Sunday, July 23, 2006
Pennsylvania Showing Net Loss of Physicians Over Time
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The number of physicians in Pennsylvania has declined by approximately ten percent between 1999 and 2005. On its own that number may not sound like such a huge drop. Compare that number to the other 20 most populous states and it becomes obvious that the difference is very significant.
Almost all of have seen net increases of between 7% and 35% over the same period. I would find it very interesting to know how long the wait is for a new patient appointment in an internal medicine practice in Pennsylvania vs. these states that have seen an increase. A knee replacement? First visit to a Neurologist. Follow up visits? You get my drift. Pennsylvania has a population that is among the most aged. Medicare just announced plans for more cuts. New physicians are choosing not to practice in Pennsylvania and we've seen a net loss of 10% in our physicians with unique provider numbers over the last six years. Get the picture, Governor Rendel?
Data from State of Medicine in Pennsylvania--2005
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Top 10 Causes of Death Worldwide
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Top 10 Causes of Death Worldwide:
"[F]or high-income countries:
1. Heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Lung cancer
4. Lower respiratory infections
5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
6. Colon and rectum cancers
7. Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
8. Type 2 diabetes
9. Breast cancer
10. Stomach cancer
Here is the list for low- and middle-income countries:
1. Heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Lower respiratory infections
4. HIV/AIDS
5. Fetus/newborn (perinatal) conditions
6. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
7. Diarrhea
8. Tuberculosis
9. Malaria
10. Road traffic accidents "
[Via WebMD Health Headlines]
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Antibiotic Resistance In Terms I Can Understand
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Penicillin and Amoxicillin's days are numbered
"Researchers from the University of Rochester started with the analysis of data from 11,426 children who has suffered a common throat infection.
They found that 25 per cent of children given penicillin, along with 18 per cent given amoxicillin treatment needed further treatment within weeks.
The data, taken from 47 studies from the past 35 years looked at the effectiveness of various drugs on treating strep throat in children.
Additional results revealed that of those given older-generation cephalosporin antibiotics, 14 per cent had to return for more treatment, while just 7 per cent prescribed newer versions like cefpodoxime and cefdinir, given for just four or five days, had to go back to the doctor. "
Sunday, January 1, 2006
Prilosec and C.Diff?
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Reading a blog far afield of medicine, then to the Washington Post, I cam across an interesting nugget on C. Diff. The JAMA published an article on December 21, 2005 titled Use of Gastric AcidâSuppressive Agents and the Risk of Community-Acquired Clostridium difficileâAssociated Disease [abstract]. In two population-based case-control studies:
" The incidence of C difficile in patients diagnosed by their general practitioners in the General Practice Research Database increased from less than 1 case per 100 000 in 1994 to 22 per 100 000 in 2004. The adjusted rate ratio of C difficileâassociated disease with current use of proton pump inhibitors was 2.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-3.4) and with H2-receptor antagonists the rate ratio was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.6-2.7). An elevated rate was also found with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (rate ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2-1.5). "
A teleconference is planned for January 18th to discuss these results as part of the new Author-in-the-room series.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Gastric Bypass Surgeries Soaring (HealthDay)
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Gastric Bypass Surgeries Soaring (HealthDay):
"HealthDay - TUESDAY, Dec. 20 (HealthDay News) -- The number of gastric bypass and other bariatric surgeries conducted in the United States more than quadrupled between 1998 to 2002, from 12,775 procedures to 70,256, researchers report."
And from 2002 to the present, I'm sure they've continued to go up. Would I have one? Ask me when I'm 400 pounds and have tried other methods of weight loss without sustained results...
[Via Yahoo! News: Health]
Thursday, December 22, 2005
More proof: people don't change (doctors are people)
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Disciplinary Action by Medical Boards and Prior Behavior in Medical School
"Conclusions In this case-control study, disciplinary action among practicing physicians by medical boards was strongly associated with unprofessional behavior in medical school. Students with the strongest association were those who were described as irresponsible or as having diminished ability to improve their behavior. Professionalism should have a central role in medical academics and throughout one's medical career."
Thursday, December 1, 2005
CDC MMWR: Severe Clostridium difficile
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Severe Clostridium difficile--Associated Disease in Populations Previously at Low Risk --- Four States, 2005
Friday, November 25, 2005
How much caffeine does that drink have?
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I've written before about caffeine addiction in surgical patients. In recent years there's been an explosion of caffeine-containing beverages. Having some idea of the caffeine content of the major ones can help you choose an appropriate dose.
The Energy Fiend web site has a nice Caffeine Database. I found it via a recent NYT article.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
C-section rate in USA reaches 29.1% in 2004
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" Despite the evidence of risks associated with cesarean section, the rate of birth by cesarean section in 2004 in the USA registered at 29.1 percent, the highest ever recorded. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a recent report, this figure is an 8 percent increase from 2003, and a 41 percent increase since 1996. "
One of the OB practices at our hospital has a policy that they will not do vaginal births after C-section (VBAC)...largely due to concern about lawsuits.
[Via UK Medical News Today]
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Malpractice Insurance for Bariatric Surgeons Increasing
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Other Perils of Overweight - New York Times:
" But after several years in which the surgery was seen as the last best hope by many obese people, a growing array of scientific data shows that the risks are greater than patients realized. One new study reported that almost one in 5 patients had complications after surgery. For one in 20 patients, the complications were serious, including heart attacks and strokes. Another recent study said the mortality rate for the most common type of bariatric surgery, gastric bypass, was one in 200 - a rate higher than for coronary angioplasty, which opens blocked heart vessels.
For thousands of patients, the weight-loss surgery has eliminated debilitating diseases and improved the quality of life. But the threat of malpractice lawsuits against doctors and hospitals, as well as the reluctance of health plans to cover the surgery costs, is creating difficulties for people now seeking treatment. "
The article points to an Annals of Internal Medicine article titled Meta-Analysis: Surgical Treatment of Obesity (Annals is another one of those nice free full-text journals).
[Via Common Good]
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