Now that we are safely in mid August, I feel comfortable addressing the so called “July effect” without causing a mass exodus of hospital patients from their hospital beds.  What is the July effect you ask?  It’s the alleged rise in medical mistakes that coincidentally (or not) coincides with the increase of new medical residents at teaching hospitals starting July 1. While there is some research that mortality rates increase [...]

The Omaha World Herald has recently reported that two employees from the Nebraska Medical Center were fired for viewing Dr. Rick Sacra’s medical records.  Dr. Sacra is the doctor-missionary who contracted the Ebola virus while treating others afflicted with the virus in Africa.   According to the Medical Center, “based on the results of the investigation conducted, two employees no longer work for the organization and other corrective action has [...]

Vaccinations or rather, the lack thereof - has been a hot topic in the news lately. The media is reporting increased outbreaks of communicable diseases with the finger pointed at those individuals who choose to not vaccinate out of a fear, amongst others, that vaccinations cause autism. Studies conducted in the scientific community have largely discredited any association between vaccinations and autism.  Most recently, a March 2013 study published in [...]

In 2010, the last year in which data is available, Nebraska scored 44th in the amount paid per capita for medical malpractice claims.  The total?  A whooping $4.92. This figure represents the total amount paid in Nebraska divided by the total population of the state.  You can see the entire report here.  By my math, that equates to approximately $9 million in claims paid in Nebraska in 2010. Iowa was almost twice as [...]

There is a blog being circulated right now that addresses frustrations over doctor tardiness.  The woman who writes the blog is married to a pediatric physician and wants everyone to remember the reason why a physician might be running late to a dinner /next appointment/ anniversary date night / sporting event.  There is always an appointment before our own.  She writes: “We may never know what struggles the child and [...]

My husband, a local hospitalist in town, came home from work a few nights ago very tired. During his 14 hour work day, he had seen and treated quite a few sick patients and I could tell several of the sickest were still on his mind.  Sensing he needed to unwind, I sat quietly on the couch with him for a few minutes – both of us deep in our [...]

This week, the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) issued a report that addressed, in detail, the threat of antibiotic-resistant organisms to our world.  Dr. Todd Friedman, the director of the CDC, cautioned that, “[i]f we are not careful, we will soon be in a post antibiotic era.”  Antibiotic-resistant organisms account for 2,049,442 illnesses and 23,000 deaths each year.  The estimated cost to society?  $20 billion in additional healthcare spending and $35 [...]

Representative Earl Blumenauer from Oregon has introduced into legislation the “Personalize Your Care Act of 2013” that would provide Medicare and Medicaid coverage for end of life discussions.  Mr. Blumenaur has been dubbed “the death panel guy” for his continued role in introducing bills that tackle end of life care.   In 2009, he wrote it was “perverse” that Medicare pays for most medical procedures but does not reimburse physicians “for having a [...]

This past Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services released $67 million dollars to fund health care "navigators," intended, as the name states, to navigate uninsureds and other individuals through the new health care law. In total, 105 organizations received grant funds to assist with coverage in states where the government is running exchange programs.  Navigators will receive 20 to 30 hours of training and are subject to prosecution [...]