Getting test results to patients - maybe
June 25, 2009, 11:05 PM
A study this week finds that physician practices too often fail to tell patient about lab results - including findings that require follow up and treatment. There are better practices.

I hear the reform train a com'in
June 15, 2009, 2:15 PM
A health care reform bill will pass Congress this year, and it's taking shape. President Obama spoke to the AMA today, and the public option proposal has a twist. Here's this week's update.

The Goal Is in Sight
June 08, 2009, 4:40 PM
The swirling discussion, proposals, and disinformation are coming together to the passage of a health care reorganization plan this year. It's not at all like Canada or England. It will be different, but not that far from where we are ...

Pre-op meetings have paybacks
May 29, 2009, 10:50 AM
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons suggests that per-operative planning meetings - short and just prior to surgery - improve staff performance and patient outcomes. These types of meetings are widely used an make ...

Time to clean our room!
May 27, 2009, 6:50 PM
An article posted by Physician Practice magazine reminds us that "coffee stains on the flip down trays mean bad maintenace on the airplanes". Time to fix up the office without spending a lot of money.

Feds announce new, enhanced anti-fraud
May 20, 2009, 8:35 PM
Attorney General Holder and HHS Secretary Sebelius announced a new interagency effort to combat Medicare fraud. Here is the press release.

A little levity
May 17, 2009, 10:40 AM
To lighten your day - from the WSJ's "Pepper.....and Salt" ...

So that's where the time goes: MGMA says over $21B
May 14, 2009, 8:40 AM
A study from MGMA and fellow researchers found that some $21 = 31 billion of practice staff timne is spent interacting with health plans. Here is the press release and link to the Health Affairs article.

Guess who came for lunch? More on the trade group proposal
May 12, 2009, 1:50 PM
Yesterday, a coalition of health trade associations committed to slow the growth of health care costs by 1.5% per year, potentially $2 trillion over the coming 10 years. Here are the links to the letter and reporting and my take ...

Health trade groups commit to cut $2 trillion in costs
May 11, 2009, 7:55 AM
It's all the news - a group of leading health care trade organizations are committing to cut $2 trillion in costs over the next decade. After a White House meeting set for late this morning, the group's letter and more ...