The New York Times recently published an article titled, “The Hype Over Hospital Rankings”. It is that time of year when hospitals tout their US News and World report rankings and crank out their marketing programs. Perhaps this is even important with health care reform, decreasing reimbursement, and a push towards a more consumer driven market. Hospitals are jockeying for position. “Nearly every hospital has a banner out front saying they’re a ‘top hospital’ for something in some rating system,” said Dr. Nicholas Osborne, a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar at the University of Michigan. “Those ratings have become more important for hospital marketing than for actually helping patients find the best care.”” So, how do you find the best care? Especially in health care when there is information asymmetry? Here is an excerpt from my book – The Thrifty Patient – Vital Insider Tips For Saving Money and Staying […] Read More »
Tag Archive for book promotion
The Truth about Medical Tests. Do I really need an MRI? Do I really need blood work? Book Excerpt
Posted on July 22, 2013
Book Excerpt from The Thrifty Patient – Vital Insider Tips for Saving Money and Staying Healthy. The Truth about Tests. Do I really need an MRI? Do I really need blood work? This often? Should I avoid talking to my doctor and jump right to tests? Americans love technology, whether it’s carrying the latest iPhone or buying the newest flat-screen TV with 3D technology. Naturally, our fascination with technology has spilled over into medical care, where everyone, including doctors in training, seems focused on what the x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or blood work showed. Sadly, this trend is seriously misguided. More testing does not lead to better care. More testing does not lead to more accurate diagnoses. Research has shown that Americans receive too many tests and procedures compared to other countries. If anything, more testing seems to be associated with worsening health. The leading cause of radiation exposure is […] Read More »
The Thrifty Patient – Book Review / Testimonials
Posted on July 15, 2013
I’m humbled and privileged to review high praise and testimonials for my book –The Thrifty Patient: Vital Insider Tips for Saving Money and Staying Healthy from those working hard to make health care more accessible, higher quality, and more affordable. In an ideal world, our health care system would be incredibly simple to access, extremely convenient, and intensely personal. It would allow patients to focus on staying healthy and healing and getting the right preventive care and treatment the first time and every time. It would not have them worrying about medical errors, wrong site surgeries, unnecessary surgeries / procedures / treatments, their own (patient) safety among other things. We are not there yet. Nevertheless, those who have provided the testimonials are also making our future system that much better though their work, actions, and words. As we all build to fixing our health care system completely, books like The […] Read More »
Why This Family Doctor Blogs and Writes – The Thrifty Patient
Posted on March 24, 2013
As a doctor, I am compelled to write because of what I know is occurring with alarming frequency in our country. Americans are skipping needed and recommended care that could save their lives and allow them to live to their fullest. Patients are more distracted, as life is more complicated and busier than ever. Households have both parents working, sometimes two jobs, just to make ends meet. They easily would make the right choice if someone would be willing to explain things in a simple, understandable manner. They would prefer a health care system that was so incredibly simple to use, convenient, and personalized that it would anticipate their needs so they could get the right care and get back to living life. Instead, our health care system offers patients higher co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket medical expenses. It shifts the burden of making the right choices to people who frankly […] Read More »
Prescriptions Are Not Just For Sick People
Posted on November 8, 2012
Most people are not fans of medications. I don’t blame them. I’m not a big fan of medications either. Ask my wife. As a doctor, I know anti-inflammatories will help for my occasionally persistent neck pains, but I won’t take them. When I get ill, develop fever, muscle aches, and chills related to a viral illness, I don’t take medications such as Tylenol even though they can help my symptoms. Terrible, isn’t it? I’m just like you. Doctors really are the worst patients. Yet would you really refuse taking an antibiotic for pneumonia? Would you choose to walk away from options like chemotherapy for a life-threatening cancer? It is easier to convince someone to start medication when he feels sick. It can be more challenging to begin or maintain treatment when he feels perfectly well. He feels healthy. He has no symptoms—no crushing chest pain or suffocating shortness of breath. […] Read More »
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