Another edition of the Potpourri focuses on CMS and telemedicine, informal caregiver stress, wellness program results, emergency room visits, happiness and suicide, and sources for consumer health information.
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New research examines the need to use care guidelines carefully, showing the danger of using generalized rules for all patients, and the benefit of tailoring those rules for individual circumstances.
A Kaiser Family Foundation report analyzes health care spending across a number of nations, confirming that we spend a lot more than most developed countries and that our growth rate for health expenses has been higher and continues to be higher than that of these other nations.
Research published in JAMA examines the extent to which patients’ health literacy is associated with heart failure outcomes, finding a connection in the case of all-cause mortality, but not with hospitalizations.
A WSJ article examines the likelihood that the myriad of health care cost control measures embedded in the reform law will actually reduce costs, concluding that it is unlikely they will, based on history here and in other countries.
This week’s Potpourri features highlights from some of the health companies’ which have reported earnings, focusing on earnings call revelations, which are few and far between!
Hip replacement is one of the most pervasive orthopedic procedures, particularly among older Americans. Research among Medicare beneficiaries reveals trends over 18 years, finding lower mortality, but potential issues on site of discharge and readmissions.
The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality released a Statistical Brief looking at physician visits, finding variance in cost and out-of-pocket expense, depending on the setting.
The latest Dartmouth Atlas report focuses on trends and variation in end-of-life care, finding fewer people are dying in the hospital, more hospice use is occurring, but intensity of care is increasing.
Two pieces of research discuss an example of extensive off-label use of a drug, finding that costs are being raised with little likelihood of an increase in quality of care.
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 [email protected].
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