In a previous post titled, “Is Making Primary Care More Professionally Satisfying as Simple as Lowering Panel Size” I observed that lowering panel size and implementation of an electronic medical record did not change how doctors worked. Those doctors who stayed late continued to stay late. Those who left earlier tended to continue to leave earlier. Within a health care organization often touted by many to be an example of how health care should be delivered in the country, this phenomenon existed. Why? Our doctors work in a very large multispecialty group practice. We use a common electronic medical record. Doctors in both primary care and specialty care can discuss cases, review information, and determine together with the patient the best course of action. Our primary care doctors have lower panel sizes than a decade earlier. This panel size is adjusted and normalized for patient age, medical problems, and other […] Read More »
Tag Archive for NY Times
Getting the Best Hospital Care – Beyond the Hype Over Hospital Rankings
Posted on July 28, 2013
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 »
The Best Blog Posts For Patients
Posted on November 6, 2012
As I make the transition to my new website, I wanted to highlight the most commonly viewed and best blog posts for patients from my previous website. For Patients Do I Need Cholesterol Medication? Is My Cholesterol High? The Simple Truth. Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines – Colonoscopy Better Than Sigmoidoscopy? The Truth and the Myth Elizabeth Edwards, Breast Cancer, and Mammograms – Her Death a Failure of Healthcare System. The Truth About Prostate Cancer Screening Other Surprising Facts Life Line Screening – Worth the Money? Routine Annual Physical – Not Worth the Time or Money The Truth and Facts About Concierge or Boutique Medicine Commentary on Media Stories Newsweek – Just Say No! – One Word Can Save Your Life. Too Simplistic. Doctors Need to Help. What Doctors Wish Their Patients Knew – Critique of the March 2011 Consumer Reports article NY Times – Finding a Quality Doctor […] Read More »
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