by Evan Falchuk
Friday, I went to the National Press Club in DC for the Putting Patients First event. It was organized by Dr. Val Jones of the Better Health blog, and was meant to raise the profile of patient issues in our discussion of health care reform.
Val deserves congratulations, as the issue has gotten wide attention in the medical blogosphere and beyond.
Here’s a round-up of reactions.
By Evan Falchuk
In my role as President of Best Doctors, I have the great opportunity to meet and work with some of the world’s leading health innovators.
And by innovators I mean people who don’t just talk about improving health care, they actually do it. My first Q&A is with Delia Vetter, Senior Director of Benefits for EMC Corporation.
Look for it here tomorrow morning.
Next, on Friday I’m attending what promises to be a terrific discussion at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Val Jones of the Better Health blog is hosting an event called “Putting Patients First.” It will feature Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), and the finest collection of doctor-bloggers you may ever see. I’ll be live-tweeting the event and follow-up with some insights afterwards.
By Evan Falchuk
Ezra Klein is back with another post showing what happens when you form strong opinions without knowing very much about your subject matter.
Today, he’s here to tell us the “truth” about the insurance industry. He succeeds – but only in making himself look very silly.
By Evan Falchuk
Ezra Klein recently wrote that doctors were at the root of our health care problems, citing Atul Gawande’s discussion of McAllen as his inspiration, as well as Steve Pearlstein’s work. I’ve already noted how both Klein and Pearlstein misunderstand Gawande’s work.
Now, Klein has scored an interview with Gawande.
By Evan Falchuk
The New York Times has been running a series on its Economix blog about health care reform.
Today, they post answers to following the questson from three health care experts: “What should our priorities for health care reform be?”
You should read them all, but you should think about two things.
By Evan Falchuk
Everything is McAllen, Texas.
It’s all part of our “uniquely American” approach to many issues: oversimplify the problem, so we can solve it. Ideally, on an artificially short time line.
In the case of health care reform, let’s say we get ‘er done by August 1.
By Evan Falchuk
Ezra Klein suggests that the Problem with Doctors is that public opinion polls show that they are “pretty much beyond reproach.”
Why is this a problem?
By Evan Falchuk
Over at The Health Care Blog, Matthew Holt riffs on my post about Steve Pearlstein”s web chat about health care reform. Holt suggests I have “veered towards the side of unreason” after reading Pearlstein’s column and webinar.
Holt is wrong. I veered towards the side of unreason a long time ago, and it’s great over here.
But seriously, Holt is one the true thinkers in health care, so I wanted to add a couple of observations.
By Evan Falchuk
Did you know that doctors are paid too much, wrongly complain about medical school debt, and falsely believe there is a medical malpractice crisis?
Did you know that doctors are hopelessly conflicted sellers of medical care, motivated by the search for extra income?
Well, then you haven’t read the Washington Post’s Steven Pearlstein’s work on health care reform.
By Evan Falchuk
See First is thrilled to be hosting next week’s Grand Rounds!
If you’re wondering what Grand Rounds actually is, you can read about it here. It’s the weekly summary of the best blog posts from the health care blogosphere.
Please send your submissions to me at efalchuk AT bestdoctors dot com.
Put “Grand Rounds Submission” in your email title and please use this format for the body of your email:
1. Post title
2. Post url
3. Short description of the post
4. Blog title
5. Blog url
While some Grand Rounds have themes to them, I will remain true to the mission of this blog, and let the information I get from all of you dictate the theme. We’ll see first, then decide!
Please send me your submissions by midnight, ET, Tuesday, May 26th. I will include all the submissions I can.
Grand Rounds will be published at the See First Blog by 8am, Tuesday May 26th.
I look forward to receiving your submissions!
