Author Archives: drrjv

Another Spike in Health Care Costs

Delaware Faces Another Health Care Cost Surge Delaware’ residents are bracing for another spike in health care costs next year, with projections showing an 8.5% increase in spending on hospitals, pharmaceuticals, and medical care for 2026. That’s bad news for Delawareans already shelling out over $10,500 a year—far beyond the pace of inflation. Why Should Anyone Care? WhenContinueContinue reading “Another Spike in Health Care Costs”

Public Health Dark Age

The United States is entering a period many are calling a new Dark Age for public health, as sweeping changes at the CDC and federal health agencies create unprecedented anxiety and disruption. While some argued the CDC needed reform, the recent shakeups, marked by mass firings, controversial new leadership, and abrupt data blackouts, represent the wrong approachContinueContinue reading “Public Health Dark Age”

Projection

Projection is a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously (or in politics, maybe consciously) attributes their own unwanted thoughts, feelings, or impulses to someone else. For example, a person who feels hostile toward others might accuse others of being hostile toward them. This allows the individual to avoid acknowledging or dealing with those uncomfortable emotionsContinueContinue reading “Projection”

Healthcare or Profitcare?

Why the U.S. Healthcare System is a Mess The U.S. healthcare system consistently underperforms compared to other high-income countries. According to a Commonwealth Fund Report and article in Harvard Business Review, even the best U.S. states fall short when measured against nations like France, Germany, the UK, and Australia. Key Points Performance Gap: The U.S.ContinueContinue reading “Healthcare or Profitcare?”

Google’s AI Energy Usage?

We (or rather They) did the math There’s been a lot of debate around the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, particularly the electricity, water, and carbon involved in running large language models. New research shared by Google suggests that, at least for its Gemini models, the per-prompt footprint is much smaller than many have assumed. According toContinueContinue reading “Google’s AI Energy Usage?”

The Risks of “Seemingly Conscious AI

Click for Audio Version (AI Generated 😬) This is an area that I’ve been thinking about for some time. What if an an AI model took control of a corporation, which in the US has certain rights mirroring personhood (see Citizen’s United Supreme Court decision?) Would the AI model then be able to legally actContinueContinue reading “The Risks of “Seemingly Conscious AI”

The immune system offers a window into aging

“The immune system permeates and regulates organs and tissues across the body, and has diverse roles beyond pathogen control, including in development, tissue homeostasis and repair. The reshaping of the immune system that occurs during aging is therefore highly consequential. In this Focus issue, Nature Aging presents a collection of reviews of and opinions onContinueContinue reading “The immune system offers a window into aging”

Nicotinamide Riboside vs. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide

Which NAD⁺ Booster Is Right for You? In recent years, two vitamin B3 derivatives—Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) and Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)—have emerged as leading contenders in the world of longevity science. Both are precursors to NAD⁺ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a coenzyme essential for energy production, DNA repair, and healthy cell function. As we age, NAD⁺ levelsContinueContinue reading “Nicotinamide Riboside vs. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide”

Nurse Practitioner Training Issues

The training of nurse practitioners (NPs) varies widely, and that variation is one of the most important points in any discussion about their role in healthcare. 1. Entry Pathways RN-to-NP: Some NPs start as registered nurses (RNs) with years of bedside experience before pursuing graduate NP training. Direct-entry: Others enter NP programs without prior RN work, moving straight fromContinueContinue reading “Nurse Practitioner Training Issues”