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December 8, 2013
RSNA 2013: What Did We Learn?
RSNA 2013
With the “Power of Partnership” theme for RSNA in 2013, we saw a convergence of radiological practices, and most importantly, a drive for radiologists to partner with the most important people in their jobs–the patients. This post will highlight the key ideas and technology trends that were prominent at RSNA 2013.[read more]
December 8, 2013
Yellow Fever Outbreak In Sudan Confirmed By WHO, Including 14 Deaths; Vaccination Campaign To Continue
(Muhammad Mahdi Karim, GFDL-1.2)
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a yellow fever outbreak in South Sudan, which has resulted in 14 deaths so far. Between October 3 and November 24, 2013, a total of 44 suspected cases were reported in 12 localities. Yellow fever is a viral, hemorrhagic fever transmitted by infected mosquitoes.[read more]
December 8, 2013
Stop Blaming the Patient and Fix the Real Problem – Poor Physician-Patient Communications
Physician-patient communications
It goes without saying that in order for physicians to know where patients are coming from concerning their complaint they need to ask the patient. But that is not happening. A recent study found that only 16% of physicians admitted to routinely asking patients their “perspectives” regarding their condition.[read more]
How Do You Know If You Are Ready for ICD-10?
Transitioning to ICD-10: a battle?
Without an adequate number of physicians to drive revenue and handle the needs of patients, hospitals and physician groups must carry out strategies to offset the financial risks associated with healthcare reform and the ICD-10 transition.[read more]
Case Study: Virtual House Calls for Parkinson's Patients
Telemedicine: the new house call
Virtual house calls are feasible and well-received among people with Parkinson’s disease, according to a telemedicine case study published today. Dr. Ray Dorsey, a neurologist at University of Rochester Medical Center, led a project that offered free telemedicine visits to 50 Parkinson’s disease patients.[read more]
Narrow Networks and Medicare Advantage: The True Meaning of Managed Care?
Managed care ahead?
United HealthCare and other Medicare Advantage plans are dropping numerous providers from their networks, to the consternation of members given short notice of the changes. Predictably, the story is presented as big bad insurance co. vs. grandma, but the real story is less clear-cut.[read more]
RSNA 2013: Medical Imaging Used to Capture Diseases in India
Dr. Harsh Mahajan
Dr. Harsh Mahajan, director of radiology, Mahajan Imaging, took a few minutes to speak with us at RSNA. In our conversation, Dr. Mahajan talked about the populations that his organization currently serves. Dr. Mahajan also talks about his organization’s use of the Carestream CS 9300 CBCT technolgy and the benefits that he has seen.[read more]
Collaborative Story-Telling
collaborative story-telling
I entitled this post “Collaborative Story-Telling” because stories humanize abstract concepts like “improving healthcare outcomes” and help us achieve shared vision. Here are two examples of collaborative story-telling in healthcare that you may be able to learn from.[read more]
RSNA 2013: Putting the "Ultra" into Ultrasound
Siemens Ultrasound
It’s not every day that you can sit down with a company CEO at a huge annual meeting/trade show like the RSNA in Chicago, so when Jeffrey Bundy, CEO of Ultrasound for Siemens Healthcare offered to drop by, I was very pleased. He had something to show off, of course, but it is no idle boasting.[read more]
Cancer Immunotherapy: Combination Therapy May Be the "Way of the Future"
chemotherapy (Phil and Pam/Flickr)
Efforts to overcome the unusual ability of cancer cells to dodge the body’s immune response have reached an inflection point this year. And, at least according to some experts, commercial interest in cancer immunotherapies has gone through the roof.[read more]
Pfizer to Expand Clinical Trial Data Access, Takes Step Toward Transparency
Clinical researchers (shutterstock)
Pfizer Inc. updated its clinical trial data access policy yesterday, and will soon begin to share data and results with study participants. The pharmaceutical giant also said it will offer researchers access to anonymous patient-level data from trials of already approved products.[read more]
"Tomosynthesis" a Key Area of Focus at RSNA 2013
mammograms
Among the many trends and buzzwords floating around RSNA 2013, one of the key areas that seems to be popping up everywhere is “tomosynthesis,” which is 3D imaging using X-Ray technology. Yesterday, Carestream presented “Stationary Chest Tomosynthesis System using Distributed CNT X-ray Source Array."[read more]
May the SOMATOM Force Be With You (Siemens Hopes)
Peter Seitz and the SOMATOM Force
Exploring the Siemens “booth” at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America is a bit like coming aboard the Starship Enterprise -- a vast vessel with a crew to match. There I found Peter Seitz, ready to show me the spanking new SOMATOM Force, the next generation in Dual Source computed tomography (CT).[read more]
More From the Nursing Shortage Myth Annals
nursing shortage myths (HikingArtist.com)
If there were a real nursing shortage you’d expect employers to be talking about it, yet I almost never hear a hospital clamoring for more nurses to be trained. Contrast that with the situation in high technology where employers are constantly beating the drum for more STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) graduates.[read more]
FDA Warning Letter Highlights Disconnect Between Regulator and Biotech Industry
23andMe
On November 22, the FDA issued a warning letter to 23 & Me requesting the company to halt marketing of the $99 genetic testing kit because it does not have marketing clearance for certain claims of the product. There's a question as to why the agency finally issued a warning letter after almost six years since the company started to sell the testing kit.[read more]
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HealthWorks Collective Series
David Davidovic David built and led commercial functions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries for 33 years and has been di More »
Barbara Ficarra Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA is an award-winning journalist, media broadcaster, health educator, speaker and consultant More »
David Harlow David Harlow is Prinicipal of the Harlow Group LLC, a healthcare law and consulting firm based in Boston, MA. More »
Stephen Schimpff Stephen C. Schimpff, MD is the retired CEO of the Univ. of MD Med. Center and the COO of the Univ of MD Medical System. More »
Andrew Schorr Andrew, a leukemia survivor and respected medical journalist is the founder of PatientPower, an excellent web resource. More »
John Sharp John Sharp has interests in social media in healthcare and clinical research informatics including secondary use of EMR More »
Christina Thielst Christina Thielst is a hospital administrator, consultant, educator and author with 30 years of healthcare experience. More »
“Tonight, Dec. 6, 23andMe issued this statement to customers:"Dear 23andMe Customers, I'm writing to update you on our conversation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and how it impacts you. If you are a customer whose kit was purchased before November 22, 2013, your 23andMe experience will not change. You will be able to access both ancestry and health-related information as you ...”
“Money is still considered the "easy" thing to measure, and of course is still the ultimate measure of "success".I love the ROO alternative that you suggest though Paul, this makes a whole lot more sense. As David notes, if you're getting things right for your customers then the money will follow. Perhaps the problems arise when the financial indicators don't increase despite extensive ...”