Is there a CPT Code for Maggots Yet?

<p> Specially prepared maggots have been approved by the FDA since 2004 for neuropathic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers,venous stasis ulcers, and traumatic and post-surgical wounds.  Insurance companies spend thousands of dollars for an amputation but back off at a $100.00 maggot treatment.  </p> <p>The American Medical Association and the CMS clarified its reimbursement guidelines to the wound care community for medicinal maggots <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SSTkpYFfX3I/AAAAAAAAJ8g/FO9HuY4mOMI/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SSTkqjsKG4I/AAAAAAAAJ8k/v--j7AbYFj4/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="107" /></a>and maggot therapy last week, <strong>so perhaps a code and overall approval will follow</strong>.  It is a very low cost item and seems worthwhile to try if it has the potential of saving a limb or other body part from amputation.  For now we can <strong>stand by and wait for the CPT code to arrive</strong> as it appears there finally might be some movement in this area and the treatment is FDA approved.  BD   </p> <blockquote> <p>Maggots, the larval stage of certain flies, are already a federally approved treatment for people with nasty bed sores, chronic post-surgical wounds and diabetic foot ulcers. Now, maggot therapy has received a boost from the medical establishment that could make it easier for patients and doctors to get insurance reimbursement for this treatment, which was noticed as effective against war wounds by Napoleon's surgeon general as well as by orthopedic surgeon Dr. William S. Baer during WWI, among others. </p> <p>"They liquefy or dissolve the dead tissue (by secreting their digestive enzymes into the wound), so the wound is debrided [cleaned] whether the liquefied tissue and debris is eaten or simply drains out of the wound," he said. Larvae, being immature, are unable to reproduce in the wound, he added.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27808424/">Insurance may soon cover maggot therapy - Health care- msnbc.com</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:840a5fc3-20a5-4225-82de-45fe6f5dd889" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/AMA" rel="tag">AMA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CMS" rel="tag">CMS</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wound+Care" rel="tag">Wound Care</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Maggots" rel="tag">Maggots</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CPT+Codes" rel="tag">CPT Codes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a></div>

Is there a CPT Code for Maggots Yet?

Specially prepared maggots have been approved by the FDA since 2004 for neuropathic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers,venous stasis ulcers, and ...

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Tom Daschle To Head Health and Human Services Secretary

<p> He will be busy no doubt looking for directors and managers for the FDA, the CDC, Medicare and Medicaid soon and probably the biggest looming question of all the departments is the FDA, who’s up next?  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former <strong>US Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle</strong> to be Health and Human Services secretary. <strong>Daschle, of South Dakota</strong>, was an early Obama supporter, who encouraged the first-term senator from Illinois to make his presidential run.</p> <p>Daschle was also one of the Senators most committed to the failed Clinton health reform plan of the early ’90s.</p> <p><a href="http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/11/obama-picks-tom-daschle-to-head-hhs/">Obama Picks Tom Daschle To Head HHS // Pharmalot</a></p></blockquote>

Tom Daschle To Head Health and Human Services Secretary

He will be busy no doubt looking for directors and managers for the FDA, the CDC, Medicare and Medicaid soon and probably the biggest loomi...

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Obesity – Top Priority for the CEO Council

<p>A couple weeks ago I posted an interview with Mike Milken and he addressed the same issue, weight and a few more items such as curing cancer.  In case you missed it, use the link below to follow, very good interview and recommended.  <a href="https://ceocouncil.wsj.com/participants.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="102" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SSNscl_eayI/AAAAAAAAJ7g/igtGCqu3WAU/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="158" /></a></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/michael-milken-and-muhammad-yunus.html"><em><font size="2">Michael Milken and Muhammad Yunus – Discuss Healthcare and the Economy with Charlie Rose</font></em></a></h4> <p>The uninsured, tort reform and the nursing shortage? Yeah, they matter. But obesity matters a lot more.  </p> <p>That was the conclusion a bunch of CEOs reached today, in a meeting where they hashed out what they thought the president-elect’s top health priorities should be. </p> <p>The looming disease burden associated with the epidemic, and all the costs and suffering it will entail, apparently pushed it ahead of other, frequently discussed health-reform issues.</p> <p>The group — which included the CEOs of Pfizer, Novartis, WellPoint and the Mayo Clinic, among others — is part of the <a href="https://ceocouncil.wsj.com/participants.html">WSJ CEO Council</a>, a conference the Journal convened in DC this week.</p> <p><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/18/ceos-top-health-priority-obesity/">http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/18/ceos-top-health-priority-obesity/</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/michael-milken-and-muhammad-yunus.html"><font size="1">Michael Milken and Muhammad Yunus – Discuss Healthcare and the Economy with Charlie Rose</font></a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:57b4acae-5f59-4e80-8360-c53c974d9428" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/obesity" rel="tag">obesity</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CEO" rel="tag">CEO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/priorities" rel="tag">priorities</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Washington+DC" rel="tag">Washington DC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CEO+Council" rel="tag">CEO Council</a></div>

Obesity – Top Priority for the CEO Council

A couple weeks ago I posted an interview with Mike Milken and he addressed the same issue, weight and a few more items such as curing cancer...

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Disfigured groin case settled – Flesh Eating Bacteria case at Washington Prison

<p> With all the recent concern about MRSA, this article goes to show that bacteria can be living anywhere, besides the hospital.  According to the article here, he was misdiagnosed and later it turns up he had the flesh eating bacteria infection and after the fact needed quite a bit of surgery to help restore the loss.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>A man whose groin was disfigured by a flesh-eating bacteria infection in prison has accepted a $300,000 settlement from the Washington Department of Corrections.</p> <p>The 61-year-old man became ill in 2004 while serving time for threatening a neighbor.</p> <p>By the time he was taken to a hospital, Manning had an internal abscess that required doctors to remove several pounds of flesh from his pelvic region.</p> <p>Surgeons made a replacement penis with skin from his thigh.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/11/18/national/a090551S30.DTL&tsp=1">Wash. prisons, inmate settle disfigured groin case</a></p> <p>Hat Tip:  <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/11/18/lawsuit-over-inmates.html">Boing Boing</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:7b405d1c-91d0-4b3c-8f19-2bb533ae49d0" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Flesh+Eating+bacterial" rel="tag">Flesh Eating bacterial</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRSA" rel="tag">MRSA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/infections" rel="tag">infections</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bacterial" rel="tag">bacterial</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/lawsuits" rel="tag">lawsuits</a></div>

Disfigured groin case settled – Flesh Eating Bacteria case at Washington Prison

With all the recent concern about MRSA, this article goes to show that bacteria can be living anywhere, besides the hospital.  According to...

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GE Collaborates and will offer new web based version of Centricity EHR

<p> With collaborating with Mayo Clinic here, this gives an example of how “branding” of methodologies and information technologies serve to create additional income from the licensing of such by incorporating information from Mayo as an example to include decision making support software at the point of care, thus not having to leave the program to go to the web to search and locate needed information. </p> <p>The new Digital Day One service appears to be web based and I am guessing included all the framework to integrate the hospitals and physicians.  Also mentioned is the fact that GE will be working harder to open the doors for other software to connect and integrate patient information.  There is no doubt this is the year for healthcare integration all the way from the EHR to the <a href="http://www.gehealthcare.com/usen/img_info_systems/centricity_clin_info/products/office_day.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="61" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SSNi49_Lm6I/AAAAAAAAJ7c/c5EmraA7xqE/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="95" /></a>PHR.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Waukesha, Wis.-based GE Healthcare has introduced three new information technology service offerings that it developed with clients. The company's <strong>Digital Day One service</strong> is a remotely hosted and scalable version of its <a href="http://www.gehealthcare.com/usen/img_info_systems/centricity_clin_info/products/office_day.html">Centricity Enterprise</a> clinical/financial/administrative information system. It is designed for new hospitals and physician practices being constructed in the U.S. and emerging markets.  </p> <p>New consulting services are part of the package. Aspetar Hospital in Qatar and Qatar Science Foundation were pilot sites. With Intermountain Healthcare in Utah and Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, <strong>GE Healthcare has introduced a service to get published medical breakthroughs and best practices quickly to physicians at the point of care</strong>. Under the service, the vendor will update its clinical decision support systems with new treatment options developed at <strong>Intermountain and Mayo.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/vendor_news27304-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS">GE Collaborations Bear Fruit</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3908c4c1-f54c-4a1f-bade-2f7d073a9fbc" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/GE+Healthcare" rel="tag">GE Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Centricity" rel="tag">Centricity</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospital+branding" rel="tag">hospital branding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospital" rel="tag">hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/integration" rel="tag">integration</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a></div>

GE Collaborates and will offer new web based version of Centricity EHR

With collaborating with Mayo Clinic here, this gives an example of how “branding” of methodologies and information technologies serve to cr...

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Real Men Get Prostate Cancer – Hormone Therapy Observations

<p> Part of the cure for his cancer involves hormones and, yes he is getting a taste of what females deal with all our lives, but if it offers a cure for him, it is worth every minute.  Good article to read if this therapy would be applicable to you or someone you know as it offers a lot of information on what to expect.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Hormone therapy to shrink or slow the growth of prostate cancer is one of the most common treatments for the disease. New York Times editor Dana Jennings, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year, talks about his own treatment with the drug Lupron. By Dana Jennings The day after my most recent hormone injection for prostate cancer, I told my wife, Deb, that I had a headache, hot flashes, cramps and was very, very hungry.</p> <p>Those are just a few of the side effects I’ve been experiencing on Lupron, which is part of the hormonal treatment for my advanced case of prostate cancer. Lupron is a testosterone suppressant, designed to starve hormone-dependent cancer cells of the fuel (testosterone) that they crave in order to grow. My doctors believe, and studies indicate, that using hormonal therapy to complement my radiation treatments, which are scheduled to start next month, will give me a better chance of being cured, of survival.  </p> <p>Essentially, my Lupron shots are inducing biochemical (but reversible) castration. Besides the hot flashes and shrinking testicles, another potential side effect is that a man’s breasts grow larger and more sensitive. Now, I’ll tell you straight up, no doctor ever sits you down and says, “Son, to cure you, we might have to kind of turn you into a woman.” I suspect that some men would almost rather die than have hot flashes and larger breasts.</p> <p>You women remember kegeling — the contracting and relaxing of the muscles that make up the pelvic floor, exercises recommended before and after pregnancy. Well, prostate cancer patients need to do them, too, mainly to help improve bladder control.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/real-men-get-prostate-cancer/?partner=rss&emc=rss">Real Men Get Prostate Cancer - Well Blog - NYTimes.com</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2f71e051-db95-4a53-b6cb-22918cff235d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prostate+Cancer+Foundation" rel="tag">Prostate Cancer Foundation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Therapy" rel="tag">Therapy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a></div>

Real Men Get Prostate Cancer – Hormone Therapy Observations

Part of the cure for his cancer involves hormones and, yes he is getting a taste of what females deal with all our lives, but if it offers ...

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FDA and Face Filler Warnings…

<p> Well perhaps not a moment too soon this device was approved today and perhaps maybe an alternative  treatment.  BD  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/fda-clears-dpl-deep-penetrating-light.html"><font size="1">FDA Clears The DPL (Deep Penetrating Light) Therapy System For Over-the-Counter - Home Use</font></a></h4> <p><font size="1">This looks very interesting, as it appears you can have both minor pain relief and work on your wrinkles at the same time, so you have a choice to</font><a href="http://www.ledtechnologies.org/info/products.aspx"><font size="1"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="176" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SSL72NbOuHI/AAAAAAAAJ6o/JV7iMs8t9eE/image%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="244" /></font></a><font size="1"> strap on the unit or use it on the stand as shown below.</font></p> <p><font size="1">The before and after pictures look pretty good for the treatment of wrinkles.  It certainly appears to be a move to devices from the standard creams and lotions that have been available in the past for both beauty and pain relief.  The special price shown on </font><a href="http://www.ledtechnologies.org/info/Product_DPL.aspx"><font size="1">the web site today is $349.00.</font></a></p> <blockquote>(AP) -- Hundreds of thousands of baby boomer women who think they've found an antidote to aging in cosmetic facial fillers must be better informed of possible risks, government health advisers said Tuesday. A panel of independent advisers urged the Food and Drug Administration to revise the labeling to include the possibility of long lasting reactions such as bumps under the skin, blotches and scars. "It is almost a no-brainer," said Dr. Michael Bigby, a Harvard Medical School dermatologist. "The current label is not adequate." The gel-like fillers, which have become hugely popular in the last few years, are injected into the face to smooth away wrinkles.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news146245592.html">FDA panel: Tell consumers about facial filler risks</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:79201ef9-8302-4065-9197-dff86d90a790" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Face+Fillers" rel="tag">Face Fillers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/dermatology" rel="tag">dermatology</a></div>

FDA and Face Filler Warnings…

Well perhaps not a moment too soon this device was approved today and perhaps maybe an alternative  treatment.  BD  FDA Clears The DPL (D...

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Further effects of Wall Street collapse -NYC Subway System To Cut Services

<p>Getting around in New York could present some challenges in the future with traveling on the subways.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Sure, Mayor Bloomberg is a competent manager, but it's not hard to be competent when a booming financial sector swells your tax coffers. Anyone who thinks that New York City dodged a bullet because Bloomberg will probably get a third term needs to wake up. This is going to suck. The collapse of Wall Street and the hollowing out of old media means mondo tax shortfalls that can't be overcome by printing money.</p> <p><a href="http://wcbstv.com/topstories/mta.subway.budget.2.867290.html">WCBSTV.com</a>: During the Thursday meeting, The MTA is expected to: completely do away with the "W" line, which runs from Queens to Manhattan, and the "Z" line, which runs through Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. <strong>Also on the chopping block: service will be cut in half on the "G" line, which runs from Queens to Brooklyn; and the "M" line, which runs through Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.</strong></p> <p>Now, the "W" line, fine, we've actually barely heard of it. But the "G" is a low blow, since some of us actually live on it, and it's <em>already</em> the worst line in the whole system.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://clusterstock.alleyinsider.com/2008/11/crisis-fallout-new-york-is-going-to-suck">NYC Subway System To Cut Service</a></p>

Further effects of Wall Street collapse -NYC Subway System To Cut Services

Getting around in New York could present some challenges in the future with traveling on the subways.  BD  Sure, Mayor Bloomberg is a c...

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Name-Brand Drug Makers Ruled Liable for Injuries From Other Manufacturers' Generics

<p> This court case has been in the news of late and now with the current ruling, it adds on one more layer of responsibility to the Name Brand drug company, in other words when the generic versions come out and are prescribed, they can piggyback the exact same warnings, thus the name brand company is now liable for any generic side effects or injuries incurred by patients.  </p> <p>This could stand to open an entire new area in the legal field for lawsuits down the road.  BD  </p> <blockquote>Drug manufacturers have long had to provide safety warnings for their products. Now they might have to do the same for companies piggybacking on their success. On Friday, San Francisco's 1st District Court of Appeal stunned drug makers by ruling that they can be held liable not only for any harm caused by their own name-brand products, but also for injuries caused by competing companies' generic versions. "As the foreseeable risk of physical harm runs to users of both name-brand and generic drugs," Justice Peter Siggins wrote, "so too runs the duty of care."</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202425895939">Law.com - Name-Brand Drug Makers Ruled Liable for Injuries From Other Manufacturers' Generics</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:8786b0ee-f51c-421d-bcb6-f545ce1f7970" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Generice+drugs" rel="tag">Generice drugs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lawsuits" rel="tag">Lawsuits</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/side+effects" rel="tag">side effects</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/liability" rel="tag">liability</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pharma" rel="tag">Pharma</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/warnings" rel="tag">warnings</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/drugs.+name+band+drugs" rel="tag">drugs. name band drugs</a></div>

Name-Brand Drug Makers Ruled Liable for Injuries From Other Manufacturers' Generics

This court case has been in the news of late and now with the current ruling, it adds on one more layer of responsibility to the Name Brand...

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Japanese Potty Training…

<p>Complete with subtitles and singing feces…well must have been a slow day for real news today (grin).  BD</p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:b898ee42-ef08-4f6f-9527-d6b7dbb523b5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="bd0485a4-7b68-4c9b-9617-a7a775aa946f" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFVoLz88hiU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('bd0485a4-7b68-4c9b-9617-a7a775aa946f'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"236\" height=\"177\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/QFVoLz88hiU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/QFVoLz88hiU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"236\" height=\"177\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SSJmvmvwJmI/AAAAAAAAJ6k/9kXmS0bnzbs/video8d37a7e81d88%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW0H2tPZATQ&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW0H2tPZATQ&feature=related</a></p>

Japanese Potty Training…

Complete with subtitles and singing feces…well must have been a slow day for real news today (grin).  BD               ...

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Hospital Branding – Is the Most Expensive Always the Best?

<p> This very extensive article examines various hospitals in Massachusetts and the cost of the same procedures at different hospitals, and then continues further to discuss how this happens; contracts with the insurers and the ability to use “branding” to command a higher rate, all the big centers do it, Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, etc.  The big folks have even taken branding overseas to create an environment that is similar or pretty much the same as the successful operation here in the US, but do you need to go to a “branded” facility to receive good health care, not really, unless it is a procedure or perhaps even a trial for something that is specific and not available at other facilities, but for the sake of this post, I’m want to refer to procedures that are available and offered at almost any hospital.</p> <p><img align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SNP-0EGISbI/AAAAAAAAJDA/DgBeNAUbOkw/image_thumb[1].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" />There can be thousands of dollars difference between having the same doctor provide the same procedure when comparing hospitals, again, you head this correctly, same doctor who can perform surgery at one or the other hospital.  Just as in real estate, location has a lot to do with assessed charges, so if you are in an area where there are really no competing hospitals, well you get the idea there, supply and demand and thus you can pretty much bet on the price being a bit higher, versus traveling to another metropolitan area for the same procedure.   </p> <p>Partners Health Care in Massachusetts has really done it’s homework with insurers as far as reimbursement contracts, why because they <img align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGvfIRldGEI/AAAAAAAAH_c/6CMJGxVedps/image_thumb[2].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" />have 2 of the top 10 hospitals ranked in the US, the Brigham and Mass. General, and a little branding going on here, so on an average these 2 receive around 30% more than most in the <strong>area.  That’s a pretty big number and is why they are making money, when others are struggling to keep out of the hands of insolvency.  We have somewhat of a similar story going on in California with</strong> Prime Healthcare billing insurance companies for the normal and customary charges the chain of hospitals lists for procedures; however unlike Partners in Boston, he doesn’t have any contracts and cancelled them, so out here we end up with the <strong>ugly “balance billing” situation</strong>, to where the insurance companies pay, but without a contract, I believe they are paying what they feel should be paid for a procedure, and now the patients are stuck in the middle here, ugly and under scrutiny now from the California Managed Care Department.  Prime states they just want to get paid for the services they offer, and <strong>we do have some of the lowest compensation contract in the country here in California. </strong></p> <p><strong>Back in Massachusetts, Partners has made 1.7 billion in profits since 2004. </strong> Over at Beth Israel Deaconess, the rates paid are not as high, but yet they have a lower mortality rate, but they are a “teaching hospital” too, which when it comes to <strong>branding </strong>this is also a fact that is sold high, you will have a fully credited physician taking care of you, not interns, which lead to this comment from <a href="http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/">Paul Levy of Beth Israel</a><em> and a very good question indeed:</em></p> <p><em>"Shouldn't there be some correlation between what you get paid for doing something and the quality of what you do?" asked Beth Israel chief executive Paul Levy last month in remarks at the Massachusetts Medical Society.</em></p> <p>It’s gets even more complicated here too though as some teaching hospitals are paid a bit higher as well, so perhaps they are in the middle somewhere, and then that leaves those at the bottom, who earn perhaps half of what those do at the very top of the totem pole here.  What is also interesting is the fact that the high end procedures are not the bread and butter either, it’s the normal day to day incidents of having a baby, pneumonia, etc. that account for a big majority of the care, and the ones at the top get more for those procedures.</p> <p>To keep the higher compensation rates, the folks at the top have to ensure they are on the “highest” listing, and if not, well there’s the danger of losing some of the clout at the bargaining table. In essence it comes down to something like this,<strong> do you want the “Calvin Klein” branded hospital, or will the branded and trusted name of “Levis” work for you?</strong>  Both have good names in quality care, but one costs a bit less than the other and may not be as elaborately styled, but both get the job done.  </p> <p>Should there be standard and customary rates for hospital procedures?  Good question here and one that will probably linger around for quite a while, as you will have equipment and devices used too with the latest and most modern technology also clamoring to make a difference in what is the rate of pay, but too, only those usually at the top of the totem pole can afford a lot of newer technology as well, but who knows with the move of recent <strong>with Blue Cross promoting medical tourism, perhaps we might end up soon on a <u>Breakback Jet</u> on our way to some other country for routine and planned procedures</strong>.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>As his patient lies waiting in an adjacent exam room, Dr. James D. Alderman watches while an assistant reaches into a white envelope and pulls out a piece of paper that will determine where the man will be treated. Big money is on the line. Alderman, an interventional cardiologist, plans to open the patient's clogged coronary artery by inserting a flexible tube with a tiny balloon at the tip. Usually he does the procedure, called angioplasty, at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. But he sometimes operates in Boston as part of a research program. One time of every four, by the luck of the draw, Alderman and his patient go to a big teaching hospital in the city. If the white slip of paper directs him to do the procedure in Framingham, the insurance company will pay the hospital about $17,000, not counting the physician's fee. If Alderman is sent to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, that hospital will get about $24,500 - 44 percent more - even though the patient's care will be the same in both places.</p> <p>The cost was $5,309.15 for two days in Winchester Hospital to treat the pneumonia she contracted soon after her wedding earlier this year. Had she gone to Brigham and Women's instead, similar care would have cost more than $9,000, according to a Spotlight Team analysis of insurance records.</p> <p><strong>For instance, while Mass. General is spending $686 million on the single most expensive hospital expansion in state history, the state's second-largest hospital chain, Caritas Christi, had to borrow money this year to pay for basics, like oxygen tanks.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2008/11/16/a_healthcare_system_badly_out_of_balance/?page=1">A healthcare system badly out of balance - The Boston Globe</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related News:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/tenet-subsidiary-announces-closing-of.html">Tenet subsidiary announces closing of Irvine Regional Hospital – Orange County, CA</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/tenet-completes-sale-of-tarzana.html">Tenet Completes Sale of Tarzana Hospital to Providence Health & Services - California</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/tenet-not-renewing-lease-for-community.html">Tenet not renewing lease for Community Hospital – Los Gatos</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/providence-health-to-buy-tarzana.html">Providence Health to buy Tarzana Regional Medical Center from Tenet – Prime Healthcare buys the Encino branch</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/hospitals-put-patients-debt-up-for.html">Hospitals Put Patients' Debt Up for Auction</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/tenet-sells-north-ridge-medical-center.html">Tenet Sells North Ridge Medical Center for $20M - Florida</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/prime-healthcare-to-acquire-three.html">Prime Healthcare to acquire three hospitals from Tenet Healthcare - California</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/kaiser-permanente-members-targeted-in.html">Kaiser Permanente members targeted in hospital billing dispute</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/04/tenet-healthcare-to-sell-usc-university.html">Tenet Healthcare to sell USC University Hospital</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/02/eight-southern-california-hospitals-sue.html">Eight Southern California hospitals sue Kaiser</a></h6> <h6><strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/hospitals-protest-new-california-rules.html">Hospitals protest new California rules on patient balance billing</a> </strong></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/california-and-balance-billing.html">California and Balance Billing</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/desperate-hospitals-series-11-02-2008.html"><font size="1">Desperate Hospitals Series – 11-02-2008 Update</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/battle-of-medical-bills-where-nobody.html"><font size="1">The battle of the medical bills where nobody but the insurers win</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:324e1b21-c02f-40c9-bb18-939e688f6276" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hosptials" rel="tag">Hosptials</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospitals" rel="tag">Hospitals</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Insurance" rel="tag">Insurance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bankruptcy" rel="tag">Bankruptcy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Transparancy" rel="tag">Transparancy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Vendors" rel="tag">Vendors</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Debt+consolidation" rel="tag">Debt consolidation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Physicians" rel="tag">Physicians</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Balance+Billing" rel="tag">Balance Billing</a></div>

Hospital Branding – Is the Most Expensive Always the Best?

This very extensive article examines various hospitals in Massachusetts and the cost of the same procedures at different hospitals, and the...

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Sylmar Hospital Loses Power and Evacuates Patients – So Cal Fires

<p>This is a pretty new state of the art facility and the back up power didn’t come on.  When you watch the raw video, it is pretty scary.  I am in Orange County where the fires have been roaring as well, but I am lucky that I am not in the affected areas, however, everything smells of smoke and there was a big “orange” moon in the sky last night from all the fire in the air.  As the smoke drifted over to where I am, yesterday it was almost like a darkness from rain clouds blocking the sun, was very heavy in the air.  </p> <p>Olive View - UCLA had been rebuilt on the same land where it has been destroyed in 1971 from the Sylmar earthquake.  <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/hospitals-in-la-orange-counties-are.html">Earlier this year</a> the hospital had been fined for putting patients as risk.  The raw video here shows almost nothing but a full wall of fire.  BD</p> <p><object height="321" id="WNVideoCanvasDEFAULTdivWNVideoCanvas" width="450"> <param 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FlashVars="isShowIcon=true&affiliate=LATMS&affiliateNumber=421&backgroundAlphas=100,100,100,100&backgroundColors=eeeeee,eeeeee,eeeeee,eeeeee&backgroundRatios=0,25,130,255&backgroundRotation=270&borderAlpha=100&borderColor=aaaaaa&borderWidth=1&clipId=3140509&playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDobject&closecaptionPaneLabelText=&closePaneLabelText=&commercialHeadlinePrefix=Commercial&controlsBackgroundAlphas=100,100&controlsBackgroundColors=eeeeee,eeeeee&controlsBackgroundRatios=0,255&controlsBackgroundRotation=270&controlsBorderColor=212121&controlsBottomPadding=8&controlsButtonLeftBorderColor=c7c7c7&controlsButtonRightBorderColor=656464&controlsHeight=40&controlsOffFaceColor=828282&controlsOverFaceColor=454444&controlsSidePadding=8&defaultStyle=flatlight&disableTransport=false&domId=WNVideoCanvasDEFAULTdivWNVideoCanvas&emailErrorBorderColor=ae1a01&emailErrorMessageFaceColor=ae1a01&emailFormFieldAlphas=80&emailFormFieldColors=dddee0&emailFormFieldRatios=0&emailFormFieldRotation=90&emailInputFaceColor=454444&emailMessageLabelText=&emailPaneLabelText=&emailSentConfirmationMessage=&errorMessage=&fullScreenControlType=none&hasBevel=false&hasBorder=true&hasBottomBorder=true&hasFullScreen=true&hasLeftBorder=true&hasRightBorder=true&hasTopBorder=true&helpPage=http://www.latimes.com/about/site/stv-flash-video-about,0,301457.htmlstory&hostDomain=video.latimes.com&idKey=DEFAULT&imgPath=http://latms.images.worldnow.com/images/static/video/flash/&invalidRecipientFieldMessage=&invalidSenderFieldMessage=&isAutoStart=&isMute=&landingPage=http://www.latimes.com/video/&loadingMessage=&offFaceColor=828282&overFaceColor=454444&overlayBackgroundAlphas=92&overlayBackgroundColors=b6b6b5&overlayBackgroundRatios=0&overlayBackgroundRotation=90&overlayOffFaceColor=454444&overlayOverFaceColor=ffffff&pauseButtonText=&playAtActualSize=0&playButtonText=&playerHeight=321&playerWidth=500&recipientEmailLabelText=&sendEmailButtonText=&senderEmailLabelText=&senderNameLabelText=&shareListItemHighlightBorderColor=ffffff&shareListItemOffFaceColor=828282&shareListItemShadowBorderColor=b1b0b0&shareListListItemOverFaceColor=828282&sidePadding=3&smoothingMode=auto&staticImgPath=http://latms.images.worldnow.com&summaryGraphicMessage=&summaryGraphicScaleStyle=stretchToFit&summaryPaneLabelText=&tabBackgroundAlphas=100,100&tabBackgroundColors=e6e6e6,e6e6e6&tabBackgroundOverAlphas=100,100&tabBackgroundOverColors=eeeeee,eeeeee&tabBackgroundOverRatios=0,100&tabBackgroundRatios=75,255&tabBackgroundRotation=90&tabBackgroundSelectedAlphas=100&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderAlpha=100&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderColor=aaaaaa&tabBackgroundSelectedBorderWidth=1&tabBackgroundSelectedColors=eeeeee&tabBackgroundSelectedHasBevel=false&tabBackgroundSelectedHasBorder=true&tabBackgroundSelectedHasDropShadow=false&tabBackgroundSelectedRatios=0&tabBorderAlpha=100&tabBorderColor=aaaaaa&tabBorderWidth=1&tabFontSize=10&tabHasBevel=false&tabHasBorder=true&tabHasDropShadow=false&tabHeight=26&tabLeftBorderColor=e5e5e5&tabOffFaceColor=828282&tabOverBorderAlpha=100&tabOverBorderWidth=1&tabOverFaceColor=454444&tabOverHasBevel=false&tabOverHasBorder=true&tabRightBorderColor=868686&tabShadowColor=333333&topPadding=3&videoSliderBackgroundColor=cccccc&videoSliderKnobBackgroundAlphas=100,100&videoSliderKnobBackgroundColors=cccccc,cccccc&videoSliderKnobBackgroundRatios=0,255&videoSliderKnobBackgroundRotation=90&videoSliderKnobBorderColor=959495&videoSliderKnobOffFaceColor=444444&videoSliderKnobOverFaceColor=212121&videoSliderKnobShadowColor=5a5a5a&videoSliderLoadIndicatorColor=828282&videoSliderProgressIndicatorColor=454444&volumeSliderOffColor=cccccc&volumeSliderOverColor=828282&"></embed></object></p> <blockquote> <p>Although flames had chewed through the power lines that serve the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, staff members thought that they would be fine. The hospital prided itself on its "state-of-the-art" back-up systems. But wind-whipped flames and choking smoke brought Olive View to a dark standstill early Saturday, as the hospital lost power, and its emergency backup generators failed.</p> <p>The Sylmar hospital was surrounded by tall cyclonic walls of flames, as embers showered on the grounds and smoke seeped into the hospital's lower floors. At times the smoke was so thick the beams of flashlights looked like headlights cutting through a fog.  The hospital lost power at 1:45 a.m. Saturday, and the backup generator soon kicked in. The generator is designed to work as a bridge until the self-contained power plant, about 100 yards from the hospital's eastern edge, fires up. The generator did its job, but the power plant didn't -- a fuel pump failed.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-oliveview16-2008nov16,0,5591321.story">Power failure brings Sylmar hospital to standstill - Los Angeles Times</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:d5eb2781-5777-4c7e-913a-bc010bdf6e43" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sylmar" rel="tag">Sylmar</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Los+Angeles+Fires" rel="tag">Los Angeles Fires</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Olive+View+Hosptial" rel="tag">Olive View Hosptial</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/UCLA" rel="tag">UCLA</a></div>

Sylmar Hospital Loses Power and Evacuates Patients – So Cal Fires

This is a pretty new state of the art facility and the back up power didn’t come on.  When you watch the raw video, it is pretty scary.  I a...

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Why not -Stephen Colbert FDA Commissioner - Hilarious

<p>Love the added BeeGees effect and he just really nails hormone therapy for women!</p> <p><embed FlashVars="videoId=210357" src="http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/video_player/view/default/swf.jhtml" quality="high" bgcolor="#cccccc" width="332" height="316" name="comedy_central_player" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="always" allownetworking="external" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></p> <p><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/15/stephen-colbert-for-fda-commissioner/" title="Hat Tip: WSJ">http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/15/stephen-colbert-for-fda-commissioner/</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:397dc701-2efb-421d-8e9d-0fec245ff766" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Comedy+Central" rel="tag">Comedy Central</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Stephen+Colbert" rel="tag">Stephen Colbert</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/BeeGees" rel="tag">BeeGees</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HRT" rel="tag">HRT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Jupiter+report" rel="tag">Jupiter report</a></div>

Why not -Stephen Colbert FDA Commissioner - Hilarious

Love the added BeeGees effect and he just really nails hormone therapy for women! http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/15/stephen-colbert...

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Cerner Incorporates Genomics Into Electronic Medical Records

<p>They have established a coding vocabulary for genetic test results called CBO, or <a href="https://www.clinbioinformatics.org/cbopublic/">Clinical Bioinformatics Ontology</a>.  Genetic test results are associated with the concepts from the CBO, whereas a traditional observation like a pulse or blood pressure might be associated with a SNOMED (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine) concept. </p> <p><img align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SER-cLF-BPI/AAAAAAAAHaU/Sr7OU4wNQZM/image_thumb[1].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" />The CBO codes are open source and can be downloaded by anyone.  SNOWMED and LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes were evaluated for any duplicates efforts, but little or none were found, thus Cerner decided to create a vocabulary for genomics which began about 6 years ago.</p> <p>The focus has been to make the presentation of the genomic information simple and not complicated and less focus on how the results were determined, which is good as that is what a physician needs is the information in the EHR quickly without the time involved searches on the web as the average office visit does not allow additional time for this.  BD  </p> <p><strong>November 11, 2008 |</strong> Molecular diagnostics laboratories that are doing clinical genomics “try to fit a round peg into a square hole, especially when it comes to workflow,” says Mark Hoffman, director of translational medicine at <a href="http://www.cerner.com/public/">Cerner</a>, the Kansas City-based health-IT player which <img align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGpXenoTixI/AAAAAAAAH9s/C0gXkEBUW4o/image_thumb[1].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" />has been targeting this market since 2005. “They try to use systems that were designed for traditional pathology and shoehorn those into a very unique and contemporary workflow, going into contortions to do that within their information system, especially with infectious disease testing.” </p> <p> Cerner’s genomics solution is <a href="http://www.cerner.com/public/Cerner_3.asp?id=27249">Millennium Helix</a>, an offering that incorporates molecular diagnostic data into the electronic medical record, says Hoffman, who helped develop the bioinformatics system, which he says also streamlines processes and positions labs on the cutting edge of diagnostic medicine.</p> <p>Say a patient has a genetic test for a gene that indicates whether they’re predisposed for an adverse drug reaction, within our architecture,<strong> the system can evaluate medication orders against both the genetic test results as well as other factors like drug allergy and drug interactions.</strong> So it enables us to take a very holistic approach to personalized medicine, where it’s not just genetic, not just allergy, but a combination of any factors that need to be taken into consideration.</p> <p><a href="http://www.digitalhcp.com/2008/11/11/QA-cerner.html">http://www.digitalhcp.com/2008/11/11/QA-cerner.html</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/cerner-and-international-serious.html"><font size="1">Cerner and The International Serious Adverse Events Consortium to Study Genetic Markers</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/cerner-makes-its-moves-beyond-software.html"><font size="1">Cerner makes its moves beyond software</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/cerner-hill-rom-join-smart-hospital.html"><font size="1">Cerner, Hill-Rom join smart hospital beds with e-medical records</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/new-microsoft-direction-in-health-care.html"><font size="1">New Microsoft direction in Health Care - Partners with Cerner and the Patient gets to play X-Box</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5baee154-bdcf-4e43-92ac-aee77fb2a7f5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cerner" rel="tag">Cerner</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EMR" rel="tag">EMR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/genomics" rel="tag">genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/codes" rel="tag">codes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/vocabulary" rel="tag">vocabulary</a></div>

Cerner Incorporates Genomics Into Electronic Medical Records

They have established a coding vocabulary for genetic test results called CBO, or Clinical Bioinformatics Ontology .  Genetic test results a...

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Leavitt Says Personalized Medicine is 'Central' to Future Healthcare System

<p>Personalized Medicine will create many answers and solutions in healthcare, but will we have the money to afford it?  I post quite a bit about genomics and personalized medicine on the blog here and the one thing it has in common with the rest of healthcare is cost.  </p> <p><strong>The success of personalized medicine will arise when the levels of clinical and scientific data come together with adequate information and education <u>offered at the point of care,</u> from your primary care MD and add in the fact that they are compensated along the line as well and a reduction of red tape to accomplish this will allow for better health care for all, with <u>risk management taking a back seat the first goal at hand.</u>  BD  </strong>  </p> <p>Another challenge, he said, is the rapid rise in healthcare coverage, and that fact that around 45 million Americans are uninsured. </p> <p>“The advent of personalized health care cannot take place, and should hardly even be thought about, outside the context of the present crisis in health care financing and delivery,” Leavitt said. </p> <p>“An important element of the problem lies with the outdated system of reimbursement that is enshrined in the Medicare program,” he added. </p> <p>First, he said, “the base of interoperable health information technology is critical and remains far from complete. It is not merely a matter of electronic health records, but equally the capacity to exchange information securely.”</p> <p><strong>Leavitt also recommends “closer alignment” of the work of the FDA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.</strong> “In particular this pertains to the issue of standards of evidence, especially for products and services that reduce costs in the future by identifying disease earlier or enabling effective prevention,” he said. </p> <p><a href="http://www.genomeweb.com/issues/news/150739-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS">http://www.genomeweb.com/issues/news/150739-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/sneaky-attempt-to-impose-medicaid.html"><font size="1">Sneaky Attempt to Impose Medicaid Regulation</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/bureaucracy-has-delayed-plans-for-three.html"><font size="1">Bureaucracy Has Delayed Plans For Three FDA Offices In China, HHS Secretary Leavitt Says</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/mayo-johns-hopkins-ceos-want-buffer.html"><font size="1">Mayo & Johns Hopkins CEOs Want Buffer Between Congress & Medicare</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/fda-budget-swells-as-administration.html"><font size="1">FDA Budget Swells as Administration Bows to Congress</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/mike-leavitt-and-fda-commissioner.html"><font size="1">Mike Leavitt and FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach go to China for consultations</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0edde4cd-a07d-456b-a078-3db39d9f5ff9" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Personalized+Medicine" rel="tag">Personalized Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Leavitt" rel="tag">Leavitt</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CMS" rel="tag">CMS</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/integration" rel="tag">integration</a></div>

Leavitt Says Personalized Medicine is 'Central' to Future Healthcare System

Personalized Medicine will create many answers and solutions in healthcare, but will we have the money to afford it?  I post quite a bit abo...

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College Grads – Looking for new Algorithms for the Future, None left at Wall Street

<p> Start up companies and biotech engineering is making a big calling as nobody wants or likes the formulas that crippled Wall Street any longer.  There’s a lot of work in R and D though where formulas and scientific study are needed to cure diseases, that is for sure.</p> <p>Hopefully all our well educated college graduates too can find a place before too much of the R and D processes, which includes developing medical devices and pharmaceuticals, before too much of our technology moves to other developing countries.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>Early in his college career, Tyler Bosmeny assumed that after graduating, he would do what hundreds of other self-respecting <img align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SNnMJ9PQxXI/AAAAAAAAJHY/cgijEh4ebGQ/image_thumb[3].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" />Harvard University engineering, math, and science students do: take a job on Wall Street. "I had done a summer internship in investment banking, and part of me always figured that I'd be working in finance after Harvard," says Bosmeny, an applied mathematics major. But on graduation in June 2009, Bosmeny will work instead for an Internet startup he founded with five undergraduates from top schools who, like him, were on student newspapers. Called PaperG, the startup sells online advertising to local businesses.</p> <p><strong>Another Duke student, Vinay Lekharaju, says his dream since childhood has been to become an investment banker.</strong> He believed that a solid education in engineering and mathematics, combined with courses in financial management, would position him well for this career. He says he has been applying to every financial service company he can, but unlike previous semesters, when peers would get multiple job offers, he hasn't even been called for an interview. <strong>So Lekharaju is looking for a job in information technology. </strong></p> <p>The <a href="http://bx.businessweek.com/venture-capital/">venture capital</a> community appears to have taken note of the newfound disillusionment with finance. <a href="http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?capId=22513564">First Round Capital</a>, an early-stage VC firm based in New York City, launched "<a href="http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2008/09/leave-wall-stre.html">Leave Wall Street, Join a Startup</a>," a Web site that lists job openings at its portfolio companies and encourages financiers to jump to tech startups. The campaign got heavy play—and approving mentions—in the blogosphere.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2008/tc20081113_488542.htm">Engineering: Suddenly Sexy for College Grads – BusinessWeek</a></p> <p><strong><u><font size="1">Related Reading:</font></u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/beware-of-geeks-bearing-formulaswarren.html">“Beware of Geeks Bearing Formulas”…Warren Buffett</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-wall-street-lied-to-its-computers.html">How Wall Street Lied to Its Computers – Software and Programming</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/medical-quack-on-wall-street-journal.html"><font size="1">Medical Quack on the Wall Street Journal – November 2008</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/economy-wreck-but-we-can-fix-it.html"><font size="1">The Economy's a Wreck, But We Can Fix It?</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4c46660a-4347-4e47-88e2-2dc119027016" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wall+Street" rel="tag">Wall Street</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Algorithms" rel="tag">Algorithms</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Start+Ups" rel="tag">Start Ups</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Biotech" rel="tag">Biotech</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Engineers" rel="tag">Engineers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Genomics" rel="tag">Genomics</a></div>

College Grads – Looking for new Algorithms for the Future, None left at Wall Street

Start up companies and biotech engineering is making a big calling as nobody wants or likes the formulas that crippled Wall Street any long...

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Mike Leavitt and FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach go to China for consultations

<p>With the backlash the FDA has sustained this last year, a lot of it related to lack of technology and not being up to par, perhaps this will turn out to be a productive trip.  </p> <p>Earlier I posted about <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/fda-to-detain-food-shipments-from-china.html">remote monitoring and how technology could expand and help</a></strong> with monitoring food products, when you stop and think about it<strong> we remotely meet and monitor many other things in society, so why not</strong>.  When it comes to inspections, why not have the <strong>information on the product sent before it is packaged and goes to market.</strong>  We just need some new algorithms written and servers put in to place, to do a quality test for compliance, <strong>with results being show both at the FDA and at the factor of origin.</strong>  Of course, there would <img align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SIj9P_nkLTI/AAAAAAAAIV8/aMAtC1YcAlA/fda1_thumb[2].png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" />still be a requirement for on premise visits too, but this would certainly cut to the chase, so perhaps CMS and the FDA might look into using technology to help all of us out.  Write up some <strong>quality control algorithms to</strong> meet for each product and set the standards and start transmitting to the server to run queries and disperse alerts as needed. </p> <p>A bit of <strong>well designed business intelligence</strong> to make this a safer place could not hurt at a time like this when there is very little monitoring going on at all, as there will always be those trying to beat the system when it comes down to money.  BD</p> <p>The release touted next week’s planned visit by HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt and FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach to China for consultations with officials there and for ribbon-cutting on the agency’s new offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.</p> <p>Both men, it said, will take part in seminars with Chinese authorities on food and drug “policy and governance,” and, nearer the end, “the latest scientific data on the toxicity of melamine on humans.” Melamine is the poisonous chemical that’s been found in Chinese milk.</p> <p><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/14/feds-send-mixed-message-to-china/">http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/14/feds-send-mixed-message-to-china/</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong>  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/business-intelligence-for-fda-on-way.html"><font size="1">Business Intelligence for the FDA on the way</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/fda-to-detain-food-shipments-from-china.html"><font size="1">FDA to detain food shipments from China – Why not add some technology to the inspection processes?</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/broken-agency-china-and-fda.html"><font size="1">A Broken Agency – China and the FDA</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medicine-is-low-tech-business-clinical.html">Medicine is a Low Tech Business - Clinical Studies still done on paper too!</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/fda-reform-planned.html">FDA Reform Planned</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/04/fda-head-we-boosting-it.html">FDA Head: We're Boosting I.T.</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/02/study-calling-for-medical-device.html">Study Calling For Medical Device Information To Better Serve Patients And Doctors from the FDA</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/04/congress-to-industry-need-your-help.html">Congress to industry: 'We need your help'</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/fda-approvals-will-outsourcing-and-new.html">FDA Approvals – will outsourcing and new budgets help?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/10/chemicals-flow-unchecked-from-china-to.html">Chemicals Flow Unchecked From China to US Drug Market</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/fda-chief-relents-asking-congress-to.html">FDA Chief Relents, Asking Congress to Fund More Foreign Inspections</a></h6> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:640ff558-48f6-4d3e-a45f-295ee675ff7f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/China" rel="tag">China</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/phamaceutical+plant+inspections" rel="tag">phamaceutical plant inspections</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA+funding" rel="tag">FDA funding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Congress+Pharma" rel="tag">Congress Pharma</a></div>

Mike Leavitt and FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach go to China for consultations

With the backlash the FDA has sustained this last year, a lot of it related to lack of technology and not being up to par, perhaps this will...

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Baby monitor iPhone software calls you when baby cries – Cell phone users are getting started much earlier

<p> One more use for the iPhone, put it in the crib and the phone will dial you up at the phone number you designate, so as soon as any noise<a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/11/14/baby-monitor-iphone.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SR3U17vQIII/AAAAAAAAJ6U/X0Ot9hEDwVM/image%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="152" /></a> is detected, you get a call.  Users of cell  phones are getting younger every day and now you can even start out at the infancy stage (grin).  What next?</p> <p>If the baby picks up the phone, you are notified.  I am not sure about this one yet, maybe some other folks might comment here on how they feel having an iPhone in the crib.  BD  </p> <blockquote>Even use it to monitor when older kids arrive home from school, etc. The applications are unlimited. It also will detect if your  baby picks up the phone. Great for curious toddlers that wake up from their nap without making noise. A fantastic value at only 99 cents.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/11/14/baby-monitor-iphone.html">Baby monitor iPhone app calls you when baby cries - Boing Boing</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2392198f-fa8d-4d4f-ad0b-aae6c78604e6" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cell+phone" rel="tag">Cell phone</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/iPhone" rel="tag">iPhone</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a></div>

Baby monitor iPhone software calls you when baby cries – Cell phone users are getting started much earlier

One more use for the iPhone, put it in the crib and the phone will dial you up at the phone number you designate, so as soon as any noise ...

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Woman uses cooking oil as a replacement for silicone injections - Korea

<p> Obviously a “do not try this at home” story.  The story goes over some of the nightmares of plastic surgery that occur and with the current <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SR3TYzgmnxI/AAAAAAAAJ6M/H3HDlEJxjFg/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="159" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SR3Ta2GoUII/AAAAAAAAJ6Q/PRcXl02cD2M/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="156" /></a>world economics, a word to the wise, don’t try the do it yourself routine here by any means.  </p> <p>Stay with a board certified plastic surgeon and in this woman’s case, perhaps Botox would have been an alternative, depending on what she was trying to accomplish, this is enough to depress anyone.  BD  </p> <blockquote>Hang Mioku's last act in her 20-year addiction to plastic surgery made her infamous: She picked up a syringe, <strong>filled it with cooking oil and injected into her own face.</strong>  Mioku's extreme act and the resulting disfigurement made international headlines. She told the Korean media that she turned to cooking oil because she had run out of the silicone a doctor had given her to perform injections at home.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainNews/story?id=6249414&page=1">ABC News: Cosmetic Surgery Desperation and Depression</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0ab92776-d49d-406c-b0e1-46708f31bd2e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/plastic+surgery" rel="tag">plastic surgery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Botox" rel="tag">Botox</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/silicone" rel="tag">silicone</a></div>

Woman uses cooking oil as a replacement for silicone injections - Korea

Obviously a “do not try this at home” story.  The story goes over some of the nightmares of plastic surgery that occur and with the current...

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Sperm Storage – No not that kind, it’s a flash drive!

<p>Well you can have all kinds of fun with this one, and hey, use it with your notebook or <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/sahara-slate-tablet-pc-i440d-from.html">Tablet PC</a></strong> to take advantage of Vista Ready Boost, that stores memory on the drive and accelerates loading of software programs.  If you don’t know about <strong>Ready Boost,</strong> check it out on the Microsoft site and see what you might be missing with Vista.  BD</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SR3MC2yalBI/AAAAAAAAJ58/zzW4t882Wm4/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="152" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SR3ME5uM4hI/AAAAAAAAJ6A/ehaGPqmkGVk/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="244" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SR3MMSHAFeI/AAAAAAAAJ6E/zz3q6zO9GoA/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="163" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SR3MOBqtHtI/AAAAAAAAJ6I/PcY8q2-tpq8/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="244" /></a></p> <p>Attendees can get some pretty cool swag at big conventions, but I have yet to see a product as functionally hysterical as this sperm-shaped USB drive handed out at the American Society For Reproductive Medicine's (ASRM) 2008 conference.</p> <p><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5084498/usb-drive-proves-fertility-conventions-give-out-the-best-swag-ever">http://gizmodo.com/5084498/usb-drive-proves-fertility-conventions-give-out-the-best-swag-ever</a></p> <p>Hat Tip:  <a href="http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2008/11/and_now_for_something_completely_different_conference_kitsch.html">Medgadget</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:9292444a-8cdf-4497-a3eb-6b05d524fb7d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Flash+Drives" rel="tag">Flash Drives</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sperm+Storage" rel="tag">Sperm Storage</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Technology" rel="tag">Technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Computers" rel="tag">Computers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tablet+PC" rel="tag">Tablet PC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Notebooks" rel="tag">Notebooks</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ready+Boost" rel="tag">Ready Boost</a></div>

Sperm Storage – No not that kind, it’s a flash drive!

Well you can have all kinds of fun with this one, and hey, use it with your notebook or Tablet PC to take advantage of Vista Ready Boost, t...

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