For the most significant outcomes, a recent study in NEJM finds no difference between bare metal and drug-eluting stents. Drug and device companies are really good at selling expensive products with no or marginal outcome improvements.
A study in NEJM finds that while ten-year mortality was similar for treatment or surveillance for prostate cancer, failure to treat led to more metastases and disease progression. Proponents of ending PSA screening and what they view as excessive diagnoses of prostate cancer may be happy, but for a few men, late diagnosis and/or surveillance just means worse disease and outcomes. The same approach is coming on mammograms.
A study published in the British Medical Journal finds that physicians' recommendations given closer to when a decision must be made are more likely to influence a patient to choose a course of action against the patient's own preferences. To ensure respect for patient preferences this suggests that doctors should give any recommendations early in the process.
Evidation Health has evidently grabbed $15 million in fresh funding for its "machine learning" "behavioral analytics" tools. If you built it, they might come, but they sure won't understand it.
Deloitte surveyed a number of physicians on EHR use, finding that about half think they help with clinical outcomes, but the majority saying that EHRs raise practice costs and reduce productivity.
Convey Health says it is partnering with New Mountain Capital, which doesn't quite convey the right meaning, they are being acquired, but nice try with the euphemism by the Medicare Advantage and Part D plan IT vendor.
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.
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.