Music by the Austin Lounge Lizards. Does this sum it up, go ahead and die? BD
YouTube - Go Ahead And Die! (Pirates Of The Health Care-ibean)
Popcorn Can Be a Source of Antioxidants - Study
Not only antioxidants but popcorn is also a good source of dietary fiber. The best way to prepare is to air pop and lightly salt. The worst thing we can do though according to this study is to butter it up and over salt. Also mentioned was adding some olive oil for taste which would be healthier 
than butter. BD
In addition to the finding that cold, oat-based cereals provide the best source of morning milk-bowl-spoon-based antioxidants, the researchers found that popcorn provides more of the dietary fiber and antioxidants than any other snack food, according to findings presented at the meeting of the American Chemical Society.
In the case of popcorn, he explained, the antioxidants are protected from the sun in the drying process, and the corn loses only a little bit of them when it is popped. Additionally, through the whole process, the fiber provided by the whole grain is not removed.
Hospital and Healthcare Computer Security – Former Hacker for Hire in Southern California
When it comes to security you can’t take too many precautions. This article from the LA Times talks about someone who used to be on the other side who now is unleashed by his employer to see if your system can be hacked. The scary thing in this article is that he’s not found one he can’t hack, so if you want to have your system checked to see how secure it really is, this could be the guy.
This is worth a mention as we keep reading about security breaches and everyone is constantly exploring how to patch up the holes, and healthcare is at the top of the list. BD
Marc Maiffret used to be a computer hacker. Now he gets paid to break into the systems of Southern California businesses, testing for security weaknesses.
His client today is a major Los Angeles auto dealer, which sells fancy luxury cars to celebrities and corporate execs. The head of the company wants to check on the safety of his customer data.
It's not an idle worry. Just days earlier, a 28-year-old Miami man was charged by federal authorities with hacking into multiple computer systems and stealing 130 million credit and debit card numbers -- the largest computer crime ever prosecuted.Jason Lidow, founder of the L.A. computer security firm DigiTrust Group, says most people and businesses have no idea how easy it is for a cyber-thief to make off with sensitive data.
DigiTrust is the company that unleashes Maiffret on paying customers.There was a time when you couldn't trust Maiffret. He says he spent much of his teenage years hacking business and government networks. His come-to-Jesus moment came when he was 17 and the FBI took an interest in his activities.
"I wasn't arrested," Maiffret says. "But that's when I understood this wasn't a lifestyle I could keep."
So now he hacks on the side of truth, justice and the American way -- and a steady paycheck.Afterward, I ask Maiffret how often he comes across a client's computer system that he can't hack.
He smiles sheepishly.
Never?
Larry King Discusses Prostate Cancer Michael Milken, Colin Powell, John McEnroe, Joe Torre and More
Dr. Christopher Rose speaks and offers information from the clinical side and other guests talk about how they have survived prostate cancer, watch the names flash across the screen. Colin Powell talks about the importance of having regular PSA exams and encourages all men to not pass up the tests. In addition, the treatment plans are discussed as there are many choices available today, a personal decision made by the patient in the end with the advice and recommendations from their physicians. Treatment plans are a personal decision and all options need to be explored for the type of cancer one has. Some grow slow and some move rapidly.
When you listen to the individuals speak, nobody had any real symptoms. Joe Torre was diagnosed 10 years ago, Michael Milken 16 years ago and they are still here. John McEnroe discusses the heredity side of the issue as his dad had prostate cancer, but that accounts for a 30% chance with lifestyle being a potential 70% contributing factor. Diet is discussed in depth and what changes each has made. Also mentioned is the robotic surgery that is high tech and now being used for prostate cancer surgery, the DaVinci and you can go here to see a musical tour of how it works. Under the related reading below I have listed a few past posts that describe some of the procedures that your doctor could be recommending.
Dr. Rose talks about radiation treatment and depending on the type of cancer it is, sometimes it can be an option and if has spread, it is not an option for the cure. One more additional piece of information added was the support of women, we ask questions and are more likely to bring the entire scenario home to the family as it is a family issue, not just the patient so everyone understands and knows what the treatment plan is and the projected outlook and recovery information. BD
Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com
Related Reading:
Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut Has Prostate Cancer – Using Recess to Have Surgery
Mayo Clinic - Reducing Tumors with Hormone Therapies Before Surgery for Prostate Cancer
FDA Approves HIFU Clinical Trial For Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Robotic Surgery The daVinci Si HD Surgical System – Prostate Gland and Other Surgeries
Meeting of the Minds: The Future of Heath Care on CNBC
New Generation Of Radiation Therapy More Precise - TomoTherapy for Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Florida Medicare Paying for “GPS for the Body” - Prostate Cancer
Safety and Effectiveness of Using CyberKnife on Prostate Cancer
Institute for Health Priorities – A Game Plan for Life from the Milken Institution
Michael Milken and Muhammad Yunus – Discuss Healthcare and the Economy with Charlie Rose
Oprah and Dr. Oz Go After the Resveratrol Anti-Aging Scammers
This is a good move on their part as well with the lawsuit as sites are just grabbing names and using Dr. Oz as an open endorsement. What is even stranger is that the endorsements from reporters have been fabricated too, in other words the reporters who are listed as journalists do not exist either! This looks to be well structured too and gets right to the point where the problem lies, the websites. 
The legitimate Resveratrol Vendors should also be pleased if the suit is settled and those using endorsements that are perhaps fabricated are stopped from continuing. The Illinois Attorney General is also in on the activity due to complaints and has filed suit against Netalab Corp. and Crushed LLC. The big issue too is the fact that the reporters are using Dr. Oz and Oprah, stating they recommend specific products and not just resveratrol in general, and the network of websites seem to pop up and disappear with new fictitious endorsements.
I would be interested myself to see what type of money is being made here too. Resveratrol is an anti-aging substance found in red wine an in dark chocolate. BD
Glaxo Says Wine May Fight Aging
Two months after Forbes reported on the explosive growth of companies using unauthorized celebrity endorsements to peddle resveratrol supplements, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Inc. filed a 267-page lawsuit that largely makes the same claims.
The trademark infringement complaint, filed Aug. 19 in federal district court, quotes the June 16 Forbes story, describing a shadowy cottage industry of resveratrol sellers claiming Dr. Oz had endorsed their products. Resveratrol is an anti-aging substance found in red wine. Forbes went after the biggest violator, Florida.-based FWM Laboratories, whose products it claimed were endorsed by Dr. Oz. The lawsuit names FWM Labs as the lead defendant.
Rachman's suit asks that the companies either transfer the domain names to Oprah and Dr. Oz, paying them three times the profit each has made using the endorsements, or award the plaintiffs up to $100,000 per domain name.
Oprah Vs. The Supplement Sellers - Forbes.com
Related Reading:
Oprah Says Farewell to Dr. Oz and Launches the Winfrey Produced Dr. Oz Show – Healthcare Education in the Making
Dr. Oz (as seen on Oprah) Discusses How Electronic Medical Records Improve Care – New York Presbyterian moves forward from pilot program
Medical Quack on the Chicago Sun Times - Oprah Says Goodbye to Dr.Oz
The Oprah Show – Dr. Oz Explores and Explains Regenerative Medicine
Dr. Oz (as seen on Oprah) Discusses How Electronic Medical Records Improve Care – New York Presbyterian moves forward from pilot program
Swine Flu: Dr. Oz Speaks Out and Gives Some Advice and Information
Michael J. Fox on Parkinson’s Disease and Stem Cells – Oprah and the Daily Show
Regenerative Medicine – Material and Cell Based Regeneration of the Human Body
A Major HealthCare CIO Visits and Comments at the Medical Quack – He’s an Executive He Says
Here’s a short post that I made back in January of 2008. After having made this post I had an anonymous comment and I thought in light of where we are today with health insurance that perhaps I would bring this one around again. What is interesting in the comment section is that this individual states they are the CIO of one of the largest healthcare companies in the world, but they remain anonymous. This is a must read as they state my 
comments “cause CIO’s to struggle with their role in business”, gosh I never knew I had that kind of power (grin).
In being a CIO, his spelling could use a little work in a couple areas. Anyway, I am told that I am to blame here for causing this struggle with CIOs but still he found the posts interesting enough to stir up a little fire here. What I found most interesting too with all of this is the fact that he chose to be anonymous and yet puts big footprints in the comments as to who he is, after thinking a bit of IT knowledge for the CIO is not helpful in his opinion.
“I am a CIO and have been for several companies and interestingly right now in the sector you mention in one of the world's largest healthcare organizations.”
Well this blogger here like most do today, runs some nice SEO software, but again this CIO might not think that this level of intelligence would perhaps exist at the blogging level. I went and looked at my records being curious to look for company networks connected (as that is all I collect here as nobody needs to use an email to log in so people can truly be anonymous if they like) and matched a company network name connected to the blog at the time the post was read, and bingo, I figured it out! I won’t say which one but it is the big “I” or insurance business.
In short, a little IT knowledge would have really helped him remain anonymous by perhaps going home and logging on to make his comments where the network would show a generic cable company, phone company or otherwise generic network connection, i.e. Verizon or Cox. In his comments he appeared to be bursting at the seams to divulge his level of knowledge which is what made me decide to go look and see if there was a name network connected. He certainly doesn’t stop short of telling me that he’s been a CIO at several places too.
Below is the original post followed by screenshots of the comments and you can use the Title link above to see everything on the page as well.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The Looming CIO ShortageGood article addressing the future of the CIO....health care in particular is a challenging role for the CIO...a good idea to make sure the CIO is in to servers, virtualization, outsourcing and Web 2.0 to build a solid organized future....CIOs of today and tomorrow need leadership, communication and IT skills....it's an executive as well as a "hands on" position....BD
The CIO also needs a strong set of relationship management capabilities to manage the increasingly larger network of relationships that define today's IT environment—internal staff, contractors, outsourcing partners, internal business partners, an external network of peers, and in some instances, an external network of clients.
For example, in healthcare, with a growing number of regional health information organizations, CIOs have responsibility for providing data and interoperability not only to members of their own organization, but also other hospitals and healthcare entities. Here, careful management of relationships with entities where there is no formal reporting structure becomes critical.
I did return the comment, I think very appropriately. I don’t see this as representing your normal CIO by any means, it was just “this” one in the “I” business, and again I am amazed at how either myself or any other blogger has such unyielding power to cause them to struggle (grin), this one needs a reality check and maybe he’s been a CIO at too many places and the stress is catching up. Oh well, he’s more than likely making his millions and blog commenting could be just a mere hobby and I believe he may be a bit naive in not understanding the full level of intelligence that exists today with the complicated algorithms that are run, even at his place, that is if he is still there. He sounded very much like a “Wall Street” type CIO more so than a Healthcare CIO to me. BD
The Medical Quack: The Looming CIO Shortage
Technorati Tags: CIO,blogging,healthcare,health insurance,CTO,technology,smart people,Health IT,ego,blogging comments
Larry Flynt Blogging On the Huffington Post: Common Sense 2009
I do have to say Larry Flynt may have been the last person I would have expected to be blogging on the Huffington Post, and actually he wrote a pretty good first post, but on the other hand he’s been in the publishing/journalism business for years. He goes as far to say the US citizens should go on strike for a day to get the attention of our government and put Wall Street on notice, and of course Wall Street very much includes healthcare companies too. Welcome to the world of bloggers, Larry! BD 
The American government -- which we once called our government -- has been taken over by Wall Street, the mega-corporations and the super-rich. They are the ones who decide our fate. It is this group of powerful elites, the people President Franklin D. Roosevelt called "economic royalists," who choose our elected officials -- indeed, our very form of government. Both Democrats and Republicans dance to the tune of their corporate masters. In America, corporations do not control the government. In America, corporations are the government.
I'm calling for a national strike, one designed to close the country down for a day. The intent? Real campaign-finance reform and strong restrictions on lobbying. Because nothing will change until we take corporate money out of politics. Nothing will improve until our politicians are once again answerable to their constituents, not the rich and powerful.
Remote Area Medical – Larry King Interview
Now that Remote Area Medical has left the Los Angeles area, this is a good time to listen to Larry King’s interview. They did a lot of good here and we hope they come back soon. This was a huge undertaking and Stan Brock and the volunteers who made this possible were great. After watching and listening to any of the coverage on RAMLA, do you still have any doubts that we need major healthcare reform in the US? There are some additional related posts in the reading section below. Stan Brock was also the ABC Person of the Week last Friday. BD
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/08/19/lkl.free.health.care.cnn
Related Reading:
USC Mobile School of Dentistry Joins Remote Area Medical at the Forum in Los Angeles
RamLosAngeles – Website Update With Additional Information – Day Two
Remote Area Medical – More Doctors & Dentists Needed – Video with Stan Brock and the Patients
Wendell Potter - Join Me in L.A. at the Los Angeles RAM (Remote Access Medical) Event
Remote Area Medical Los Angeles – Day One
Remote Area Medical Coming to Los Angeles – August 11-18th at the Forum
Cancer survivor Creates Free Clinic for Cancer Victims in Florida for Uninsured/Poverty Patients
With her own case of kidney cancer, she’s a survivor and with her employment at the time as a contractor, she did not have health insurance and her words, she fell through the cracks, she’s a nurse practitioner and mother of 6. Her treatment was 35k and she had to mortgage the house for her 
cancer treatment, do we need reform, think so.
From the Website:
”Flagler County Free Clinic is a volunteer base clinic that provides free medical care, including dental abstractions to people who are uninsured and meet the federal poverty guide lines. We attend the first 60 patients on Saturday and first 20 on Sundays. It is on a first come first serve basis.”
Also, in case you missed it, read up on the heroic efforts of Remote Area Medical that provided 8 days of free health care in Los Angeles. It is good to know that giving and caring has not died in today’s world! The page also has PayPal set up to take donations. BD
Remote Area Medical Los Angeles – Day One
BUNNELL, Florida (CNN) -- Faith Coleman had no health insurance when she learned she had cancer, but she describes her battle with the illness as "one of the absolute greatest blessings" of her life.
That compassion inspired Coleman to open a free clinic in her Florida community to help other uninsured people in need of medical care.
In July 2003, Coleman, a nurse practitioner, learned she had a malignant tumor growing on her right kidney. But as a contract worker for several doctors, she did not receive health insurance. Coleman's treatment totaled about $35,000, and she was forced to take out a mortgage on her house to help pay for it.
"I [fell] through the crack ... and I [had] a great job and a good education," said Coleman, a mother of six.
Realizing that her financial and health woes were not unique, Coleman -- now in remission -- became determined to help those in similar situations access medical treatment.
The clinic opened its doors in February 2005, with eight volunteers treating eight patients. Since then, it has expanded to 120 volunteers who see about 80 patients every other weekend. Coleman said she's seen an increase in the number of patients at the clinic, which serves people who meet federal poverty guidelines. The two worked together to establish the Flagler County Free Clinic in Bunnell, Florida, which provides medical care for the uninsured. It has treated more than 6,700 patients.
Cancer survivor provides free health care for uninsured - CNN.com
$1.2 billion In Grants Becoming Available for Hospitals and Providers in 2010 – Mentors Still Needed
This is great news and so badly needed. I do have to say things appear to be getting better in the funding area, but I would still like to hear how Joe Biden and Kathleen Sebelius feel about their own records. We have a major shift here with what readers are interested in reading about and personal experiences are the best! 
It would really help create a much stronger public image and build confidence if they could share some of their own personal experiences and how electronic medical records used by their doctors are showing their worth!
Where Are the PHR Mentors – Education Required as the Arizona Senior Project is Finding Out with Little Participation
Question of the day, do the physicians that Joe Biden and Kathleen Sebelius consult with for their own personal care use electronic medical records, and if they don’t, well why not! We need some mentors and this is the perfect opportunity to speak out and help healthcare reform in a positive manner. Electronic Medical Records run some of the best algorithms out there for providing information and better healthcare. BD
WASHINGTON - The U.S. government on Thursday announced grants of almost $1.2 billion to help hospitals and health care providers implement and use electronic health records.
The Obama administration has made the overhaul of the $2.5 trillion U.S. health care system the centerpiece of its domestic agenda, including the use of technology to improve efficiency and cut costs.
The grants include $598 million to set up some 70 health information technology centers to help health care institutions acquire electronic health record systems and $564 million to develop a nationwide system of health information networks, Vice President Joe Biden's office said in a statement.
$1.2 billion granted for electronic health records - Health care- msnbc.com
Related Reading:
Wendell Potter Knows Algorithms – If you Don’t Understand Please Read Up as Software runs about 95% of all our Decisions Today
Public Option Petition – Have Members of Congress no Longer Be Provided Health Care Insurance Paid for by Tax Payer Dollars And Be Required to Shop and Purchase as We Do
Where Are the PHR Mentors – Education Required as the Arizona Senior Project is Finding Out with Little Participation
The Fune – Spoof on Microsoft Zune as a Phone
Time out for a little humor – it’s a Phone, no it’s Fune! What is the cell phone of the future in 10 years going to look like, well maybe not like this one! BD
“Capitalism A Love Story” has a new Trailer Released – Where’s Our Congressional Algorithms?
Where’s our money was the question, answer, I don’t know….you have to love it. The 3 words in real estate are location, location, location.
The 3 words for HealthCare Reform in my opinion should be as follows: Education, Education, Education, what do you think? In his new movie it appears that by using entertainment, Michael Moore is into exploring the use of algorithms too.
If you have time, check out the link below from a post I made in January and watch the Senate testimonies held in January and see the level of knowledge and participation. The link to the testimony videos below is the one released by the Senate themselves, and when you have a couple hours, watch it and you will see and understand exactly what I am saying. Back on the subject of algorithms, Wall Street has them, health insurance companies have them too, lots of them, but they are proprietary so we don’t know what they are, and how they are used, where’s ours?
The laws passed today need to be explicit on “algorithms” otherwise if the use and interpretations are not spelled out, what good are the laws that nobody can interpret and then we still have those using algorithms for profit, as there is nothing in the laws that prohibit this. In the related reading below, you can see where the insurers speak themselves a bit about their “algorithms”, it’s what makes the money.
Investing in Health IT: US Senate Testimonies
“In mathematics, computing, linguistics, and related subjects, an algorithm is an effective method for solving a problem using a finite sequence of instructions. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and many other fields.”
The Executive Branch is working on the problem and the link has a lengthy video with U.S. CIO Vivek Kundra on what he is doing to tackle the problems, again, where’s the Congressional solutions here. Also, don’t forget Medical Banking, they are creating some new algorithms for practicing business.
Promising new startup of 2009 - Executive branch of the US federal Government
The 2 New Hot Words in Healthcare: Algorithms and Whistleblowers
Should the government no longer have “government” provided insurance, co-ops for government too? David Lazarus from the Los Angeles times makes some good points about participation, a big part of the problem as well as education. Come to think of it, they could use some algorithms to figure this out, you think? BD
Related Algorithm Reading:
API Healthcare Launches Business Analytics to Provide Real Time Enterprise-Wide Monitoring of Human Capital Information – Business Intelligence
The search for John Doe – Who’s running the queries (Algorithms) and wants to know
AARP Is Just Caught in the Middle of the Debate – Its the Algorithms That Call the Shots, Not Memberships in Senior Organizations
Algorithms, Formulas and Investigations leads to AARP suspending sales of some health plans
The 2 New Hot Words in Healthcare: Algorithms and Whistleblowers
Brave New Films – “United Wealth Care” – It’s In the Algorithms
Ex-Goldman programmer Inquisition Continues – Did He Really Steal the Algorithms or Just Worked on Code from Home?
How Wall Street Lied to Its Computers – Software and Programming
Health Care Insurers Suggest Algorithms and Business Intelligence solutions to provide health insurance solution
Is This a Case for a New Law – Illegal Algorithms? How Do You Sleep at Night Rockefeller asked the CEO of United Health Care
The Healthcare Feeding Frenzy - Rachel Maddow Commentary
Rachel Maddow does a pretty good job on relating the stocks on Wall Street with healthcare being the most traded stocks on the market. She uses 
some good film clips and in my opinion shows the need for more education, and takes on United HealthCare. Many folks filing bankruptcy over medical bills “have” health insurance.
One thing to keep in mind when looking at the choices is the business models of health insurance companies, what they are today, may not be the same tomorrow, good or bad, nothing will stay the same so before casting a big vote of confidence with one side or the other, look at the business trending, especially those who are gaining big profits and how they are doing it, algorithms. We need laws specific to the creation and enforcement of algorithms so human lives do not suffer based on formulas created to generate bigger profit margins. BD
It’s H1N1 – Advisory Email Received to Not use “Swine” with Future Media Posts
Perhaps everyone else in blogging or journalism may have received the same notification, so I’ll post here in case anyone missed it. I had no idea that using the term had a negative impact on the pork industry, although I did post a while back that a few pigs actually did catch the flu, from humans.
First Case of Pigs with Swine Flu Reported in Canada
It was interesting though when Bird Flu was gathering all the attention a while back that there was nothing wrong with using the word bird, and being my last name is Duck, I didn’t see where it hurt the poultry business, right, or didn’t bring any undue negative attention to this blog when I posted referencing the word “bird”. Actually many used a lot of humor and the link below reflects someone’s humor relative to the bird flu issue. Even though I am a Duck by name, I still got a chuckle out of this one too.
Ok, so now I’m confused, what do I call “bird flu”, any ideas? I guess “Duck Flu” is out of the picture (grin), but H1N1 rules the media for sure and I’ll make sure I get the appropriate term in future posts and I don’t think anyone in media purposely used the term to hurt the pork business, self included. It also appears that the flu is still very much in the news so no doubt H1N1 will still be very active in the media as fall gets closer, and the normal flu season starts it’s wrath. BD
Email advisory below:
I am writing to you about the critical role you play in providing balanced, accurate information to your viewers or readers about the Novel H1N1 2009 influenza virus.
Earlier this year, media reports were alarmist and frequently used the inaccurate term “swine flu” to describe this particular strain. And while the novel strain has some genetic markings derived from swine, it also has significant human and avian genetic fingerprints. Novel H1N1 is not a flu that was caused or spread by pig production nor is this virus transmitted to humans by consuming pork. Unfortunately, early media coverage left that impression, and this was and continues to be disruptive to farmers and the pork industry.
Since April 24, the date Novel H1N1 was made public, the losses incurred by pork producers, processors and retailers has totaled in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Experts are saying that if we project these losses to October 2009 the total will be well over $1 billion.
It is not the American Meat Institute’s opinion alone that the inaccurate reporting is harmful. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Director General Bernard Vallat wrote, “This incorrect nomenclature has led many countries – at the beginning at least - to impose unjustified ban measures related to the import of pigs and pig products. It should be noted that the name of a disease always has heavy implications and has a very strong impact on the behavior of consumers worldwide.”
Most media responded to calls from the OIE and U.S. Government officials to use the term “H1N1.” Today, the term has become “Novel H1N1 2009.” Unfortunately, we have observed a return to the use of the term “swine flu” in media reports.
Virologists say the Novel H1N1 2009 virus MAY reemerge here in the fall and may be more virulent after circulating south of the equator. It is also possible that a pig within U.S. borders may become infected with the Novel H1N1 virus. If that should occur, experts, including OIE, USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unequivocally say this is not a food safety risk. A person cannot contract the flu from eating pork.
Novel H1N1 is a human disease. Pigs have not played any role in the spread of the virus. We urge you to remind your reporters and producers that continued use of the term “swine flu” is inappropriate and ask that your coverage de-link the virus from pigs or pork. We ask that you refrain from using pig graphics in your reporting as it reinforces the perception that a link has existed between the Novel H1N1 virus and pig production– something that is regrettable, inaccurate, yet commonly seen.
To read the OIE statement, click here: http://www.oie.int/eng/edito/en_lastedito.htm. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Janet M. Riley
American Meat Institute
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
202/587-4245
Video Coming Soon to Magazines and Papers – Embedded Advertising Chips
When is somebody going to put a lid on some of the noise? One of the reasons I like to read is because it is quiet time, but if this new process takes off I’m out luck. The initial ads will be soft drinks, but what comes next, a health insurance ad jumping out at me with a health coach asking me what my BMI is today, or an ad from a pharmaceutical company? The internet gives me all the noise that I currently want to enjoy with digital media. The video chips start playing as soon as you open the page it states. All I want is some quiet time to get away from some of this. The video below shows how the 2 inch ad will look, so perhaps digital ads in chips are working to be the next saviors of papers and magazines, or on the other hand it could be the last straw on the camel’s back.
Next week there’s a conference in San Francisco addressing this issue and perhaps there might be some new avenues, or let me rephrase this, some new thought processes of what it being put out there today. No wonder Bill Maher says we are stupid. BD
An upcoming issue of Entertainment Weekly will include what's being billed as the first video advertisements ever in a print magazine. According to the Associated Press, a video player with a 2-inch screen will be embedded on heavy-stock paper -- similar to what's used by greeting cards that play bits of music -- and inserted into the magazine.
And as in those cards, the video will start up as soon as the insert is opened.
Coming to a magazine near you -- video, right on the page | Technology | Los Angeles Times
The United HealthCare “Tea Parties” – Enlisting Employees in the Campaign
It’s time again for some “leaked” internal documents. We haven’t had many of these of late since all the ones that surfaced from Wall Street. The first thing anyone does these day when it says “for internal use” is usually to run out to the press and see if there might be a few dollars bounty on it. Remember too that Wall Street likes these folks too as they are looking for dividends and profits. The letter also states they have “advocacy'” assistance for you too if you are one of the insured who wants to help the cause, and of course the urging to attend a “Town Hall” meeting (is that what they are still called) is listed as well.
I think they are beginning to look closer to a Town Hall verbal brawl. Again, a bit of education would really help so citizens learn and get the entire picture on the strength and value of software that runs algorithms to take money from transactions. United and their subsidiaries have focused on this and it’s showing more and more as dollars get tighter, the formulas get even more creative to keep cost down, but the costs talked about are tied to human lives. Coffee, Tea or Health insurance?
UnitedHealthCare CEO – “Our Shareholders Will Prosper”
“It is the algorithms that do the dirty work, not humans, it is in the code. You don’t have to be a computer expert to understand all the fine tuning, but please be aware that these business models are automated and run like clockwork; however they are designed and they should also be contained to work within the law. A customer service representative looks at his/her screen for their decisions, the screen shows the results of queries being run based on the parameters of the data input into the system. Don’t forget this.” BD
Town Hall Thugs Talk About Their Job Descriptions and Benefits
One of the country’s largest health insurers, Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group, is enlisting its employees in its campaign about health care reform. According to Talking Points Memo, the company’s advocacy hotline is helping employees write notes to members of Congress and, in at least one case, a hotline operator encouraged a caller to attend tea parties.
Last week, UnitedHealth sent a letter to employees urging them to call the company’s United for Health Reform Advocacy Hotline, where specialists could help workers “personalize your message” about health care reform and connect them to congressional offices. TPM reports that an individual insured by UnitedHealth Group called the line and was encouraged to attend a tea party and directed to a listing of events hosted by the rightwing America’s Independent Party
Update: In an email, UnitedHealth’s John Parker insisted that the company doesn’t share third-party event listings, but only information about town halls sponsored by members of Congress. “We have never encouraged our employees to participate in ‘tea parties,’” he added. “We only provide information, that is publicly available.”
Related Reading:
Public Option Petition – Have Members of Congress no Longer Be Provided Health Care Insurance Paid for by Tax Payer Dollars And Be Required to Shop and Purchase as We Do
Healthcare Reform Protesters – Dan Gould – “What the F***”
How Similar is Wall Street to the Health Insurance Business
Brave New Films – “United Wealth Care” – It’s In the Algorithms
Technorati Tags: Town Hall meetings,healthcare reform,health insurance,Obama,Tea Parties,United HealthCare
FDA approves device from EDAP TMS – Sonolith Stone Robotization Using Touch Screen Monitor
This is some very innovative use with touchscreen monitors. The technician just has to touch the stone and the device does the rest and positions 
the stone, and you get both X-ray and Ultrasound images are displayed in real-time. Next, choose the pressure and frequency settings to attack and fragment the stone.
Shockwaves are sent using their patented Electroconductive technology. The robotic stone breaking device has already earned the European CE Mark as well. The use of the touch screen further demonstrates how are are continuing to change the ways we interact with computers, whether they are desktops, mobile units or a part of medical diagnostic equipment/devices. I have used a touch screen tablet PC myself for years and I really like the additional capabilities of not having to use a mouse too. BD
Sonolith® i-sys Electroconductive Shock-wave Lithotripter
-
Ideal for public or private centers with moderate to high patient load
-
Fully integrated and transportable
-
Exclusive intuitive localization system “Stone Locking System” for a unique robotization level
-
Clinical versatility for ESWL and endourology procedures
French medical device maker EDAP TMS SA said Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an ultrasound device that dissolves kidney stones.
EDAP's Sonolith I-Sys robotized device combines ultrasound and X-ray systems to treat urinary stones.
FDA approves ultrasound device from EDAP TMS – BusinessWeek
Technorati Tags: Sonolith,robotics,medical devices,FDA,kidney stones,touchscreen,healthcare,X-ray,ultrasound
More Ghostwriting Uncovered - Glaxo used program to promote Paxil
This appears to have gone one step further in the fact that a program was developed internally with a “how to” structure, and one individual spoke out in dismay with naming it after a “cartoon ghost”. Paxil now has generic competition as well as from other name brand drugs. I wonder how many more ghostwriters will be uncovered as time moves on. BD
WASHINGTON — Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline used a sophisticated ghostwriting program to promote its antidepressant Paxil, allowing doctors to take credit for medical journal articles mainly written by company consultants, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press.
An internal company memo instructs salespeople to approach physicians and offer to help them write and publish articles about their positive experiences prescribing the drug.
Known as the CASPPER program, the paper explains how the company can help physicians with everything from "developing a topic," to "submitting the manuscript for publication."
The document was uncovered by the Baum Hedlund PC law firm of Los Angeles, which is representing hundreds of former Paxil users in personal injury and wrongful death suits against GlaxoSmithKline. The firm alleges the company downplayed several risks connected with its drug, including increased suicidal behavior and birth defects.
A spokeswoman for London-based Glaxo said the published articles noted any assistance to the main authors.
According to the memo, which dates from April 2000, the CASPPER program was designed to "strengthen the product positioning and overcome competitive issues."
At the time, Paxil was competing with rival antidepressant blockbusters like Eli Lilly's Prozac and Pfizer's Zoloft. Paxil has since lost its patent protection and competes against cheaper generic versions. Sales of Paxil last year totaled $849 million.
Smart Phone Turns on Magic Chef Stove When Incoming Calls Come in – Unbelievable
What happens when software and hardware on a cell phone goes nuts, it turns on the oven. We always wonder about the possibility of these things 
happening and when this man gets an incoming phone call, it turns on the broiler on the stove. I have been a Windows Mobile phone user for years and have used software on my PDA in the pas to control my TV but this one is a bit beyond that.
Watch the video and see how it works when they demonstrate how this works. The phone was on the counter near the stove in the kitchen. So far nobody has been able to figure it out on why this is happening. Something is connecting the stove to the phone with some wireless capabilities. As technology continues to grow, so does the overlapping areas of authority for our government too, as now many report medical record information; so perhaps this is another example of 2 or more agencies needing to come together to collaborate, as laws without technology provisions won’t cut the mustard for long.
I am curious being a Smart Phone as if any new software has been added recently, like the software I used to control my television with my PDA. BD
FDA may regulate certain mobile phones and accessories – Somebody Finally Agrees with Me
hen Melnikov is about two feet away from his Magic Chef stove, incoming calls on his PDA make the appliance beep. Then the digital display lights up, indicating the stove's broiler is on high. Sure enough, when he pops open the door, the burners are aflame.
It happened for the first time last week. The phone rang, and while Melnikov was talking, he smelled smoke. Thinking it was one of the other electronic devices in his Brooklyn apartment, he went around and checked them first. At that point, the kitchen was filling with smoke and Melnikov ran inside and found the cause. It was the oven, which he knew he hadn't turned on. Inside was a piece of plastic cookware that was on fire. Melnikov quickly put it out.
Melnikov has had the PDA three years and says this is the first time it turned on his oven. Even still, he's shaken and says he can't sleep knowing it just might happen again.
Jon Stewart Sums Up “What Is Healthcare Reform” - “Who Knows” (Video)
One thing to keep in mind though is the health insurance companies you see today may not be the same companies of the future, take a look at how so many other companies have evolved and just worth giving some thought as you make or break your opinion on healthcare, it’s all in the code and that’s what really rules. Today’s laws need to work better with technology so they are in fact binding so perhaps a new approach with algorithmic laws should be in order, so everyone can see and read the facts. Algorithms are sure a lot easier to understand when explained than the emotional “bitch” sessions we keep seeing on the news and myself, I am no longer entertained and would really like to see progress and some role models in Congress.
So what does Jon say – it’s up in smoke, who knows (grin). BD
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Heal or No Heal - Medicine Brawl | ||||
| ||||
Blumenthal To Oversee EHR Certification, Grants, Clinical Education and More…
I seems the future of CCHI now resides with David Blumenthal as HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has delegated much of Health IT, especially relative to electronic medical records. For a little recent history, the 2 links below have some updates on what is happening.
What is Next on the Agenda – Meaningful CCHIT After December
The National Alliance for Health Information Technology Is Ceasing Operation.
It does appear that we are seeing some consolidation in government. BD
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has delegated administrative responsibility to the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology for most of the grant and loan funding sections of the HITECH Act within the economic stimulus law.
The action, detailed in a notice published Aug. 18 in the Federal Register, does not cover the Medicare/Medicaid incentive programs for meaningful use of electronic health records systems.
National Coordinator David Blumenthal, M.D., now has administrative authority for all but one part of Sections 3011 through 3017 of Subtitle B, "Incentives for the Use of Health Information Technology," in the HITECH Act. The exception is Section 3012 (c) (5), under which the HHS secretary may provide financial support to health information technology regional extension centers. Blumenthal has administrative authority for other extension center activities under that section.
The affected sections under Sebelius' delegation to Blumenthal cover:
3011: funding to strengthen the health I.T. infrastructure through development of standards, certification of EHRs, and development of best practices to support secure nationwide exchange of data;
3012: health I.T. technical implementation assistance including development of a research center and regional extension centers;
3013: state grants to promote health I.T.;
3014: grants to states and Indian tribes for loan programs to facilitate EHR adoption;
3015: demonstration programs to integrate I.T. into clinical education;
3016: Increasing use of I.T. professionals in health care; and
3017: analyzing the effectiveness of grant and loan programs.
Sebelius Boosts Blumenthal's Authority
Related Reading:
CCHIT Battles With Leavitt and Klepper Exchange Words and Opinions And One Install of a Hybrid EHR in Northern California
More EHRs Get Certified – CCHIT But Many are Pre-Market or Pending e-Prescribing
CCHIT – One physician’s opinion and My 2 cents
CCHIT to Certify Personal Health Records
Cannabis chemicals Helping Reduce Prostate Cancer Tumors – In Mice
This is an early study and looks at the chemicals in pot, so don’t get your hopes up yet that if you smoke pot that you will be safe from getting 
prostate cancer and your California pot card won’t help you out in this department yet. It is fascinating how we are finding the properties in items such as cannabis to have some potential cures or treatments locked inside. The delivery method too may change too as research and development continues. BD
LONDON (Reuters) – Chemicals in cannabis have been found to stop prostate cancer cells from growing in the laboratory, suggesting that cannabis-based medicines could one day help fight the disease, scientists said Wednesday.
After working initially with human cancer cell lines, Ines Diaz-Laviada and colleagues from the University of Alcala in Madrid also tested one compound on mice and discovered it produced a significant reduction in tumor growth.
Their research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, underlines the growing interest in the medical use of active chemicals called cannabinoids, which are found in marijuana. In effect, the cancer cell receptors can recognize and "talk to" chemicals found in cannabis, said Diaz-Laviada.
Experts, however, stressed that the research was still exploratory and many more years of testing would be needed to work out how to apply the findings to the treatment of cancer in humans.
Technorati Tags: Medical Marijuana,Cannibus,healthcare,iPhone,software application,taxes,Prostate cancer,study
![EZClaim[4]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TG1-9etl5ZI/AAAAAAAAgqg/CRMlet5Pi5k/EZClaim44.png?imgmax=800 "EZClaim[4]")
Math–This Could be a Subject for Michael Moore to Explore and Document In a Movie
Screenings Too–Killer Algorithms Part 12–Medical Billing Codes Style
Assessing Consumer Credit Scores–Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 21 With Flawed Data
Duping” Society Combined With A World of Rogue Algorithms & Flawed Data Continues In Markets As Seen With Knight Capital This Week-Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 36
Study Fraud With EHR Technologies, Namely Medical Records/Billing Software Used by Hospitals– HHS And SEC Continue Getting Their Non-Algorithmic Fannies Kicked–Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 46
SilverScript Senior Drug Program Sanctioned by Medicare Until the Payment And Billing Algorithms are Cleaned Up-Killer Algorithms Chapter 53
