liberty.  Reports London’s Sun newspaper: Now the European Commission has finally scrapped the 20-year ban on 26 types of fruit and veg including asparagus, celery and aubergines. They ruled they can now be sold - as long as they are labelled as “intended for processing”. Sainbury’s spokeswoman Lucy Maclennan said: “We are delighted to have played a part in winning the wonky veg war against these bonkers EU regulations.” Tesco spokesman Adam Fisher said: “It&#... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561208 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:48:02 +0100 2561208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2386867&cid=t_102841_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2Flifestyle-nutritionists-2-31-mar-08.mp3 This post is not about quackery, nor university politics.  It is about inference,  How do we know what we should eat?  The question interests everyone, but what do we actually know?  Not as much as you might think from the number of column-inches devoted to the topic.  The discussion below is a synopsis of parts [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2386867 Sun, 03 May 2009 19:37:50 +0100 2386867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211758&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FV4Tn4XvAT1c%2F Will President Obama follow through on his campaign promises about executive power and oversee a more modest presidency that recognizes constitutional limitations? Or will the new administration end up expanding the powers of the presidential office? Please join us Wednesday, February 25th at 12:00 PM to discuss the prospects and possibilities for the presidency in the Obama era. The forum will feature Louis Fisher, Specialist on the Constitution, Law Library of Congress; and Jeffrey Rosen, Professor, The George Washington University School of Law. It will be moderated by Gene Healy, Vice President, Cato Institute. Reserve your seat for this free event today. Lunch will be served after the event. For those who cannot attend, the forum will be simulcast live online. (Source: Cato-at-liberty... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211758 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:42:13 +0100 2211758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933497&cid=t_102841_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D282 Jump to the homeopathy debate Obama wins! Bush and Blair have gone. Could this mark the beginning of the end of the fashion for believing things that aren’t true? Trinity College Dublin: the Phil. “Creationism is a valid world view” This is the 324th year of the Trinity College Philosophical Society (known locally as the ‘Phil’).  Its [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933497 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:25:29 +0100 1933497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1546988&cid=t_102841_150_f&fid=35779&url=http%3A%2F%2Fa4.g.akamai.net%2F7%2F4%2F33930%2Fv1%2Fsmb2.download.akamai.com%2F33930%2FPM%2FDW_D0013.mp3 A storm, complete with hail, thunder and generous amounts of lightning, appeared to follow me through Connecticut and Rhode Island as I drove to Boston on Wednesday for the DIA meeting.  Didn’t make it until almost 4 PM, only to have the storm break out in Boston at 6 PM in all its glory.  Although I’d missed the [...] (Source: On Pharma) On Pharma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1546988 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:30:28 +0100 1546988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543936&cid=t_102841_150_f&fid=35779&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmamanufacturing.com%2Fonpharma%2F%3Fp%3D2201 Microsoft’s Life Sciences Group has certainly grown, from 5 people when it was established seven years ago to 800 people today. The SharePoint platform, which allows users to customize solutions without having to play programmer is finding increased acceptance. Among new developments: At the DIA conference in Boston this week, TranSenda International LLC launched the beta [...] (Source: On Pharma) On Pharma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543936 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:29:27 +0100 1543936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454297&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=34816&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHonestMedicine%2F%7E3%2F293955769%2Ffour-lifesaving.html Those of you who are followers of HonestMedicine will remember about the terrible time my husband Tim had after his second brain tumor surgery (his first recurrence in 10 years) in 2001. You read about how: • Tim’s suture line wouldn’t heal for 8 months, continually bursting open • His wound became infected and leaked cranial fluid off and on for the entire 8 months • His neurosurgeons performed 8-9 additional surgeries (all of which failed),  in hopes of finally finding two pieces of skin that would hold together • In desperation, his neurosurgeons took chunks of skin from other parts of Tim’s body and grafted them onto his head, in hopes that the grafts would “take,” and that his skin would finally heal. (This, too, failed.) • Several times, his doctors put... HONEST MEDICINE: My Dream for the Future blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454297 Tue, 20 May 2008 14:37:52 +0100 1454297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1368763&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=34816&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHonestMedicine%2F%7E3%2F245909405%2Fmarch-2008-some.html This article is truly enlightening -- and frightening! ♣ Article #2 Written By Lee Einer: “The Truth About Self-Funded Plans.” The second in our series of articles written by Lee Einer, SiCKO’s "Hitman." In this article, Lee tells about a second kind of “insurance” that can be deceptive. 4) Honest Medicine’s Inspiration: Timothy Mark Fisher      March 13, 1949 – November 8, 2005My husband Tim Fisher was first diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in September, 1990. For fifteen years, until he died in November, 2005, we navigated our flawed medical system together. My tribute to him was written on the second anniversary of his death, and contains several wonderful true stories about Tim. He was, and continues to be, an inspiration. 5) Hon... HONEST MEDICINE: My Dream for the Future blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1368763 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:40:58 +0100 1368763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1282262&cid=t_102841_136_f&fid=35300&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metastaticlivercancer.org%2F2008-03-06-cancer-treatment%2Fdeath-of-actor-patrick-swayze%2F Patrick Swayze, 55, who starred in Ghost with Demi Moore and Dirty Dancing has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer as reported initially by the National Enquirer and New York Post. Now his doctor has confirmed this as well. Ghost Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore Patrick Swayze dirty dancing with Jennifer Grey Death sentence rumours We all have to die sooner or later, it’s just the way it is brought to you that makes a hell of a difference… According to Dr George Fisher, Patrick Swayze has “a very limited amount of the disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far”. George appeared to be responding to rumours that the actor was seriously ill and has only weeks to live. Patrick Swayze pancreatic cancer Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late... Metastatic liver cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1282262 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:39:20 +0100 1282262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1279404&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=34816&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHonestMedicine%2F%7E3%2F245909405%2Fmarch-2008-some.html This article is truly enlightening -- and frightening! ♣ Article #2 Written By Lee Einer: “The Truth About Self-Funded Plans.” The second in our series of articles written by Lee Einer, SiCKO’s "Hitman." In this article, Lee tells about a second kind of “insurance” that can be deceptive. 4) Honest Medicine’s Inspiration: Timothy Mark Fisher      March 13, 1949 – November 8, 2005My husband Tim Fisher was first diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in September, 1990. For fifteen years, until he died in November, 2005, we navigated our flawed medical system together. My tribute to him was written on the second anniversary of his death, and contains several wonderful true stories about Tim. He was, and continues to be, an inspiration. 5) Hon... HONEST MEDICINE: My Dream for the Future blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1279404 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:53:40 +0100 1279404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1243535&cid=t_102841_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F237803605%2F When Jim Foster gazes across Massachusetts, he sees a string of major companies supplying drugmakers with services and equipment. These include Millipore, Thermo-Fisher Scientific and Charles River Laboratories, where he’s the ceo. But in the next few years, Foster tells The Boston Globe, the number will shrink. In a bid to cut costs, big drugmakers are trying to deal with fewer vendors, putting pressure on suppliers to merge. A senior executive at one large drugmaker told Foster it planned to cut the number of vendors it uses from 250 to 50 by the end of 2007, and then to 10 within the next few years. “I think it’s inevitable the big drug companies are going to want to buy from a smaller number of players,” Foster tells the paper. If he is correct, it could be one ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1243535 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:05:36 +0100 1243535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1061245&cid=t_102841_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Ffisher-center-for-alzheimers-research.html The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, directed by Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard at The Rockefeller University, says "interact with the afflicted person within his or her own frame of reference for the world, even if it has little to do with reality." Different stages of Alzheimer's or Dementia require different approaches to interaction and communication.When I was working at a skilled nursing facility that specialized in Alzheimers and Dementia there were three main sections in the building for the residents. Each wing was for residents at a different stage. The style of communicating was according to the stage of their illness.(1) Early Stage. One wing had residents in the early stages of Alzheimer's or Dementia, who might be forgetful or confused sometimes, but stil... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1061245 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:14:00 +0100 1061245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1014907&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=34816&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHonestMedicine%2F%7E3%2F181875833%2Ftimothy-mark-fi.html Many visitors to this site know that it is dedicated to my husband Tim Fisher, who died exactly two years ago today, as a result of complications from a brain tumor, which was first diagnosed in 1990, when Tim was just 40. Had he lived, he would have been 59 this coming March. As I wrote in my article that was published by the National Brain Tumor Foundation, during the 15 years Tim lived as a brain tumor survivor, he was subjected to all varieties of treatments our medical system had to offer -- both good and terrible -- from his one lifesaving surgery to remove the original tumor in 1990, to a succession of subsequent, almost-20 surgeries to correct all sorts of complications that ensued. The complications included non-healing suture lines and hydrocephalus. In addition, he suffered mor... HONEST MEDICINE: My Dream for the Future blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1014907 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:58:47 +0100 1014907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=785906&cid=t_102841_135_f&fid=35263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fronhudson.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fblog-post.html Over the weekend, Roger and I visited my mom in Wilmington and took some time to stop by the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Here are some photos of the plants and animals that are on display.This is a Venus Flytrap, a carnivorous plant that only grows within a small radius of Wilmington, NC.Click on any image to enlarge it.Two examples of one of my worst nightmares: rattlesnakes. I can not recall if these were Eastern Diamondback or not, but I think they are.Tree frogs cling to the inside of their glass enclosure.Yes, we do have large alligators in eastern North Carolina.This cuttlefish is seen head-on as his colors oscillate.Pink coral.Blue Coral.A clownfish among the tentacles of an anemone.Jellyfish, gracefully potential pain.Translucent, the jellyfish displays the floral patte... 2sides2ron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=785906 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:36:00 +0100 785906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=601856&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F12%2Futah-jazzs-derek-fisher-fights-for-daughters-life%2F Filed under: Brain Cancer, Daily news, SportsThe Utah Jazz's Derek Fisher finds himself in a whole new ballgame lately as he helps his 10-month-old daughter, Tatum, fight for her life.Tatum was diagnosed last week with retinoblastoma, a cancerous tumor in her left eye. Fisher, who was excused from his team to begin dealing with his daughter's illness, flew his family -- his wife Candace, Tatum, and Tatum's twin brother Drew -- to New York on Monday to see a specialist.Fisher and his wife must decide on a course of treatment for their daughter. Their options are removal of the eye or a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Their most pressing goal is to save Tatum's life. They also want to save her eye. And they think in her case, she should be able to keep her eye.Tatum's condition was ... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=601856 Sat, 12 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 601856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=478805&cid=t_102841_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fhomeopathy-vaccination-misinformation.html Dr. Ben Goldacre of Bad Science recently participated in a public debate about homeopathy. The audience was heavily pro-homeopathy and their point of view was well-represented by Dr. Peter Fisher who is a rheumatologist and homeopath. Dr. Fisher is very much the respectable face of homeopathy in the UK.Listening to this long piece has been likened to having your brain put through a liquidiser. It is interesting for many of the incidentals rather than the quality of the debate; e.g., the rhetorical skills of Dr. Fisher and his use of techniques that resemble NLP and Eriksonian Hypnosis. Dr. Fisher's obfuscations concerning trial size and blood tests were disappointing, as was his reluctance to engage with the issue of water memory.I was particularly intrigued by Dr. Fisher's tap-dancing aro... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=478805 Mon, 08 Jan 2007 13:51:00 +0100 478805