This blog is devoted to an examination of medical quality. Cost-effectiveness is woven into many of the posts as this is integral to quality. Most of us reject the rational argument that better medical quality costs more money. Conversely, I have argued that spending less money could improve medical outcomes. Developing incentives to reduce unnecessary medical tests and treatments should be our fundamental strategy. Not a day passes that I don’t confront excessive and unnecessary medical care – some of it mine - being foisted on patients. At one point in my career, I would have argued that physicians and hospitals were motivated only to protect and preserve the health of their patients, but I now know differently. Payment reform changes behavior. As an example, it is impossible for a patient with a stomach ache who is seen in an emergency room to escape a CAT scan, even if one was done for the same reason months ago. I saw a patient this past week with chronic and unexp
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.