A New York Times analysis of CDC data released this week showed that, in contrast to falling death rates among black and Hispanic adults, drug overdoses are driving up the death rate of young white adults in the United States to levels not seen since the end of the AIDS epidemic more than two decades agoContinue reading “Rising death rates in young white adults due to overdoses”
Category Archives: Health Policy
On LEAN principles in medicine
Perspective from The New England Journal of Medicine — Medical Taylorism Source: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1512402
Personalized preventive medicine
Much research and media attention have focused on personalized medicine. The National Cancer Institute defines personalized medicine as “a form of medicine that uses information about a person’s genes, proteins, and environment to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.” Although this definition includes prevention, much of the focus of personalized medicine has been on treatments, with aContinue reading “Personalized preventive medicine”
2015 Dietary Guidelines: a gallon of lobbying and a pinch of nutrition science?
New federal dietary guidelines issued last week by the Agriculture and Health and Human Services Departments, urge Americans to drastically cut back on sugar, and for the first time have singled out teenage boys and men for eating too much meat, chicken and eggs. The biggest change is restricting added sugar: Americans consume up to 22 teaspoons aContinue reading “2015 Dietary Guidelines: a gallon of lobbying and a pinch of nutrition science?”
Times Square and Influenza
On this New Year’s Eve, I wanted to share this factoid from the CDC on the benefits of influenza vaccination in the 2014-15 flu season. As you see the nearly one million people counting down to 2016 in Times Square, remember that the flu vaccine prevents that many people from needing medical visits in oneContinue reading “Times Square and Influenza”
Vaccine-preventable illness
As a pediatric emergency medicine provider in a state with a high proportions of vaccine-refusers, I often treat vaccine-preventable infections. This week was no exception, with one of the cases particularly severe. A New York Times piece reminds us that vaccine refusal is most prevalent in white, higher income regions. The lowering of herd immunityContinue reading “Vaccine-preventable illness”
Straight, No Chaser In The News: Corporate Medical Schools?
An interesting perspective on Kaiser’s announcement this week that it is opening its own medical school, and the media’s reaction thereto. : Straight, No Chaser In The News: Corporate Medical Schools?
What are your top health stories of 2015?
Today’s post is a question: what is the most important health story of 2015? What was the most important health news this year for the health of people in our country, or worldwide? Closer to home, what was most important news for you in how you promote your own health, that of family members, or thatContinue reading “What are your top health stories of 2015?”
Patient choice in management of acute appendicitis
In an article in JAMA Surgery this week, the authors show not only that it is safe (and perhaps safer) to treat uncomplicated appendicitis nonoperatively but also that letting parents choose the treatment option for their child is an effective strategy. The question of safety has been addressed in prior adult and pediatric trials, leading toContinue reading “Patient choice in management of acute appendicitis”
Reflecting on the Epidemic of Unnecessary Medical Care
Earlier this year, Atul Gawande published a New Yorker piece called “Overkill: An avalanche of unnecessary medical care is harming patients physically and financially. What can we do about it?” He cites medical evidence that millions of Americans get tests, drugs, and operations that won’t make them better, may cause harm, and cost billions. As an emergencyContinue reading “Reflecting on the Epidemic of Unnecessary Medical Care”
Marion R. Sills, MD, MPH 