Tag Archives: healthcare

The US ‘Healthcare’ System is a Mess

A recent and important PBGH white paper reveals the fundamentally chaotic and arbitrary nature of U.S. commercial healthcare pricing, demonstrating that provider rates have no correlation to quality and vary dramatically without logical justification 😳 Key Findings The study analyzed data from five major employers (including Boeing, Qualcomm, and Denver’s city/county government) across multiple geographicContinueContinue reading “The US ‘Healthcare’ System is a Mess”

The “Perfect Storm” in Healthcare

A “Perfect Storm” in the American healthcare system is developing, driven by mounting structural failures and stupid political decisions. The core issues include severe physician shortages, government cutbacks on Medicare and preventative services, looming loss of ACA marketplace subsidies, and major reductions in public health and child nutrition programs, all combining to reduce access, qualityContinueContinue reading “The “Perfect Storm” in Healthcare”

If AI Can Diagnose, What Are Doctors For?

Dr. Dhruv Khullar’s New Yorker article, “If A.I. Can Diagnose Patients, What Are Doctors For?,” explores how large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT are transforming medical diagnostics, blending compelling anecdote with wide-ranging critique. The article opens with the story of Matthew Williams, whose mysterious gastrointestinal illness eluded eight clinicians but was quickly explained byContinueContinue reading “If AI Can Diagnose, What Are Doctors For?”

Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us

And Why We Must Demand Responsible AI in Medicine It’s time to ask a hard question : Are medical errors really the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Every day, clinicians, no matter how skilled, work against a tide of fatigue, outdated knowledge, limited time, and systemic biases. The cost is measured inContinueContinue reading “Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us”

MAID in Delaware

There has keen interest in medical aid in dying (MAID) among the Delaware medical community with the passage of House Bill 140, as evidenced by the record downloads of the MSD HealthRealities podcast on MAID. Medical Aid in Dying: Insights From Both Sides of the Stethoscope https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ktbn5-1852672 Summary of HB 140 The recently enacted theContinueContinue reading “MAID in Delaware”

Corporatization of U.S. health care

Here’s my summary of an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which explores the consequences of the corporatization of U.S. health care, examining its benefits and drawbacks, and how it affects patients, medical organizations, and society at large. Corporatization Explained Corporatization refers to the growing influence of large corporations and investors in health care,ContinueContinue reading “Corporatization of U.S. health care”

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”

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?”

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”