With the advent of really good inventory management, we’ve been trained to wait to buy things until when we need them – just in time. However when inventory is managed so tightly, it’s a bit of a dance when demand picks up. (Think toilet paper). As a consequence many of us have begun to think …
As a patient/health advocate, a common call is “I need to find a doctor. Who’s the best for _________ (fill in the blank?)” Should be a simple question, right? Dictionary.com defines “best” as: “of the highest quality or standing: the best work, the best students; or “the most advantageous, suitable, or desirable: the best way. …
I think it was often the look on my face. I can’t really remember ever “talking back” to an adult, but it’s hard to imagine any kid not wanting to at some point. I suspect there must have been something on my face that indicated I wanted to “talk back” that caused my grandmother or …
Don’t you talk back to me! (Or, why this *isn’t* always advice worth taking!) Read More »
What is “quality” in healthcare? It turns out it depends on who you ask. Doctors tend to view quality from a technical perspective – accuracy of a diagnosis, appropriateness of the treatment, and the outcome for the patient. Payers (which includes Medicare and Medicaid, and commercial insurance) tend to focus on evidence-based medicine …
Huh? Although medical care has certainly become incredibly specialized, whenever I’ve suggested that a client consider asking for a palliative care consult, the first response is “What’s that?” or a close second “I’m not dying, why would I want that??” In our current environment in many cases palliative care and hospice are often provided as …
A friend of mine was undergoing an outpatient surgery a few weeks ago. Once in a gown, and her IV started (not a power position for us as patients, by the way!) her surgeon stopped in before heading to the OR to scrub. Having already talked with the anesthesiologist, my friend also shared her concern …