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What diseases can arise from the lack of clean water in Haiti?

Kevin

Conditions and Diseases

January 15, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Michael Smith, MedPage Today North American Correspondent

The lack of clean water in the stricken Haitian capital fosters conditions that may spawn an epidemic of enteric disease.

“Having large numbers of people in close proximity and not using appropriate sanitation can potentially spark those epidemics, particularly if people are forced to drink surface water,” said Rebecca Dillingham, …

We are becoming a nation of people with multiple chronic diseases

Kevin

Patient

January 15, 2010

by Monte Ladner, MD

Many Americans are resolving that this will be the year they finally lose weight. Sadly, most of them will reach the end of 2010 heavier than when they started. We continue losing the weight loss game because our efforts are misplaced. The issue is lifestyle.

Dr. Dana King of the Medical University of South Carolina recently published two papers on the erosion of American lifestyle …

Do neuroenhancement pills really improve attention, memory, or cognition?

Kevin

Medications

January 15, 2010

Originally published in HCPLive.com

by Victor G. Dostrow, MD

The Internet is filled with reports of remarkable cognitive enhancement with various nostrums.

Many are not regulated, and the pages are typically associated with glowing testimonials and a link to sign up for uninterrupted (and uninterruptible) delivery of the miracle substance. More to the point of this post, other blogs, reports, and forum comments opine as to notable benefits of taking prescription medications marketed …

Don’t use kitchen spoons to measure drug dosages

Kevin

Medications

January 15, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Todd Neale, MedPage Today Staff Writer

Individuals using standard spoons from their home kitchen to dispense liquid medications may be pouring too little or too much of the drugs, researchers found.

Among volunteers trying to pour a teaspoonful of cold and cough medicine, using a slightly larger spoon resulted in underdosing and using a much larger …

Tips for Haiti earthquake relief: How to find the right charity for donations

Erin Marcus, MD

Physician

January 15, 2010

It’s impossible to watch coverage of the immense suffering in Haiti and not want to help. But many charitable groups seem to have sprung up since the disaster, and it’s tough to know which ones will be most effective at getting your donation to those most in need.

To try to sort out the difference between the major aid groups, I asked Haitian-American community organizers, as well as physicians I know …

Haiti relief effort may be too late to help the earthquake victims

Kevin

Physician

January 14, 2010

Originally posted in MedPage Today

by Michael Smith, MedPage Today North American Correspondent

Two days after a powerful earthquake shattered Haiti’s capital city, relief workers are finding it tough to provide needed medical care, coordination for the efforts is lacking, and time is running out for those trapped in the rubble.

“The window they talk about is 48 to 72 hours,” said Irwin …

What doctors should expect with health care reform

David Harlow

Health Policy

January 14, 2010

What should health care providers be doing in anticipation of the likely passage of an historic health reform bill?

There are at least three possibilities: (1) Lament the passing of the good old days and oppose it; (2) Insist that it isn’t good enough because it is lacking some key provision (tort reform; SGR replacement; robust public option); or (3) Embrace it, because incrementalism works, and prepare for what’s coming down …

What will the next big medical advance be?

Kevin

Medications

January 14, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Michael Smith, MedPage Today North American Correspondent

It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.

That famous observation from baseball great Yogi Berra applies in spades to medicine.

What technological advance or new insight will shape the next few years? As Yogi noted, it’s tough to predict:

It could be — as Leif Ellisen, MD, PhD, thinks — tumor genotyping.

Why the Haiti health crisis will be worse than Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath

Kevin

Physician

January 13, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Michael Smith, MedPage Today North American Correspondent

The powerful earthquake that hammered Haiti Tuesday afternoon has created a medical nightmare, those familiar with the country say.

“I can’t even imagine the kind of horror we’re going to see in the next two to three weeks,” said Steven Williams, MD, an internist at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh …

Balancing the risks and benefits of cancer screening is an individual decision

Kevin

Conditions and Diseases

January 13, 2010

by Abraham Verghese, MD

I can’t get over the incredible images generated by our latest CT scans and MRI’s. The details of organ anatomy and the 3D reconstructions they can do are just amazing. One side effect of getting such fine resolution, is that more and more we are stumbling onto abnormalities that we were not necessarily looking for–incidentalomas, we call them.

Sometimes the discovery is fortuitous and lifesaving. But often …

The Haiti earthquake damage to hospitals and health care infrastructure

Kevin

Physician

January 13, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Michael Smith, MedPage Today North American Correspondent

The powerful earthquake that hammered Haiti Tuesday afternoon has left healthcare in the impoverished Caribbean nation in even worse shape than before.

Several hospitals have been seriously damaged and others are swamped by casualties from the magnitude 7.0 quake.

“We are seeing wave after wave of vehicles coming from the Port-au-Prince …

Why physician practices find it difficult to upgrade their computers to Windows 7

Kevin

Health Technology

January 13, 2010

Originally published in HCPLive.com

by Jonathan Bertman, MD

I recently talked about Microsoft’s newest desktop operating system, Windows 7, and outlined several reasons why you might want to purchase it when it comes out this year. Windows 7 will include some really cool features—like multi-touch technology and usability improvements—that can benefit medical practitioners and their office staff.

Because it is in Microsoft’s best interest …

The history of Medicare and its influence on American health care

Kevin

Health Policy

January 13, 2010

Originally published on MedPage Today

by Emily P. Walker, MedPage Today Washington Correspondent

As Congress stands poised to make the most sweeping change to the U.S. healthcare system since the creation of Medicare, a look back at the incremental growth in that program may serve as a harbinger for the progress of healthcare reform.

The program — which provides insurance for some 43 million …

Why doctors in the United States order so many CT scans and MRI tests

Kevin

Conditions and Diseases

January 13, 2010

It’s commonly thought that health care in the United States is heavily dependent on diagnostic testing.

But how do we compare with the rest of the world? Perhaps these graphs, courtesy of the New York Times can provide a stark illustration.

Here’s the data regarding CT scans, showing the number of tests per 1,000 people. Guess which country’s on top:

Why I had to fire my primary care doctor

Susan Giurleo, PhD

Physician

January 12, 2010

I like my PCP. She is knowledgeable, kind, efficient, and trusts that I know my body best. All great qualities in a doctor.

But I need to fire her and find someone new. Why? Her support staff and their administrative systems don’t work for me. They make it difficult for me to access timely care and I dislike that very much.

Some background: I rarely visit the doctor. Overall, I’m healthy and …

Protecting the security of electronic patient data

David Harlow

Health Technology

January 12, 2010

Originally published on HCPLive.com

If your patient records aren’t already stored digitally, they are likely to be digitized soon. There is a tremendous push by the federal government—as well as by some private payors and self-insured employers—to get all healthcare providers wired in the near future, in order to better coordinate patient care, improve outcomes, and “bend the cost curve” all at the same time. There are some financial incentives in …

How sleeping late can lead to depression in teenagers

Kevin

Conditions and Diseases

January 12, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Todd Neale, MedPage Today Staff Writer

Later parent-set bedtimes and correspondingly shorter sleep durations appear to be related to the development of depression in adolescents, a cross-sectional analysis showed.

In addition to depression, adolescents with later bedtimes also had a greater risk of having suicidal thoughts, James Gangwisch, PhD, of Columbia University in New York City, and …

National Influenza Vaccination Week: Time to take stock of our influenza vaccination efforts

Kevin

Conditions and Diseases

January 11, 2010

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association.

by Nancy H. Nielsen, MD

Back in September, I wrote in this space about ways physicians can prepare their practices to handle this challenging flu season and mentioned the importance of vaccination for all health care professionals. Today as National Influenza Vaccination Week begins, this is an excellent opportunity to remind ourselves, …

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) sues Medicare over physician rate cuts

Kevin

Health Policy

January 11, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Kristina Fiore, MedPage Today Staff Writer

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has filed suit against U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius charging that the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule was adopted unlawfully.

The complaint seeks an injunction that will prevent the cuts — which the association claims used a flawed survey for …