(May 20, 2008 – find an update to this post) [Let me begin this post with a bit of a disclaimer. My husband is a retired veteran of the Air Force — 20+ years — before I knew him, but that doesn’t diminish my pride in the fact that he served our country. His son […]
From 2002 to 2003, about 101,000 Americans died from preventable causes ranging from diabetes to bacterial infections and surgical complications, so says a study releases this week. The reports are based on results from a study undertaken by the Commonwealth Fund, a private New York City based health policy foundation. The study took place among
Why Does the US Have the Worst Rate of Preventable Deaths Among Industrialized Nations? Read More »
Empowered patients will be interested in a report today on the study results of a survey of Chicago area internists (family doctors). It seems that 45% of them see nothing wrong in prescribing placebos — fake sugar pills — for their patients. The report actually tiptoes around what the results really mean. The spinmeisters had
When Your Doctor Fakes You Out Read More »
…. and today is his 81st birthday. When people ask me how and why I began doing patient advocacy and empowerment work, I first tell them about my misdiagnosis, and then I tell them it’s because I learned how to be an empowered patient from my dad. Since beginning his battle with cancer in 1986
Dad — an Empowered Patient Sets a Fine Example Read More »
I found a photo in my morning newspaper of a man throwing paperwork into a shredding bin in Times Square in New York City. The caption tells about Good Riddance Day. A huge, industrial-sized paper shredder was set up, and the public was invited to shred their bad memories of 2007 — to tell those
Good Riddance — Time to Shed Those Bad 2007 Health Challenges! Read More »
Found an interesting op-ed from the Dallas News online yesterday, written by Dr. Steve Cole entitled, “Biggest factor in rising health costs are the doctors themselves.” Unfortunately, the title doesn’t even begin to touch the content, so many folks will miss this enlightening piece — a piece that should be read by everyone who has
Doctors Work the System to Increase Income – at the Patient’s Expense Read More »
Last evening I heard from Jack, a man with revenge on his mind. Sadly, Jack’s focus on making sure someone “pays” has moved the real problem, and the person who needs his help the most, to the back seat. It’s a bad situation, and it just breaks my heart. Jack has a six-year-old son, Max.
When Blaming Gets in the Way of Well-being Read More »
One of the questions I am asked frequently is about the best way to find the right doctor for a second opinion. That question — and its answer — have become among the most important answers I’ve ever provided, ever since the proof of my answer was provided in the results of a study last
Doctors Protect Colleagues at Patient Expense Read More »
