http://symtym.com …a physician meandering medicine, law and technology… Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:06:49 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en DB's rant: [T]hose who champion P4P make an unfortunate assumption. They believe that you can push one button, and only impact the desired outcome. They are obsessed with measurement, and believe that measurement will improve health care. They are so dangerous." Brings to mind a phrase from the "Satisfaction Cult:" they don't care ... http://symtym.com/2008/05/they-dont-care/ USA Today: Dr. Daniel Carlat sank into a choice seat at Lincoln Center, surrounded by other psychiatrists, all staying at the same four-star hotel in Manhattan and attending the same show for free. His deal with a pharmaceutical company to provide testimonials to other doctors had paid off well…[but] I ... http://symtym.com/2008/03/unethical-to-alter-and-tweak/ Your Doctor's Business Is Your Business | WSJ | 11.20.07 "There should be a discussion between physicians and patients about financial involvements," says Dr. Zuckerman, chairman of orthopedic surgery at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. "As time goes on, patients will add this to the list of questions they have." In the ... http://symtym.com/2007/11/your_business/ Uwe Reinhardt eloquence: [O]n 10 July 2007, President Bush casually shrugged off the plight of the uninsured with the remark, "I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room"—with nary a concern expressed over how these emergency rooms will cover their ... http://symtym.com/2007/11/adam_smith_turns_over/ Doctor tried to avoid giving ER care to poor, state finds | Des Moines Register | 11.9.07 A doctor at Davis County Hospital in Bloomfield tried to avoid treating low-income people in the hospital's emergency room by minimizing their concerns, a state appeal board has found. In one case, police arrived at ... http://symtym.com/2007/11/medical_screaming_exam/ Health insurer tied bonuses to dropping sick policyholders | LAT | 11.9.07 Woodland Hills-based Health Insurance Inc. avoided paying $35.5 million in medical expenses by rescinding about 1,600 policies between 2000 and 2006. During that period, it paid its senior analyst in charge of cancellations more than $20,000 in bonuses based ... http://symtym.com/2007/11/ethical_lowlands/ Emergency Medicine's mascot? Shouldn't be!ShareThis http://symtym.com/2007/11/valid_criticism_mascot/ ShareThis http://symtym.com/2007/11/outside_hospital/ Concierge medicine: Rx for stressed health care system? | AJC | 11.8.07 Concierge medicine — the name itself implying highly personalized services — has sprouted as a rebellion against what's perceived as assembly-line medicine. The doctors flee the frenetic pace and hassles of traditional practices, and limit their practice loads. Patients, ... http://symtym.com/2007/11/concierge_medicine/ Medicare docs can get bonuses for using EHRs and e-prescribing in 2008 | GHIT | 11.5.07 For the first time, the Medicare program will pay bonuses to doctors and other health care providers for using electronic health records and e-prescribing in 2008. Use of the two technologies are among 119 quality ... http://symtym.com/2007/11/e_carrots/