Errors in medication are far more common than might be imagined and cause serious adverse events. A NEJM article reports on efforts to use technology to limit such errors in…
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The plight of the uninsured was used as one justification for reform. AHRQ has put out a report on trends in hospitalizations for the uninsured over the last ten years,…
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No mother's day would be complete without some health care news to ruminate on. This week's include psychiatric drugs, the cost of the SGR fix, home health care costs, telemedicine…
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Imaging services have been labeled one of the "bad boys" of health care, but a review of recently published studies shows that while there are negative aspects to use of…
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A study in JAMA explores hospital readmissions for Medicare beneficiaries, finding that there is significant variation in discharge planning and follow-up, and that early attention to care after discharge leads…
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Traditional telemedicine has expanded in recent years to include a variety of methods for patients to interact with physicians in real and delayed time, including email, secure messaging, and video…
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Specialist physicians are often blamed for the fragmented and expensive nature of American medical care. A perspective in the NEJM explores whether they might appropriately serve as principal physicians in…
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The Office of the Actuary in CMS, which is a highly credible group, paints a far less optimistic picture of the recent health law's effect than the Administration or Congressional…
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The latest in our weekend selection of health news and research developments, including any willing provider laws, emergency room visits, the link between insurance and health outcomes, hospital rankings and…
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Here's a novel idea--give patients a set amount of money to spend on health care needs and allow them to manage what services they use for that money. It is…
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About this Blog
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.