Another huge day for cardiologists today. CMS, or medicare or the government or whoever has decided that cardiologists who read images are making too much money. Nuclear scans and echocardiograms (ultrasound) are being arbitrarily cut by up to 40 percent. These scans form the backbone of a cardiology office. Although they require a substantial initial […]
Category: Health Care
I am close with this doctor who works in the government health care system. She is a palliative care/hospice doctor. We live together and as such discuss clinical cases frequently. This evening’s discussion sheds much light on the many differences in the systems in which we practice medicine. A vignette… But first a disclaimer: The […]
So much to write about on Friday. An email from a friend, another master of the obvious, on the the happiest states, an email form ACC on holding doctors accountable for medical errors, as well as an AHA statistical report on the worsening lifestyle habits of Americans. These comment-able stories, along with this bloggers quest […]
Why would referring a patient directly to a specialist save money, time and patient outcomes? Exhibit A: A 75 year old male presents to his family doctor with a heart rate of 120. Just some palpitations and a little “funny feeling in my chest.” No pain, no shortness of breath, no dizziness. Examination shows a […]
This week marked my third root canal this year. Ouch! 2009 also included a dental implant and subsequent crown. Who pays for this professional service? See figure 1… 950 dollars is indeed the going rate. Notice the guarantor is yours truly, not Anthem, Humana, GE, General Motors, UPS or anyone else. A regular Discover card […]
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A bad day for simplicity today…
The daily silliness as pictured on the wall of a heart catheterization lab… Now, one can’t say the words mild, moderate or severe. CMS, the government, or the payer, in describing blockages, no longer recognizes descriptive words. To a non-squisher cardiologist this seems silly. Let it be known that the exact percent blockage of a […]
Here is a surprise: Doctors and hospitals oppose the recent medicare provision. Us cardiologists are also opposed to the looming 50% cuts in medicare reimbursement. Imagine. Is this good news? Certainly not, how would anyone feel about earning 50% less? Will this cause access problems for the 65 and up patients; you bet it will. […]
While perusing the aisles in Kroger, to an English professor and dean at a local university, I inquire about a writing course, so as to improve the blog. This author labored to a C in English in high school and despite excelling in the sciences in math, struggled like a muscleman on a cx course […]
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"People of Size?" Really…
Yesterday I saw enlightening news from the New England Journal of Medicine: Although heavy on statistical modeling, this Harvard study looked at the competing effects of smoking reductions and increases in obesity. It is true that the number of smokers is declining. This is very good. However, at the same time the number of obese […]
This very important study on the importance of fitness in early adulthood almost passed me by. That is, until this sign at Walden caught my eye… Here is a study linking cardiovascular fitness in early adulthood with increased intelligence, better performance on cognitive tests and higher achievement later in life. In other words, being fit […]
The parking lot is devoid of the usual chaos. The coffee cart is closed. An unusual quiet in the hallway is the norm. Holiday in the hospital. There were dark circles underneath the fatigued eyes and a slowness of gait. A colleague “fixed” four heart attacks on Thanksgiving. Sometimes, I make fun of the “squishers,” […]