My local newspaper is struggling with the growth of web-based news — as are so many papers nationwide — and shrinking as a result, but it still has its own health beat reporter. I’ve never met this reporter and the tone of her articles implies she is a nice and well-meaning...
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Most observers of the American healthcare system conclude there is a primary care shortage, though opinion varies on what to do about it. Nurse practitioners and other mid-levels such as physician assistants have been suggested to fill the gap. Could they become the primary care providers of the future? I think...
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As America begins to grapple with realization that it doesn’t have enough family physicians, a common suggestion is that the shortage can be solved by growing the mid-level workforce, i.e. nurse practitioners and physician assistants. I’ll talk more about mid-levels’ role in primary care next week. Today, let’s step back and...
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A colleague of mine who is a family physician in Arlington, Texas, let’s call him Dr. Smith, was sued several years ago for medical malpractice. His patient had reached the age where routine screening for colorectal cancer is recommended. Dr. Smith performed flexible sigmoidoscopies (flex sigs) in his office, which is...
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A young man streaks down the basketball court with only one man to beat. A subtle head fake to the right causes his opponent’s weight to shift ever so slightly. The dribbler crosses the ball from his right hand to his left, dips his shoulder just past his opponent’s, and pushes...
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I realize I’ve griped a lot in my previous posts, though I don’t see myself as a nattering nabob of negativism. For problems to be fixed they first must be identified, and our healthcare system has lots of problems. However in this season of giving thanks, I thought a few positive...
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Paul Grundy MD, MPH, FACOEM, FACPM is IBM’s Director of Healthcare, Technology and Strategic Initiatives for IBM’s Global Well Being Services and Health Benefits. He has led the development of the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative www.pcpcc.net, which is leading the way to create a more efficient and responsive healthcare system. Before...
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The voters of Georgia rejected a constitutional amendment that would have increased their taxes to support trauma care throughout the state. Proponents estimated that 700 lives would be saved per year if the state’s trauma system was improved. The first amazing aspect of this vote is that the Georgia legislators gave...
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Is this a joke? A medical school that has no department of family medicine or even a division has been given a $30 million dollar anonymous gift to enhance primary care. This to a medical school that routinely sends less than 2% of its graduates into family medicine? This gift started...
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A commenter (I believe a physician) on one of my posts wrote the following: I can prevent heart attacks and strokes (caused by atherosclerosis – “blockage”) in people (minimal cost) who have NO symptoms. If I wait for their heart attack or stroke – it costs a WHOLE lot more. The...
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