Unbiased Analysis of Today's Healthcare Issues
Tests play an important role in modern medical care. Is my leg broken? Check the X-ray. Do I have HIV? Look at the blood tests. But when are tests appropriate? In some cases, tests will not alter treatment. For instance, let assume that a person is either healthy or has Disease X. Disease X is…
In this blog, I have frequently discussed the merits of Canadian and American health care systems (see Health Care Grudge Match). One thing most people can agree with is that mental health care is subpar in both countries. The Vancouver Sun reports of a man committing suicide by jumping off the Granville Street Bridge.…
The Disease Management Care Blog hosts this week’s edition of the Cavalcade of Risk.
This week I’ll be in Vancouver for the Western Economic Association International Conference. I’ll be presenting my paper on “Why Does Getting Married Make You Fat? Incentives and Appearance Maintenance.”
The cover story of this week’s Economist examings healthcare reform in America (“This is going to hurt“). The story recounts some of the many ills of the U.S. healthcare system: too many uninsured, too expensive, and low quality outcomes. This is not news. What does The Economist propose to fix the American healthcare system? …
What are hospitals like in the Netherlands? A paper by Blank and Van Hulst (2009) give some insight. The paper studies Dutch general hospitals. These hospitals make up 80% of beds on 70% of hospital costs. Non-general hospitals include academic hospitals and specialty hospitals (e.g., eye clinics and rehabilitation clinics). Hospitals in the Netherlands “Hospitals,…
The L.A. Times reports on Frank Lucero, a man arrested for drug use, petty theft. Mr. Lucero had glaucoma and while he was in prison, his eye ailment went untreated. Lucero hadn’t been able to see much since being diagnosed with glaucoma while at Soledad State Prison in 2005. Still, with medication, he was…
On Wednesday, the U.S. men’s national soccer team upset Spain, the #1 team in the world (see video highlights). They will play in the Confederations Cup Final on June 28th against either Brazil or host South Africa. In honor of the surprising U.S. victory, this edition of the Health Wonk Review will examine some equally surprising findings…
The Boston Globe reports that “Overseers of Massachusetts’ trailblazing healthcare program made their first cuts yesterday, trimming $115 million, or 12 percent, from Commonwealth Care, which subsidizes premiums for needy residents and is the centerpiece of the 2006 law.” The reduction in the Commonwealth Care was caused by the bad economy. Not only does a…
Southern California is in the midst of a drought. What is the city doing to conserve water? They are resorting to new rules and ‘water cops‘. Apartments, Condos and Businesses can water: Monday, Wednesday & Friday Homes with odd-numbered addresses can water: Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday Homes with even-numbered addresses can water: Saturday, Monday &…