Archive: News/Commentary

“…Expensive and Imperfect Though It Is,” Today Health Care Reform More Likely, The Economist Says
Cheree Cleghorn | December 21, 2009

News/Commentary
If you got lost in the maze back there with the “public option” debate, The Economist, in a few crisply-written paragraphs, will help you catch up on health care reform painlessly.
We recommend painless whenever possible. Please read the whole piece.
The Economist
…”Completion of work on the bill is by no means a formality, though it does [...]

Topics: News/Commentary

Pandemic Flu Monitor: Who Needs to Go to Time Out?
Cheree Cleghorn | September 26, 2009

News/Commentary
In my first grade, readers were divided into red birds and blue birds so the teacher could work with each group to its level. Of course, everyone knew who the good readers were (red) but it worked.
Health care professionals are dividing themselves into red birds and blue birds. Red birds are pro-vaccination. Blue birds are, [...]

Topics: News/Commentary, Top Stories

Do You Know Where Your Heart Is?
Cheree Cleghorn | June 15, 2009

Patient, know thyself. A British study says it’s time for us to do our homework about ourselves.

Topics: News/Commentary, You, the Patient

Here’s What One Doctor Worries About When Using Electronic Medical Records While Caring for Patients
Cheree Cleghorn | March 6, 2009

News/Commentary
This is a balanced, physician’s account of what he already has discovered about electronic medical records (EMRs) through his hospital experience.
Some of what he describes—-the inability to include personal notes about the patient’s wish to wear her own flannel nightgown in the hospital or the inability to add stick figure drawings to show how a [...]

Topics: How To Speak Doctor, News/Commentary, You, the Patient

Do You Talk…Really Talk…to Your Doctor When You Are Dissatisfied? You Should…Here’s How
Cheree Cleghorn | March 4, 2009

News/Commentary
By Cheree Cleghorn, Editor
We have taken our dogs to one vet for some 20 years, a practice headed by a man who is revered by other doctors and those who bring their pets to him.
His practice includes a mix of bright young vets learning from a master, whom he mentors and sends off to set [...]

Topics: How To Speak Doctor, News/Commentary, You, the Patient

Who Is Going to Be in Charge of Your Care in the Future? Doctors? Data? Or Both?
Cheree Cleghorn | February 27, 2009

News/Commentary
This is from Pauline W. Chen, M.D.’s column, Doctor and Patient, in the New York Times.
As a transplant surgeon, she makes a powerful case for how doctors and patients benefit from the kind of processes that are key to successful pre-transplant, in hospital and post-hospital care. It is a picture of what many health policy [...]

Topics: How To Speak Doctor, News/Commentary, You, the Patient

Study Proves Women Patients Experience Measurable Increases in Stress Hormone While Waiting for Biopsy Results
Cheree Cleghorn | February 24, 2009

News/Commentary
By Cheree Cleghorn, Editor
The study below is about women’s biochemically-measured stress levels while awaiting the results of a breast biopsy.
The stress hormone involved, cortisol, also could “compromise” future treatment if the woman does have breast cancer.
Now that there is objective proof of the need for speedy findings, speedy medical action should follow.
This is one of [...]

Topics: How To Speak Doctor, News, News/Commentary, You, the Patient

“The Invincibles”….Twenty-Somethings…Are Largest Uninsured Group
Cheree Cleghorn | February 18, 2009

News/Commentary
People in their twenties are the largest group of uninsured people in America, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report.
Many of them are forced to choose between health insurance and paying for rent and food.
Other twenty-somethings think they don’t need health insurance—-and that’s why this age group is labeled the “invincibles.” They are too young [...]

Topics: Friends & Families, How To Speak Doctor, News, News/Commentary, You, the Patient

Good Short-Term and Long-Term Ideas for Making Food Supply Safer
Cheree Cleghorn | February 17, 2009

Commentary
This editorial offers short-term and long-term solutions for the problems we have had—-too many food scares in recent years.
In addition to that, these are not times when one needs to have any other scares raised, but a link is worth mentioning.
Some advocates of the “buy local” and farmer’s markets have been making the point for [...]

Topics: Friends & Families, News/Commentary

A Cardiologist Who Knows the Patient Senses When to Act and Swiftly When Symptoms May Not Be Obvious
Cheree Cleghorn | February 10, 2009

News/Commentary
The writer of this column explains why having a friend, a cardiologist—someone who knew him well—- saved his life with a long-distance telephone diagnosis and swift action.
The “telephone” cardiologist found another cardiologist friend nearby to go to work on the patient right away.
The right cardiologist and a health plan, too, of course—-those are this patient’s [...]

Topics: How To Speak Doctor, News, News/Commentary, You, the Patient