Slicing Pie

Jonah has a good handle on why Obama's numbers don't add up.

EMR

My group has toyed with EMR the past few years, yet has never pulled the trigger. This is mainly due to a reluctance to invest money for an unsure benefit. With the recent 'incentives' offered by the administration, we looked again. Over 5 years since our last peek, and nothing has changed. Still the same Windows based software programs, all look-alikes, with the same approach - bland, meaningless notes generated to secure billing, not provide worthwhile medical communication. At about $100,000 for my group of 7 docs, with monthly fees of $3K, and no guarantee we would ever see any TARP reimbursement, the decision once again was easy. If there was a system that could allow us to communicate with all our referral sources, and the hospital, in an efficient manner that actually positively affected patient care, we would have made the switch years ago. Unfortunately, this doesn't exist as far as I'm aware. Real reform would address this issue, and believe me, all physicians being government employees is not the answer.

Burnout

I've come across many articles lately on physician burnout, which in my specialty (pulmonary/critical care) is a prevalent problem. It appears that a significant amount of physicians regard the current proposed health care plan as the last straw that will drive them from the profession. Just glancing at the comments on physician online forums will lead one to realize that this is more than just a passing idea, but a real driving force behind a large group of frustrated, tired docs. I've been practicing just shy of a decade, and am already worn down by the constant inefficiency of reimbursement, time demands, adhering to practice guidlines that defy not only logic but also any shred of medical evidence. Will government intervention relieve this strain? I truly doubt it. We do need reform, but not this way. I'll write more on what I believe to be a real solution. For now, I hope the current situation does not scare off committed physicians who we need now more than ever.

It Was Just A Matter Of Time

I just had a patient's family member ask me to give their loved one "that Michael Jackson drug" when placed on the ventilator.

Something To Think About

The operative principle should be personal responsibility.

"Nobody wants to deal with the fact that we're no longer in a world where you can simply give everybody all the healthcare that is available."

Lots of truth in these words.

Cool

Very cool.

Another Drain On Our Healthcare Dollars

Don't let the administration read this. More pain meds and more anethesia means more money, and I think you know where that will lead.

Please...

I respect the qualifications, yet this piece by Krugman is inexcusable. No, it is just lazy. Trying to explain the motivations behind those that oppose health care reform as racist is simply lazy, and ignorant. Of course, it is also irresponsible.

Personal Responsiblitiy

This is exactly the issue, yet has been neglected.

I've been in practice for several years, and have seen the scourge of non-compliance and lack of personal accountability for healthcare. We can legislate all we want, it will fail to teach those who are unwilling to help themselves. From the wife on a smoking break waiting for her husband's lung cancer surgery to finish, to the heart bypass patient found in his hospital gown at the Krispy Kreme across from the hospital (true story), it becomes clear that many do not want to invest in their own health.


What do we expect though, with the example of our current smoking President? I sympathize with the addiction, yet what a role model he could be if he stopped.

Justified Concern

Megan McArdle seems to get it right.

You Decide

I pass judgement to no one regarding this story. The contrast in statements, however, is interesting. One athlete owns up his mistakes, the other parses and attempts to squeak an excuse.

Are They Serious?

"The whole thing kind of makes me sick to my stomach," said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) in an interview Sunday. "It is evidence that some of the cynicism about Washington is well placed -- that people get out of touch and they spend money like it's Monopoly money."

A First Example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-dQfb8WQvo

I've finally been pushed to the limit, and started this blog. The purpose will be twofold. Hopefully it will allow me to vent my frustrations with my profession and the current state of our society. In addition, my intent will be to advance the discussion on these issues and actively try to improve our country. As the title infers, I value responsibility. It is the loss of this idea that hurts our society the most, with very few willing to be accountable for their words and actions. I pledge to be responsible for what I write, and will specifically call out those who fail to see the importance in similar duty.