Dennis Grace is a health care executive.

Evidence versus experience based medicine for patients

Patient
June 20, 2011

by Dennis Grace

The Internet’s been rife, lately, with discussions of evidence-based medicine (EBM) and its alternative, experience-based medicine (which, to avoid conclusion, I’ll call XBM).

Look up either phrase on Google if you want more details, but be warned, it’s like trying to get a sip from Niagara Falls. Ideally, though, EBM is guided by information generated by studies conducted as rigorous, double-blind, randomized, …

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Evidence versus experience based medicine for patients

Solving the puzzle of patient compliance

Patient
January 27, 2011

by Dennis Grace

I recently received a message from the Center for Connected Health.  I must admit the opening of the letter really put me off. It asked:

How do you solve the puzzle of patient compliance?

I responded to the gentleman who sent the invitation with:

Well, you might start by calling it something less offensive. Patient compliance? The phrase assumes “patient” as direct object rather than subject of participatory medicine. We …

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Solving the puzzle of patient compliance

Bedside manner may need to include cost of care discussions

Patient
November 29, 2010

by Dennis Grace

For years, if you asked for a recommendation for a physician, the answer included some mention of bedside manner.

I mean, we’re human beings first and patients second, so we think it’s great that she’s a brilliant doctor, but is she pleasant? Is she respectful and patient? Nobody wants to work with a know-it-all, especially one who gets to hear about our bowel movements …

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Bedside manner may need to include cost of care discussions

Trust your doctor but review your medical bills

Physician
October 10, 2010

by Dennis Grace

The last time I visited my physician for an epidural injection, as the doctor’s assistant was situating me under the fluoroscope, the doctor was feverishly dictating notes on his previous patient’s procedure. No doubt your physician has a similar work schedule: when not dashing off notes from one patient or burrowing through medical research to diagnose another, he’s performing delicate medical procedures …

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Trust your doctor but review your medical bills

An advocate for patients might save your life in the hospital

Physician
September 2, 2010

by Dennis Grace

So, you have to go to the hospital. You’ve had an accident and the doctor wants to keep an eye on you for a few days. Maybe you need major surgery. Whatever the reason for the stay, a lot a people think you should have an advocate with you.

Why? In my life, I’ve had lots of hospital stays. Why is this suddenly a big …

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An advocate for patients might save your life in the hospital