Saturday, November 30, 2013

Fight against the soda tax | Douglass Report - Official Site

Fight against the soda tax | Douglass Report - Official Site

I don’t know about you, but if there’s anything that makes me madder than yet another new tax, it’s a know-nothing government bureaucrat trying to tell me what to do.

It’s about CONTROL — and when you let them tax sugar, you’re giving THEM control over what YOU eat and drink. And while it might be something vile like sugar today, you know as well as I do it’ll be something else tomorrow.

I agree with the learned doctor  -stop the government nanny cancer culture before it spreads

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Do you really need all those money making drugs ?

http://douglassreport.com/2013/10/14/Common-senior-meds/


Use it or lose it - let your body make the drugs you need naturally  seems to make sense .
\your individual  natural right to chose -  use it or lose it 

Friday, August 23, 2013

food for thought

Stop the looting of the health system ?

"It was clear to both of us that the only way to make health care more affordable is to diminish the role of third-party payers. Let consumers and providers interact through market forces to drive down prices and drive up quality, like we do when we buy groceries, clothing, cars, computers, etc. Drop the focus on prepaid health plans and return to the days of 
real health insurance—that covers major, unforeseen events, leaving the everyday expenses to the consumer—just like auto and homeowners' insurance."

Monday, August 19, 2013

fixing the broken windowsw in the hospital system

Good insights and solutions to fix the care gap 

check this out -patient respect and empathy with dignity a magic solution

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Use your Brain do not kill it with drugs



I have to agree with this

"The more drugs you take, the more your gray matter turns to mush, according to scans on the brains of 514 seniors at a memory clinic. The more gray matter you lose, the less brain you have — and the less brain you have, the higher your risk of memory loss, cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease."

Sin taxes do not work (from the Douglas report )

Sin taxes don’t lead to healthier choices
You can tax people into poverty. But you sure as heck can’t tax people into good health.
Of course, the Nanny State is trying anyway with taxes on salt, fat and sugar, supposedly to force people to eat and drink better and lose weight.
Yeah, right.
This is really about raising cash, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It sure as heck isn’t about health, because every single study I’ve ever seen on this shows that these taxes DON’T WORK!
When soda is taxed, for example, some people will just pay more for soda. Others will drink less soda, but one new study shows they don’t swap their cola for carrot sticks.
Nope, they just replace the empty calories in soda with different empty calories — cheaper, untaxed empty calories, according to the study in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.
So what next? Tax those calories, too? You bet they will… and then it becomes a game of whack-a-mole. Or maybe tax-a-mole — because the powers-that-be would have to keep taxing the “next bad thing” people turn to for cheap snacks.
But forget whether or not this even works, because there’s a much bigger problem here — and that’s the very idea that the government should be deciding what you should eat and drink, and PUNISHING you for making the wrong choices.
Sure, today it’s soda, which we can all agree is garbage.
But mark my words: If they get away with this today, then tomorrow it’ll be butter, cheese, milk, steak and all the GOOD foods they’re already trying to stop you from eating.
That’s why it’s critical to stand up for your right to eat and drink what you want now — and when you hear about a “sin” tax of any kind coming to your community, speak up pronto.
The time to stop this is NOW — because if you wait, it’ll be too late.

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

The right to know?

Imagine walking into a supermarket to buy cereal. In this supermarket, all the cereal boxes are blank; no one will tell you how much anything costs; and even after you check out, you don’t receive the bill for more than a month. That is exactly the situation for the health care shopper: they do not know what they are buying or what they will pay when they go to the doctor or hospital. In a world in which people will be asked to pay more out of pocket – either because they are a municipal worker retiree being moved to a new plan or one of the millions of private sector workers on higher deductible insurance plans – it is essential that they have good price and quality data to make educated health care decisions.

Monday, July 29, 2013

psychiatric care. must be fixed before it completely loses its credibility

psychiatric care.
Most damaging were the negative reviews of DSM-5, the new diagnostic manual. It was justly panned for introducing many unsafe and scientifically unsound diagnoses that will worsen the already existing over-treatment of the worried well and the shameful neglect of the really sick.
Based on hands on  experience something should be done to reestablish credibility , A good assessment for the world of medicine needed, 
It has  to be or become more then a expensive billing for dependency drugs in  meat packing plant.environment and process . ( My comment )  

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Help yourself - be as independent and as free as you can be

Good points for consideration -do not feed your forced monopolies . Help yourself to be free.



Thursday, June 27, 2013

Live the best life -food for the mind and soul

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/06/medicine-alive-bottle.html

Medical whistle blowing takes courage

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/06/imagine-raped-senior-resident.html

Saturday, June 01, 2013

Pension reform and other alternatives

Interesting read from CARP on pension options 

Nobody seems to be addressing the other part of the economic equation,  Reduce the cost of living by reducing the inflated cost of government services .   Why not - there are are many options -with the new technology if it would only put in place to take out the excessive levels of make work duplication .  

The issue of elder abuse in government regulated nursing homes is another interesting Carp topic.   It is hard to believe that  the regulation fix fiction still exists.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

A shift in care here

The changes occurring in our care delivery systems have generated great interest, innovation, and yes, fear among many in healthcare, doctors included. Some recent news stories have documented physician practices under severe financial stress, or even going bankrupt. Others note the formation of gigantic health systems and growth of accountable care organizations.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Useful review of medical malpractice

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/05/surgeon-interviews-medical-malpractice-attorney-read-decide.html


No there is no problem with frivolous medical lawsuits.   Arrogance costs the doer of malfeasance. 

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Fight to make your own decisions?

http://douglassreport.com/2013/05/12/The-new-threat/

Good points made by the Doctor . Get the nannys out of your face .

Monday, May 13, 2013

Hippocratic oath breached with consequences

Abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell found guilty of murder

Gosnell, who prosecutors say delivered babies alive and then killed them, found guilty on three counts of first-degree murder
Kermit Gosnell
Kermit Gosnell. Photograph: Yong Kim/AP/Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia doctor accused of performing illegal late-term abortions in a filthy clinic has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of three babies born alive but acquitted in the death of a fourth baby.
In a case that became a grisly flashpoint in the abortion debate in the US, Dr Kermit Gosnell, 72, was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the overdose death of an abortion patient. He was cleared in the death of a fourth child, who prosecutors say let out a whimper before the doctor snipped its spinal cord.
----------------------------------------------
And justice is served . 

Medical corruption - a cancer that can be beat


Is medicine a profession or a commodity?


"The use of similar tactics to influence votes skewed the board of directors and created dubious conflicts of interest. One member had lucrative hospital building contracts, two had hospital money in their bank, and another did secondary real estate transactions on the hospital’s behalf. Four CEO-appointed physicians had profitable medical contracts with the hospital. One can see how easy a vote might be swayed. The administration used this influence to not only ramrod changes in hospital policies and procedures, but to persecute and prosecute any physician in their way. These tactics continue today.
The only voting member elected from the medical staff to the 15-member board was the chief of staff, and up until a year ago the deputy chief of staff could vote, but this was changed by the board at the behest of the administration:".
____________________________________________
A provocative and challenging article about cronyism in the honourable "Medical " profession illustrates that the greed and special interest cancer is everywhere  and has infected the real and decent fundamental medical practise of many. In our area we have similar challenges - favouritism is rampant  . Just pay the toll and you can get away with ineptitude and the greed cancer that  kills all those that do not comply or those who refuse to be extorted out of principle and ethical convictions . All have a responsibility to cure this disease before it destroys our care system as we know it. 
Instant communication to all in your network   with a phone  picture or video taken is fast efficient and a sure cure by miraculous you - for this deadly  reversible affliction to our system of health and caring.
.
  

Monday, April 29, 2013

useful things to do at the hospital?

12 tips to stay safe in hospitals

Hospitals can save you, but they can also harm you. So how can you stay safe in hospitals? Follow these 12 life-saving tips:
1. Never go alone. Always bring someone else—a trusted family member or friend—with you. That person will be your primary advocate, and can serve as an extra set of eyes and ears to help make sure you are safe. (This tip applies to routine doctors’ appointments too; always bring your advocate with you.)
2. Determine, in advance, the goals of the hospitalization. Before you go to the hospital, ask your doctor why you need to be hospitalized. Is it necessary, or is outpatient care possible? What is the goal of the hospital stay? How often will that goal be assessed? Can you choose which hospital to go to, and when you should go? Rarely is the need for hospitalization so emergent that you can’t get these answers and discuss them with your doctor in advance.
3. Prepare. Bring all the things you would normally bring with you to a doctor’s appointment, including a list of your medical problems and allergies. Don’t assume that the hospital will have your records. It’s very important to bring all the pill bottles that you take so that there will be no mistake about what dosage and how often you take your medications. Keep your main doctor’s phone number and your advocate’s phone number handy (though your advocate should be going with you to the hospital).
4. Meet your care team. Find out who is in charge of your care: is it your regular doctor or a hospitalist doctor? Introduce yourself to her, and to your primary nurse. Meet the patient care tech, the nursing assistant, and the other members of your healthcare team. Tell them about yourself, and find about them. The more they get to know you as a person now, the more they will help to answer your questions later. Your advocate should also get to know your care team.
5. Know who to call for help and how. Who will be the night-duty doctor and nurse, and how can you reach them? If you are in trouble, or if your advocate sees you’re in trouble, how will you get help? Many hospitals have a “rapid response team” or a “code team” that come to assist in emergency situations. Can your advocate activate this team himself?
6. Ask about every test done. Don’t just consent to tests. They all have risks, so ask about them. Why is your blood drawn every morning—what is the purpose? Why are you getting the CT scan? You should discuss every test with your doctor in advance of doing them, and have a thoughtful discussion about risks, benefits, and alternatives.
7. Ask about every treatment offered. If you’re being started on a new medication, ask about what it is, what the risks are, what the alternatives are, and why you need it. If you’re told you need a procedure, make sure you discuss it with your doctor.
8. Keep a record of your hospital stay. Your advocate may need to help you with keeping a careful record. This includes your tests (make a note of what you get done and ask about the result), medications (write down when each medication is given and double-check it’s correct), and providers who come to see you (write down names of specialists and their recommendations). A detailed record helps to prevent mistakes, coordinate your care, and keep you on track.
9. Attend bedside rounds. Doctors and nurses usually have rounds at least once a day to discuss their patients. Find out when rounds happen and ask if you and your advocate can attend. This is your time to find out what’s going on with your care. Prepare questions to ask during rounds.
10. Know your daily plan. Rounds are a good time to ask about what is happening that day. Are you doing more tests? More treatments? Are you on track, or did something unexpected happen? When can you expect to go home?
11. Keep your eye on infection control. If someone comes into your room, ask him to wash their hands. If someone is doing a procedure on you, ask her to follow an infection control checklist. Hospital-acquired infections kill 100,000 people every year, and you can help prevent them.
12. If something isn’t right, speak up immediately. Remember that it’s your body and you know yourself the best. Get help if you develop new or worsening symptoms. Empower the person you’re with to speak up for you if you can’t.
All of these tips may sound like a lot of work, and you may be wondering why it’s your job to do all of this. After all, aren’t you the patient, the person who is feeling unwell and seeking help? By and large, doctors and nurses are well-meaning, and most of the time, the system is working well and you will get good care. However, mistakes do happen—and you and your advocate can help prevent medical error. Follow the tips above to make sure that you are safe and well during every hospital stay.
Leana Wen is an emergency physician who blogs at The Doctor is Listening. She is the co-author of When Doctors Don’t Listen: How to Prevent Misdiagnosis and Unnecessary Tests.  She can also be reached on Twitter @drleanawen.

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Respect the end of life

Compassion not profiteering from the end of life needed 

Human beings and their right of free will choice must be re-instated

A duty to guide patients through the process of death


As healthcare providers we are focused on life.  We are committed to healing.  We measure success by lives saved.  Unfortunately, many diseases remain incurable.  Some diagnoses do carry with them a death sentence in spite of the best that modern medicine has to offer.  Even in theses extremely devastating cases, We can still make a huge difference in the lives of our patients in the way in which we help them handle their own death.
Too often, treatments are prescribed which may have the effect of only prolonging suffering.  In some experimental chemotherapies, treatment may raise survival only a few percentage points.  As caregivers, we become so focused on changing the inevitable outcome that we often forget about one of the more important reasons we are treating our patients–to ease pain and suffering.  In the case of terminally ill patients, we can help shepherd them through the process of death.  Too often, however, we as healthcare providers are ill-equipped to tackle this task.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Empower whistleblowers to improve the health of all Americans

Empower whistleblowers to improve the health of all Americans

The first instinct of a bureaucracy is self-preservation, and health care bureaucracies are no exception. This rule applies not only to government agencies, but to academic and industry settings as well. This was the conclusion I came to after listening to a panel of scientist and physician “whistleblowers” at the Selling Sickness 2013conference in Washington, DC

Great we are finally getting it ......