Browse > Home / Archive: October 2007

Michael Moore versus the US Healthcare System

October 26, 2007

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Health Industry News - Commentary

Famed documentary filmmaker, Michael Moore has attacked the US healthcare policies in his new movie, entitled Sicko. In it, he attacks the HMO systems and insurance companies, well known for declining patients care due to lack of medical necessity or because the procedure is considered experimental. He featured several people victimized by various insurance companies or HMOs and, for a time, it seemed like the entire two hour movie would be a litany of healthcare nightmares.

By Christine Traxler M.D.

Famed documentary filmmaker, Michael Moore has attacked the US healthcare policies in his new movie, entitled Sicko. In it, he attacks the HMO systems and insurance companies, well known for declining patients care due to lack of medical necessity or because the procedure is considered experimental. He featured several people victimized by various insurance companies or HMOs and, for a time, it seemed like the entire two hour movie would be a litany of healthcare nightmares.

He introduced the audience to those who live in the northern part of the country who have dual citizenship with Canada and who have faked "common law marriages" with Canadians just to get the benefits of the Canadian healthcare system. Traveling to the UK and to France, he entertained the audience with stories of people who are used to getting their healthcare free. In France, one can get a free nanny of sorts who comes in for 8 hours a week to do their laundry and take care of the baby while the mother gets things done, like shopping, etc.

The policies of Canada, France and the UK involve universal free healthcare for all citizens. In spite of those who claim there are long waiting periods and diminished level of care, Michael Moore found only those who were happy with the system. He spoke to doctors and patients alike, including transported Americans, who had nothing but good things to say about this type of health system.

One of the highlights of the movie was a segment about individuals suffering from heath issues as a result of being volunteers at the 9/11 ground zero rescue site. As they weren’t government employees, they were not eligible for healthcare. Michael Moor got the idea that, since the terrorists at Guantanamo Bay received free universal healthcare, he hired a boat and took these people to Cuba. While they couldn’t get into Guantanamo Bay, they made it to Havana, where they had free, universal healthcare. The 9/11 volunteers were all admitted and treated for free in Havana, despite being US citizens. The whole thing was really touching.

His whole message was that US health policies need serious revamping and that a great many US citizens are falling through the cracks. As a healthcare provider, I can’t agree more. It would take a great deal for the US to overcome lobbying efforts, taxpayer concerns and Congress in general to get the kind of healthcare that the rest of the Western world takes for granted. We’re closer to China, which has essentially no insurance system, than we are to many modern countries. Possibly, a movie like Sicko will help change policy in the US for the better.

About the Author
Dr. Christine Traxler was a family practice physician in rural Minnesota before turning to medical writing and editing. She currently lives and works in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has two daughters. 

 

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Health Regulation, Fed Med, Commentary 

Microsoft plans medical record service - and beats Google to the punch!

October 19, 2007

Microsoft announced its plan to jump into the medical record business - what will they think of next?

Read Microsoft Plans Medical record Service

The article goes on to state… "On Thursday the company is outlining its vision, dubbed HealthVault, in which a person can view, from one place, their complete health records. Consumers will be able to view information from medical devices, myriad health care providers and insurance companies as well as share that information with health care providers of their choosing or search for information related to their health issues."

If your reaction is the same as mine (shocked, amused and left with a feeling that there is no way can they pull this off) - then you will enjoy Chris Pirillo’s blog and video - check it out here…

Chris goes on to say…

"On Thursday the company outlined its vision, dubbed HealthVault, in which a person can view, from one place, their complete health records. Consumers will be able to view information from medical devices, myriad health care providers and insurance companies as well as share that information with health care providers of their choosing or search for information related to their health issues."

 Another good article can be found on ZDNet at http://blogs.zdnet.com/micro-markets/?p=891

Who do you think will win the race for medical record dominance?

- Google

- Microsoft

- Other

Leave your comments and feedback.

 

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Medical Records, Featured Stories, Public Health 

Diabetics, Keep Exercising

October 19, 2007

Consumer Health - Diabetes
 
Studies that were announced this week have proven that a steady and consistent routine of exercise is good for the blood sugar levels in diabetics. Diabetics are represented in this country by an alarming 2.8 million men and women. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, is what is affected most by these recent studies. With a combination of strength training and exercise, diabetics that were in the study had an almost 10% drop in their blood sugar levels overall, a rate that they are sure to be proud of.
 
This is indeed positive news for diabetics. This means that those that have diabetes and who begin to do both the weight loss and training can reduce the amount of insulin that is needed in their bodies every day. Above all, they are well on their way to a happier and healthier style of living!

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Featured Stories, Consumer Health 

California Man Diagnosed with the First Case of the West Nile Virus

October 19, 2007

Public Health - Disease - Consumer Health

This week, it was announced that a 32 year old Californian man was diagnosed with the first case of the West Nile Virus. It is not entirely known where or how he contracted the virus, but he is out of the hospital and recovering now. While in the hospital, he suffered from a high fever and persistent headaches. The gentleman went an entire month with these symptoms prior to finally going to the doctor to have them examine him.

It is advised that anyone that has these symptoms for the same amount of time as he had, that they need to go to the doctor as soon as possible. Thanks to the proper treatments and rehabilitation, the man was released from the hospital on Monday, September 17. He seems to be in good spirits, and is looking forward to his full recovery.

Healthcare Industry Today

  • Loading...

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Disease, Featured Stories, Consumer Health, Public Health 

Britian Band Certain Items from Doctors

October 19, 2007

Hospital - Cosumer Health
 
When we see a doctor walking down a hall, be it in their offices or at a hospital, their white lab jackets are carrying tons of germs and diseases. This statement was made by administrators in Britain. Other clothing fashions that were affected in the hospital were neckties and jewelry. It was stated that neckties where not in the least bit clean, as they are often worn time and again before finally cleaning them. The health officials in Britain fear that the doctors will carry contagious and possibly deadly diseases while traveling from room to room seeing patients. Effective Monday, the doctors must be in full complaisance with the dress code. However, although this is a new regulation that has been passed, others were already in effect regarding neckties. British health officials had asked their doctors last year to please disregard their neckties at home, as they were not deemed as necessary anyhow.

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Featured Stories, Consumer Health, Hospitals 

Health Care IT: Defined

October 18, 2007

Healthcare IT

Health care IT means the combination of computer science, information science and health care into one. Information Technology in the health care sector does not include only computers but also medical terminologies, clinical guidelines and systems used in communication. There are several sub fields health care IT like clinical informatics, consumer health informatics, nursing informatics, health informatics and all other fields related to medical science- whether humans or animals. Information Technology is used in making medical records and other information systems which are used for research and billing purposes. Decisions related to healthcare can also be used with the help of IT, which are called clinical decision support system.

 
Use of IT in the health care sector took place in the US in the early 50’s along with the rise of computers. Several terminology used during those times are medical computing, computer medicine, medical automatic data processing, medical software engineering and medical electronic data. The coordinating body, which looks after the smooth transfer of technology to the health care sector, is called the International Medical Informatics Association which was formed in the early 70’s.
 
Use of Health Care IT in various regions:
 
The first use of computers was in US in for dental projects. It was used by Robert Ledley at National Bureau of Standards. The next step was the development of expert systems like MYCIN. Researchers developed MUMPS which is a multi utility programming system in a computer laboratory in Massachusesetts General Hospital in Boston which is most frequently used language for health care applications. In recent times a modification of this system is being used in the hospital for Veterans affairs.
 
The members of the European Union are dedicated to set up an integrated health care system in the member states, and share information and in the process improve the quality and inspire growth in this sector.
 

The regional grouping of Asia consists of 15 members and is called Asia Pacific Association for Medical Informatics, which was established in 1994. a record system with the help of computers was developed in Hong Kong in 1994 and is still used today. The Indian Association of Medical Informatics publishes Journals in Medical Informatics and was established in 1993.

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Healthcare IT 

The Northeast United States Seen as the Most Healthcare Used

October 18, 2007

Healthcare Plans - Health Insurance
 
Reports maid available today stated that the great Northeastern United States spends the most money in healthcare. This is not a surprise to many, and the economical status of those that live in the Northeast are often higher and better paying than those jobs that are in other parts of the US. On average the normal amount that was used on healthcare in the Northeast was a little over $6,400 a year per person. Insurance, healthcare, prescriptions, and Medicaid and Medicare were all factors of the figures that were provided.
 
Oddly enough the states that had the highest amounts of money funded for the Medicaid funds, such as Massachusetts, was also one of the states that had some of the highest spending in healthcare. The collaboration of the such said states were new to the results of healthcare spending, and the trend is only expected to climb. 

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Featured Stories, Health Insurance, Health Regulation 

New York State and City Seek Restitution Regarding Vioxx

October 18, 2007

Health Regulation - Public Health
 
The government and citizens of New York State and New York City have had enough. On Monday, the state government filed a lawsuit with the State Supreme Court in regards to Vioxx, a drug that was pulled off of the shelves in 2004 due to the dangers that patients had in side effects. Those that have filed a lawsuit are stating that Mereck, the distributor of Vioxx, knew that their product, an arthritis reliever, caused heart attacks and strokes in many instances.
 
Other states have lined up as well for the restitution that they feel is owed back to those that were patients on Vioxx. There is a multi-million dollar lawsuit under litigation in all of these states, and the hope that the tax payers will be reimbursed is what those that have been effected as well as the state lawyers are hoping for.

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Featured Stories, Public Health, Health Regulation, Pharmaceuticals 

The Inventors of the Artificial Heart Receive American Nobel Award

October 18, 2007

Medical Devices
 
The inventors of the artificial heart valve, scientist Albert Starr and scientist Alain Carpentier received an American Nobel prize this past weekend. The two scientists, whose heart valve invention has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients all around the world, where honored to receive such accolades.
 
The invention of the heart valve had its humble beginnings from a pigs heart that was tested time and again. It was realized that the pigs heart could not operate properly due to blocked arteries, as well as valve failure, and so Carpentier replicated the human heart, testing the valves for any abnormalities. Due to the extreme similarities that are between the two the two doctors could successfully create artificial valves for the human heart. What is phenomenal is that these hearts were created in the late 1960s and soon brought into the healthcare fields.

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Featured Stories, Medical Devices 

Vitamin D – It Does your Body Good

October 18, 2007

Consumer Health - Vitamins
 
It has been said time and again how important it is to make sure that you eat your daily does of vitamins, or that there is a supplement that you take in its place. Studies have proven this to be true. In a recent revelation, Vitamin D seems to increase the vitality of life, and decrease the time of one’s inevitable death. Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, and released on September 10, it has been proven that Vitamin D is indeed beneficial for living a longer and healthier life. It has also been augmented that Vitamin D is perhaps the only vitamin that is truly beneficial for daily vitamin intake, which has totally debunked many of the statements that vitamins are needed on a daily basis. As with any vitamin that is consumed, it is best to do so in moderation. Having too many vitamins in one’s system is quite potent to the body, and it has a difficult time regulating all of the vitamins.

Written by healthyinsight · Filed Under Featured Stories, Consumer Health 

Next Page »