Medical Quack

Cash Strapped States Tapping Into Philanthropy For Help With Both Interpreting Healthcare Laws & IT Infrastructure to Comply With Federal Regulations

When the President took office a couple years ago, saw this coming as I said to run HHS it required an individual with some actual “hands on” Health IT Infrastructure” experience and not just a figure head who relies <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BaYY7S4GnOk/TexbWiNq3vI/AAAAAAAAyyE/x0YD-01s-kw/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="176" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MutoqP4ZGTs/TexbXAGiOFI/AAAAAAAAyyI/xX374Euz_Bg/image_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="187" /></a>on everyone else’s research in order to make decisions.  This is partly the reason the word “algorithm” and it’s meaning sits center stage on this blog.  I’m just a tiny fish in the sea but folks who write code and deal with data bases and know what is possible see it before it gets here, I did.  As you see in the news every day we are so very “complicated” today and without some “hands on” experience from those who are at the top of the ladder this is what you get, a lot more money spend on studies and huge expenditures.  Sure some of this would be there anyway as technology continues to throw us a new left curve every day, but for those who don’t have “code logic” engrained, the job is much tougher.  Look at Bill Gates if you will for a perfect example, he sees it and started giving his money away a few years ago as he knows how algorithmic formulas can either be beneficial for all or done for profit only and leave those who are not at this level, which a great majority of us, left to fend a battle they know nothing about, in other <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-btcFZ2_PLBk/TexbXY8zB5I/AAAAAAAAyyM/7jtTN1O1eLw/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="170" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gEdJChxVqAg/TexbX_YovII/AAAAAAAAyyQ/qS2nWOQioog/image_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="146" /></a>words it’s a mathematical battle that shift money today.  Mr. Gates has spent many years testifying to deaf ears in Congress with trying to share his knowledge and nobody would listen.  Pay attention to the Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Larry Ellisons of the world as they see technology and the moving and evolution of code way before the rest of us as well as being the town criers to help us prepare.  You have to look no further than Wall Street.  It is what it is with algorithmic formulas.  About a year and a half ago I did an interview and both the reporter and myself I think were ahead of our times as she was pursuing the same topic as a freelance writer for Proto, the magazine for UMASS hospital.  We didn’t get published but we discussed what she referred to as “rogue” algorithms and they are out there. I say the same thing a lot, there are algorithms written that give accurate results and those that are written for “desired” results and sadly the two are not always the same as you would think they should be.  It’s also easy enough to snow others who are “non participants”with software and technology and tell a story, IT folks do it every day to try to translate in a way that layman can understand and most I feel do a good job but some flat out lie and go about their business of instructing their developers to write for profit, no matter who ends up on the losing end.  Again, look no further than Wall Street for some blaring examples.  I live out here in California, where we have probably some of the most sophisticated CIOs in public office who do a darn good job but with budget cuts and the ability to upgrade and only do so much, they reach a point to where their hands are tied.  Actually California has a “Digital Literacy” campaign to increase consumer awareness that was put in place by executive order from Governor Arnold back in November of 2010.  Put his personal issues aside for the moment here and he was great leader with digital technology and always kept us up to date with Tweetcasts and since he has left office it has all died.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/11/california-governor-initiates-digital.html">California Governor Initiates Digital Literacy Campaign By Executive Order</a></h4> One item that is being terribly overlooked at the Congressional level is the amount of time it takes to implement IT infrastructures to run programs as they all have one today or need upgrades.  This comes largely from digital illiteracy in Congress with so many being the “non participants” when it comes to consumer IT literacy at least and since they are responsible for making laws they should be required to go beyond as that’s what’s needed today.  They seem to think that the staff is supposed to do everything and they are just the figure heads but we are seeing some pretty sad ones today out there.  As a comparison, look at doctors, they have continuing education required to continue to practice and is there any such stipulation for those in Congress?  I’m not aware of any but they should have requirements just like doctors do or else we end up with what we have today with soap operas and stupid issues like “Weinergate” that take up the time on the news and distract and disrupt members of Congress from what they were hired to do.  I get tired of it and so does everyone else and we look less than intelligent as the rest of the world views us.  <img align="right" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gxUmbWZk26I/TepzcQhU4CI/AAAAAAAAyrE/jMN74icNKJw/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" /> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/06/out-of-focus-lawmakers-with-digital.html">Out of Focus Lawmakers With Digital Illiteracy–Bill To Make It A Criminal Offense for Embedding You Tube Videos and Time And Money Wasted With John Edwards Case</a></h4> When you dig down into this article it is interestingly pointed out that Blue Shield distances itself from some of the activity and instead calls for more studies when the State of California asks for help.  I guess this way it looks like they are doing something with all the legal snags and issues with having a study done but again that takes time so we have a whole lot of nothing going on at times.   The California HealthCare Foundation has donate money and hired consultants and I would guess these are both the Legal and IT type of companies and individuals as they word hand in hand today or at least they should.  Public CIOs are now openly stating that they are learning more about healthcare than they would have thought was necessary to know for their positions, even outside of healthcare.  <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/12/healthcare-reform-putting-additional.html">Healthcare Reform Putting Additional Pressure on Public and Medicaid CIOs-The Health IT Bubble Gets Closer As Money And Digital Literacy is Scarce</a><img align="right" border="0" height="175" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Tbebjx7oCxI/AAAAAAAAv8Y/fas0j8yq8MM/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="155" /></h6> IT and the Legal infrastructures have changed and we are now aggregating data throughout many systems where this did not occur even as recent as 4-5 years ago and digital illiteracy with lawmakers with denial or not accepting or learning about this is making it impossible to breath and then it seems they jump back in to the 70s to discuss abortion control, something they feel they can control I think and it’s stupid and meanwhile the American public sits back and gets the side shows on the news at night and confidence with each episode drops lower and the folks in Congress can’t seem to figure out why their confidence levels are at an all time low, digital illiteracy I say or one big whopping case of denial.  I can make one more example of this illiteracy with a recent post made on a bill introduced to put “flawed” Medicare claim data on the web.  They have no clue on the cost, the amount of time and again just listen to what someone else tells them, and in this case it could be some lobbyists or the Dow Jones with their ridiculous lawsuit they filed basically just because they could and might be looking to drum up a few million dollars of business for some company.  Bills that are impossible to implement in the time frames they suggest are just wasted time, not to mention the millions it will cost. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/05/two-more-senators-propose-more-bills-to.html">Two More Senators Propose More Bills to Publish Medicare Claims Data Without A Hint of Digital Literacy Relative to Cost and Time</a></h4> These folks just seem to think that IT Infrastructure costs just grows on trees and <img align="right" border="0" height="178" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TOMYk25KVXI/AAAAAAAAjCA/lNz6M6RTtbQ/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="218" />the former administration was a big part of why we are at this cross road today as they were technology sleepers by all means, and that was proven when the Obama administration when they moved in, found many computers in the White House still running on Windows 98.  I will still never forget the day that Bush held up a tablet in Congress with a jpg image of an “e-budget” and he had clue about what he was talking about and he seemed to be well primed to hold up the tablet and point to the image.  <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/11/do-some-think-that-health-it-costs-and.html">Do Some Think That Health IT Costs and Systems Grow On Trees-Certainly Starting To Give That Impression of Late</a></h6> Our folks are not smart enough in Washington too see a valuable tool presented to them when they see it and I’ll reference IBM Watson server technology as one example as being it was on Jeopardy, I get this feeling they thought the technology was only good for games, sad.  I just attended the Israel Convention in Los Angeles this week and let me tell you they are all over “machine learning” in almost everything they are doing today and we are missing the boat here, not with technology companies but with digital illiteracy in Congress not being able to recognize the tools they need to do their jobs with creating laws.  One item I noticed that was a little different than what we do here was the mention of collaboration and putting the innovators in labs to work together, and again I have said that is a <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-exMqazYyK4w/TelXM6neGEI/AAAAAAAAyns/qEsHomWH6LI/s1600-h/image%25255B23%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="107" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WIqhXiSBb8g/TelXNR86mJI/AAAAAAAAynw/xVKv0UIpyso/image_thumb%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="81" /></a>big part of what is fouling up our healthcare system, innovation without collaboration. The link below gives a few of my observations and we were also treated to a presentation from Jonathon Miller, Chief Digital Officer, Chairman and CEO of the Digital Media Group for News Corporation. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/06/physical-virtue-solution-to-assess-and.html">Physical Virtue Solution To Assess and Train Neck Disorders, Microsoft Kinect And More As Shown This Week at the Israel Conference</a></h4> Instead of collaborating and everyone seeing the same figures and data at once we still get this Ryan program which was created by one group without collaboration and there’s great white hope without collaboration.  In essence it’s just one more disruption that allows for the continued lack of collaboration by our members and the inability to work together.  So here we go into the impossible storm with lawmakers at every level across the country behind the times.  With high powered technology and data mining they would be starting out at the 10 yard line with data they need in a usable fashion instead of the 40 yard line where they all seem to hang out today with their efforts of making a touchdown.  Thank goodness philanthropy is around to help out but again how far can they go is the question too and will they tire of helping those who refuse to help themselves while the rest of us as a country suffer?  It is what it is sadly today with impossible bills being created and little attention being paid to consumer issues and without some digital algorithmic centric laws we get flushed down the toilet.  I don’t mean to be pessimistic but what I see as the future scares the daylights out of me too as I can’t do anything but watch the circus continue while we sink.  A while back too I was outspoken on what creates wealth and it’s not “social network algorithms”.  Sure social networks belong but not at the rate they are being promoted by banks as far as their value.  When you bank on nothing but intangibles without tangibles in business attached, the bottom will fall in and all we have left is a bunch of algorithms without balance, so I thought this was important enough to mention once more.  Social networks are not going to cure me when I <img align="right" border="0" height="178" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SpH6RBbISBI/AAAAAAAAZjs/Gzap4iVIZ3o/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="165" />am ill, but a drug or device along with visiting a doctor will, and again more thoughts should perhaps be thinking in this direction as well.  Back in the middle of 2009 I suggested perhaps a need for a Department of Algorithms or something right along that line and it sure looks like the need is growing and something needs to be created in that direction soon.  BD    From August of 2009…. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/08/are-we-ever-going-to-get-some-algorithm.html">Are We Ever Going to Get Some Algorithm Centric Laws Passed for Healthcare!</a></h4> <blockquote> WASHINGTON _Short on cash and time, officials in California and at least a dozen other states have turned to philanthropies to help pay for the extra work required under the federal health law. Nowhere do the ties between private health foundations and state government run deeper than in California, where Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown's administration is grappling with a projected $10.8 billion deficit in 2012, leaving little money for implementing the law. Three major foundations — the California HealthCare Foundation, the Blue Shield of California Foundation and the California Endowment — have stepped into the breach with money for actuaries, economists and other consultants. The California HealthCare Foundation is funding two consultants to work on the state's application for federal funding for a health insurance exchange, a cornerstone of the law that will allow individuals and small businesses to shop for coverage in a new online marketplace. It must be in place by 2014, and though the state was the first to pass a law authorizing the exchange, last September, it has committed few resources to actually building it. "It is a sign of the times," said Marian Mulkey, the California HealthCare Foundation's health reform director. Budget problems — states' 2012-13 deficits are expected to total $150 billion — aren't the only reason why states are seeking foundation support. Lengthy procurement procedures mean it can take many months for states to hire experts, making it tough to meet health law deadlines, Howard said. Peter Long, president of the Blue Shield of California Foundation, said his organization distances itself from potential conflicts. When the foundation receives requests for help from the state, it contracts with experts who can handle the work, then steps back, leaving the tough policy choices to public officials. "We're inspector No. 12," he said, referring to the calling cards anonymous quality checkers might leave in the pocket of a new garment. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/06/05/115254/cash-strapped-states-tap-foundations.html">Cash-strapped states tap foundations for health law help | McClatchy</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0be768ea-0f88-4498-b365-92e588ee7df5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/digital+literacy" rel="tag">digital literacy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Arnold+Schwarzenegger" rel="tag">Arnold Schwarzenegger</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/executive+order" rel="tag">executive order</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/mobile+technology" rel="tag">mobile technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/computers" rel="tag">computers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/California+CIO" rel="tag">California CIO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/federal+law" rel="tag">federal law</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/philanthropy" rel="tag">philanthropy</a></div>

Cash Strapped States Tapping Into Philanthropy For Help With Both Interpreting Healthcare Laws & IT Infrastructure to Comply With Federal Regulations

When the President took office a couple years ago, saw this coming as I said to run HHS it required an individual with some actual “hands on...

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Stem Cell Bandage Granted Approval in UK To Begin Clinical Trial For Treating Torn Meniscal Cartilage in the Knee

We have something similar here in the US with using animal tissue to also <a href="http://www.azellon-ltd.com/technology.php"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="71" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TqAf6HRVgQ4/Tev9tpiGGHI/AAAAAAAAywI/_D0oIZ70UOU/image%25255B12%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="170" /></a>regenerate the knee and the link below is worth the watch with the doctor making his presentation at a TED conference.  The procedure for the clinical trial in the UK is not using animal tissue but rather the patient’s own stem cells, so a bit different here. It takes about 2 weeks for the tissue to be grown.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/07/future-of-joint-replacements.html">Future of Joint Replacements – Regenerative Medicine - Dr. Kevin Stone Regrows the Knee Instead of an Artificial Replacement (Video)</a></h4> When the stem cells have matured they are placed on a special membrane (the bandage) and implanted and patients will be monitored for 5 years to evaluate the safety of the procedure.  Azellon was spun out from the University of Bristol in the UK and instead of removing the meniscus, hopefully stem cell will be able to regenerate instead.  This is a pretty monumental study with the huge amounts of tears that individuals who experience tears.  BD <blockquote> ScienceDaily (June 4, 2011) — Millions of people with knee injuries could benefit from a new type of stem cell bandage treatment if clinical trials <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Mrurlwa5M20/Tev9uFGucqI/AAAAAAAAywM/UrjqZIrUofk/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="176" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z6zMzJ7lk18/Tev9up_9-EI/AAAAAAAAywQ/HJD9YBQ_2DU/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="154" /></a>are successful. The world's first clinical trial for the treatment of patients with torn meniscal cartilage has received approval from the UK regulatory agency, the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), to commence. The Phase I trial, one of the first in the UK to be approved using stem cells, will treat meniscal tear patients with a cell bandage product, seeded with the patient's own, expanded, stem cells. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cTSAHwpDYeI/Tev9vBD2GCI/AAAAAAAAywU/NI_zDuPLvbs/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="342" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MJub0FFM2iU/Tev9vs5Jx5I/AAAAAAAAywY/GwM_S8jhle4/image_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="355" /></a> The cell bandage, produced by <a href="http://www.azellon-ltd.com/">Azellon Ltd, a University of Bristol spin-out company,</a> is focused on the research, development and commercialization of an adult autologous (patient's own) stem cell technology which in vitro (tissue culture) has shown great promise for the healing of meniscal tears. Azellon Ltd is funded by the Wellcome Trust, Technology Strategy Board and early stage investors IPGroup, Oxford Technology and Wyvern Seedcorn fund. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110605123251.htm">Pioneering stem cell bandage receives approval in UK for clinical trial</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:d7f6bafa-b974-4116-a65a-10e315886f3a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Stem+Cells" rel="tag">Stem Cells</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/UK" rel="tag">UK</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Clinical+Trials" rel="tag">Clinical Trials</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/knee" rel="tag">knee</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Meniscal+Cartilage" rel="tag">Meniscal Cartilage</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bandage" rel="tag">bandage</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/tissue+culture" rel="tag">tissue culture</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Azellon+Ltd" rel="tag">Azellon Ltd</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Regenerative+medicine" rel="tag">Regenerative medicine</a></div>

Stem Cell Bandage Granted Approval in UK To Begin Clinical Trial For Treating Torn Meniscal Cartilage in the Knee

We have something similar here in the US with using animal tissue to also regenerate the knee and the link below is worth the watch with the...

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Germany Stated Bean Sprouts Grown in Germany Could be the Source of the E.Coli Breakout–Search for the Source Continues

The search continues and the latest potential source leads to their own farms in Germany, however it is stated as only a hot lead.  The restaurant singled out where<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XQIcwjTa8fg/Tevmz8MN3uI/AAAAAAAAyvo/URFk_BSqpRg/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="161" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QgcWo22y4_4/Tevm0ogc1CI/AAAAAAAAyvs/GNT62i1Wvwg/image_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="198" /></a> everyone ate has been tested negative.  All countries from Germany to China have been working on the properties of the resistant E.Coli bacteria.  In Hamburg there’s even a shortage of doctors arising which is Germany’s second largest city. So far over 2,000 people have become ill in the last month and around 22 have been reported dead as a result of the infection.  Women have been impacted by the infection source the heaviest.  Spain has already suffered a big loss of business due to the embargo of products from their country to Germany.  Many restaurants are also affected with loss of business and the Prime Minister commented that she is disappointed that some are still selling salads on their menus.  BD  <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 387px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:4e67a0d2-d6ed-4eba-9fdf-75e550e7d89e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="5a665fb7-7feb-44d5-bdde-eb3fd3bef032" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LciTwtwedac" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('5a665fb7-7feb-44d5-bdde-eb3fd3bef032'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"387\" height=\"235\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/LciTwtwedac?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/LciTwtwedac?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"387\" height=\"235\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HZyr-KvGWw4/Tevm0-uIyiI/AAAAAAAAyvw/SKEGTpOcmaY/videoeb1101cf94fa%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div><div style="width:387px;clear:both;font-size:.8em">Germany–Bean Sprouts</div></div> <blockquote> (Reuters) - German-grown beansprouts could be the source of the deadly E.coli outbreak that has killed 22 people, made more than 2,000 ill and struck fear into consumers across Europe, officials said Sunday. The Lower Saxony state agriculture minister, Gert Lindemann, said at a news conference investigators had traced the rare, highly toxic strain of the bacteria to a farm in the town of Bienenbuettel, 70 km (40 miles) south of Hamburg. Coming after three weeks of mysterious deaths and widespread consumer fears linked to the rare strain of E.coli, Lindemann said there appeared to be clear links between vegetables from the farm and food eaten by some victims. "We've got a really hot lead," Lindemann said of the scare, which has strained relations in the European Union and led Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to say he would not "poison" Russians by lifting an embargo of EU fruit and vegetable imports. Saturday officials identified a restaurant in the northern port of Luebeck as a possible place where the bug had been passed to humans, saying at least 17 people infected with E.coli had eaten there and one later died from complications. But the proprietor of the German meat-and-potatoes restaurant told Reuters his kitchen had tested negative for the deadly E.coli strain and none of his staff had fallen ill. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/05/us-ecoli-idUSTRE7511UX20110605?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Health+News%29">Germany says beansprouts may be behind E.coli | Reuters</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:209afa26-1c14-4a7e-8ce6-8e5675753565" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Germany" rel="tag">Germany</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bean+Sprouts" rel="tag">Bean Sprouts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/E+Coli" rel="tag">E Coli</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospitals" rel="tag">hospitals</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/infections" rel="tag">infections</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/vegetables" rel="tag">vegetables</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/food+poisoning" rel="tag">food poisoning</a></div>

Germany Stated Bean Sprouts Grown in Germany Could be the Source of the E.Coli Breakout–Search for the Source Continues

The search continues and the latest potential source leads to their own farms in Germany, however it is stated as only a hot lead. The rest...

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Former Executive Vice President of Philadelphia Children’s Hospital Accused of Embezzling $1.7 Million

It doesn’t get much lower than stealing from a children’s hospital to finance personal interests such as a yacht and many other luxury items.  The entire scheme went on <a href="http://www.chop.edu/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="70" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MD5Z9xAdDx0/Tevcoi9vSJI/AAAAAAAAyvY/5cf-T_XhXHg/image%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a>for quite a while, from 1999 to just a few months ago.  He’s also in trouble with the IRS as the article states.  His attorney now is trying to focus on the good things he did but hey nobody else gets that chance when the dollar amount is this high and for personal gain.  The report also said he stole and identity of a friend or perhaps ex friend at this point.  BD  <blockquote> (Reuters) - The former executive vice president and general counsel for <a href="http://www.chop.edu/">Children's Hospital of Philadelphia</a> was accused of embezzling $1.7 million from the prestigious facility, authorities said on Thursday. Roosevelt Hairston Jr. hid the theft from the hospital known as CHOP by creating shell companies, opening bank accounts in their names and establishing phony offices for them, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Hairston, 56, of suburban Malvern "used the funds he stole from CHOP to live a luxurious lifestyle, purchasing real estate, a yacht with a captain to maintain the yacht, high-end automobiles and many other luxury items," prosecutors said in a statement. Klein said the admissions came when a firm investigating the situation for CHOP interviewed Hairston. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/02/us-crime-hospital-idUSTRE75177820110602">Former Philadelphia hospital executive accused of embezzling | Reuters</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:09ca421d-c59d-4c2f-956e-a851d9d6a4d0" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Philadelphia" rel="tag">Philadelphia</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/embezzlement" rel="tag">embezzlement</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Vice+President" rel="tag">Vice President</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Childrens+Hospital" rel="tag">Childrens Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/fraud" rel="tag">fraud</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/theft" rel="tag">theft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bank+accounts" rel="tag">bank accounts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/lawsuit" rel="tag">lawsuit</a></div>

Former Executive Vice President of Philadelphia Children’s Hospital Accused of Embezzling $1.7 Million

It doesn’t get much lower than stealing from a children’s hospital to finance personal interests such as a yacht and many other luxury items...

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Kinect Hack to Help the Disabled–A Grocery Cart that Can Follow The Wheelchair

This gets better all the time with the Kinect technology and this is still being <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F_2w1i_0T2s/TevFVG3xVPI/AAAAAAAAyu0/HNsp47_2JeY/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="107" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WyL9CPqSo60/TevFVg5A79I/AAAAAAAAyu4/6HBxcobtpdA/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="236" /></a>developed as you can see in the video with bringing laptop with you to the store but I can almost imagine it certainly won’t take long to get this going on a tablet device as well, which would be a bit more convenient for carrying around. I had the chance this week to talk with the Microsoft executive who brought Kinect to the company and it was very interesting and he also stated the possibilities for healthcare are just starting to arise and was very positive about what we stand to see with additional developments.  There’s some additional information at the link below and a few other neat technologies you might want to check out.  BD  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/06/physical-virtue-solution-to-assess-and.html">Physical Virtue Solution To Assess and Train Neck Disorders, Microsoft Kinect And More As Shown This Week at the Israel Conference</a></h4> <iframe height="227" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24542706?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" frameborder="0" width="400"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/24542706">wi-GO Project</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/dematos">Luis de Matos</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. <blockquote> Microsoft's Kinect is the gift that keeps on giving for hackers, spawning everything from <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/researchers-hack-kinect-for-glasses-free-3d-teleconferencing-vi/">glasses-free teleconferencing</a> to <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/kinect-hacked-to-control-tesla-coils-from-a-safe-distance-video/">Tesla coil manipulation</a> to uh, well, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/visualized-androidify-avatar-dance-party-video/">Android dance parties</a>. But Luis de Matos's wi-Go project is one of the most socially conscious we've seen: it adds a laptop and (despite its name) a Kinect to a shopping cart, enabling the cart to follow a wheelchair user. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/newest-kinect-hack-a-grocery-cart-that-loyally-follows-disabled/">Newest Kinect hack: a grocery cart that loyally follows disabled shoppers (video) -- Engadget</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2c5a7643-caf1-4296-80c8-13436fa12703" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kinect" rel="tag">Kinect</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/disabilities" rel="tag">disabilities</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/grocery+chart" rel="tag">grocery chart</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/wi-GO" rel="tag">wi-GO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/wheelchair" rel="tag">wheelchair</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/mobility" rel="tag">mobility</a></div>

Kinect Hack to Help the Disabled–A Grocery Cart that Can Follow The Wheelchair

This gets better all the time with the Kinect technology and this is still being developed as you can see in the video with bringing laptop ...

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Life Time Fitness and Best Buy Provide Life Time Members Monthly Dues Savings When They Purchase Best Buy Gift Cards

This is an interesting partnership to drive digital purchases and get in shape at the<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fo48kVPEPLQ/TesA1qJ8HkI/AAAAAAAAys8/da6prNJJq9E/s1600-h/image%25255B12%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="126" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U6edlWANV3w/TesA2arZb0I/AAAAAAAAytA/V7zfrTTgFmg/image_thumb%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="213" /></a> same time.  Life Time Fitness also has corporate wellness programs as well and it appears some locations offer <a href="http://clubs.lifetimefitness.com/Resort-LifeSpa-and-Salon/16310/">“spa” services</a> inside the gym with everything from a massage to skin care.  We don’t have them in California thus I was not familiar with all their offerings.  Up and coming too are savings on cell phones and mobile phone accessories and services.  Gee maybe the cell phone vendors will move over to the gyms and have their booth there too?  In looking at the site, there’s all kinds of other deals offered through the company such as Avis Rent a Car, Jiffy Lube, Sam’s Club, Toyota, ADT Security Alarms, Netflix  and more.  These are coupons and we know what happens with coupons, data is profiled and collected so just think your neighborhood gym is now connected to all the associates here to provide and/or potentially sell and share data.  BD  <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/04/habits-and-identities-revealed-via.html">Habits and Identities Revealed via Coupons – Facebook Fan Pages Can Make User ID Visible – Shopping Algorithms Reduce Privacy And Increase Visibility</a></h6> <blockquote> MINNEAPOLIS--(<a href="http://www.businesswire.com/">BUSINESS WIRE</a>)--Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM) and <a href="http://www.lifetimefitness.com/aboutlifetime/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="60" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6pQyvkvI4Ew/TesA22hFxhI/AAAAAAAAytE/GwyxP9qzXC4/image%25255B14%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="115" /></a>Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) today announced that Life Time members now can save on their monthly membership dues with the purchase of Best Buy gift cards. <blockquote> “Our commitment with Member Advantage is to help members achieve valuable savings on the products and services they already buy, extending the many benefits of a Life Time membership” </blockquote> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G9QtzHWGx2k/TesA3YzofSI/AAAAAAAAytI/xbcek5b41Xc/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="202" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0VbEnOxJbYM/TesA4IylGBI/AAAAAAAAytQ/rUqTEySMOIA/image_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="342" /></a> Offered through <a href="http://www.lifetimefitness.com/aboutlifetime/">Life Time’s Member Advantage</a> price club, members now can receive a $5 or $10 dues credit, respectively, for every $50 and $100 and Best Buy gift card they purchase. Members may purchase as many Best Buy gift cards as they wish with no limit to the dues savings they may receive. Best Buy gift cards may easily and conveniently be purchased through Life Time’s Member Advantage Program at myLT.com, a website dedicated to Life Time members. Additionally, Life Time and Best Buy Mobile plan to offer incremental future savings on cellular phones, including smart phones, mobile phone accessories and services. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110603005690/en/Life-Time-Fitness-Buy-Team-Provide-Life">Life Time Fitness and Best Buy Team up to Provide Life Time Members Monthly Dues Savings with Purchase of Best Buy Gift Cards | Business Wire</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f35d5eb5-e459-4718-89d8-86f7cf74aabd" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Life+Time+Fitness" rel="tag">Life Time Fitness</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Best+Buy" rel="tag">Best Buy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/discounts" rel="tag">discounts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/gift+cards" rel="tag">gift cards</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/membership" rel="tag">membership</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/websites" rel="tag">websites</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cellphones" rel="tag">cellphones</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/fitness" rel="tag">fitness</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/gym" rel="tag">gym</a></div>

Life Time Fitness and Best Buy Provide Life Time Members Monthly Dues Savings When They Purchase Best Buy Gift Cards

This is an interesting partnership to drive digital purchases and get in shape at the same time. Life Time Fitness also has corporate well...

Saturday, June 04, 2011

NIH Approves Two GMP Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines From BioTime Which Creates Additional Availability for Federal Funding

We now have 2 more lines of human embryonic stem cells added to the Registry and this is a total now of 93 approved that qualify for federal funding.  ESI-014 and <img align="right" border="0" height="160" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TT9OAuMZMAI/AAAAAAAApes/2oyX9WkDV1Q/image_thumb%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="240" />ESI-017 are the two new designations.  They are in compliance with the Good Tissue Practices, aka cGTP and will help research in the search for cures.   One such stem cell program that has been in the news of late is the clinical trials for spinal cord damage. <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/01/stanford-join-geron-spinal-cord.html">Stanford Joins Geron Spinal Cord Clinical Trials Program as the 3rd Location in the US</a></h4> When you are able to see dramatic results with people being able to walk again, this is big and can’t be ignored by all means.  One patient in Atlanta with the Geron clinical trial was in the news of late talking about beginning to have “feeling” in areas of his legs and his lap that has been gone for a long time.  He has undergone 6 months of therapy so far with small injections of stem cells that they hope will grow new cells.  We may also look someday to have joint replacement regenerate with stem cells too and there’s already some research and treatment in this area with knees.  <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/12/spinal-cord-injury-patient-treated-with.html">Spinal Cord Injury Patient Treated With Non-Matched Donor Adult Stem Cells Is Walking Again</a></h6> <a href="http://www.biotimeinc.com/AboutBT.htm">About BioTime from the Website:</a> “Regenerative medicine refers to therapies based on human embryonic stem (“hES”) cell technology that are designed to rebuild cell and tissue function lost due to degenerative disease or injury. The great scientific and public interest in regenerative medicine lies in the potential of hES cells to transform into any cell type of the human body. hES cells therefore show considerable potential as a source of new therapies for a host of currently-incurable diseases such as: <a href="http://www.biotimeinc.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="61" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sdJTdKnY7OU/Tep_2cxeICI/AAAAAAAAyrU/BMy5K8TUpck/image%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="240" /></a>diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, macular degeneration, hearing loss, kidney and liver failure, as well as many other disorders that may be treated by replacing diseased or damaged organ tissues. In response to the unusual potential of the field, the State of California has allocated $3 billion over the next 10 years to fund basic research, and President Obama has lifted previous restrictions for federal funding of stem cell research. Led by Dr. Michael West, considered by many to be a founding father of the stem cell industry, BioTime has assembled an array of products and associated intellectual property that give it the potential to be a leader in this exciting new field of medicine. We are implementing a near-term revenues strategy in the regenerative medicine field by seeking to develop and market advanced hES products and technology that can be used by researchers at universities and biopharmaceutical companies. These research-only products generally can be marketed without regulatory (FDA) approval, and are therefore relatively near-term business opportunities when compared to human therapeutic products. We may also initiate development programs for human therapeutic applications if sufficient capital becomes available to us or through joint efforts with industry partners.”<img align="right" border="0" height="160" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TXFexyOZz0I/AAAAAAAAsyo/16XOkbn3lIg/image4_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="215" /> This is fascinating and fast growing technology and a couple months back I sat in on a web cast to listen to what the founder, Dr. West had to say as well, very educational and informative.  There’s quite a bit of information about regenerative medicine at the link including the TED video to where a small liver was “printed”.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/03/stem-cells-explained-dr-michael-west.html">Stem Cells Explained-Dr. Michael West Founder of Geron Corporation Stresses The Need For Continued and Accelerated Funding</a></h4> With the 2 new approvals the doors are open for potential <a href="http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/about-us/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="59" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HQwX3fIsfto/Tep_20Bf4BI/AAAAAAAAyrY/dZCn6qSa-dY/image%25255B13%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="191" /></a>federal funding for more research and development.  If you want to read about more success stories with stem cell treatment, check out <a href="http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/">Stem Cell Research Facts</a> and there’s a ton of information available at the website.  BD   <blockquote> ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- <a href="http://www.biotimeinc.com/">BioTime, Inc.</a> (NYSE Amex:BTX), a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of regenerative medicine, today announced that two human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines, ESI-014 and ESI-017, developed by a BioTime subsidiary have been approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for inclusion in the NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry. This approval opens the door to the use of these cell lines in Federally funded research. To BioTime’s knowledge, these are the first such cell lines approved for Federal funding that were derived under conditions designed to be compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) for human clinical use. “This approval is key to our strategy of making our bank of GMP-compliant hES cell lines the industry standard for the development of a wide array of new human therapeutic products,” said Michael D. West, Ph.D., President and CEO of BioTime. “We believe our ESI hES cell lines are the best characterized and documented lines available today. Our clinical grade hES cell lines were derived using procedures and documentation that are in compliance with current Good Tissue Practices (cGTP) and cGMP, which we believe will facilitate the transition of therapeutic products derived by researchers from these cell lines from laboratory to clinical use. We’re grateful the NIH has approved the use of ESI-014 and ESI-017 and we look forward to working with researchers to translate the science into commercially successful therapeutic products.” The NIH created the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry in 2001 in order to facilitate research using human embryonic stem cells. The registry now includes hES cell lines that meet certain eligibility criteria including ethical derivation and informed consent. Only research projects using hES cell lines listed in the Registry are eligible for Federal funding. </blockquote> <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/BioTime-Receives-NIH-Approval-bw-1160610.html?x=0&.v=1">BioTime Receives NIH Approval for Two GMP Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines - Yahoo! Finance</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4ab80590-6c15-45f0-bab3-6e4ad4048cfd" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/NIH" rel="tag">NIH</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Biotime" rel="tag">Biotime</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Registry" rel="tag">Registry</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/stem+cells" rel="tag">stem cells</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/therapy" rel="tag">therapy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/lab" rel="tag">lab</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/research+and+development" rel="tag">research and development</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/science" rel="tag">science</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hES" rel="tag">hES</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/embryonic+stem+cells" rel="tag">embryonic stem cells</a></div>

NIH Approves Two GMP Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines From BioTime Which Creates Additional Availability for Federal Funding

We now have 2 more lines of human embryonic stem cells added to the Registry and this is a total now of 93 approved that qualify for federal...

Saturday, June 04, 2011

Out of Focus Lawmakers With Digital Illiteracy–Bill To Make It A Criminal Offense for Embedding You Tube Videos and Time And Money Wasted With John Edwards Case

This further proves the case that we need some focus and the right technology to understand and drill down on the complicated wording used relative to copyrights on videos.  It’s a changed world today and the same laws that were put in place a while back need an update.  Laws don’t last forever with emerging technologies and it’s apparent that we have some groups that don’t subscribe to this philosophy.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UcrbJNyKxrU/TepzbwIyeDI/AAAAAAAAyrA/w8upv1P0Rus/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="151" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gxUmbWZk26I/TepzcQhU4CI/AAAAAAAAyrE/jMN74icNKJw/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="216" /></a> On Edwards, we have all buried this and moved on, give it a break and be done with it.  It’s a waste of taxpayer money and nobody cares anymore, as I said we have moved on.  There are more important issues to focus on like the behaviors of banks and big corporations that have an impact on our lives.  I didn’t care for what Edwards did, but let it die and move on.  We simply just can seem to find focus any more and witch hunts still prevail and why this is even newsworthy with Edwards is beyond me.  I agree with the opinion in the Wall Street Journal below, we have more important issues at hand.  I see the link below as more vital then the garbage here with Edwards and YouTube videos.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/03/corporate-taxes-and-lack-of-legal.html">Corporate Taxes and Lack of Legal Digital Literacy Allow Big US Corporations To Stash Billions Overseas, Pharma, Tech, All Well Represented (60 Minutes) (Video)</a></h4> <object height="363" id="wsj_fp" width="412"><param name="movie" value="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/VideoPlayerMain.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars" value="videoGUID={3AE6C8B9-5440-4E66-A403-F35E89696673}&playerid=1000&plyMediaEnabled=1&configURL=http://wsj.vo.llnwd.net/o28/players/&autoStart=false" base="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/" name="flashPlayer"></param><embed src="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/VideoPlayerMain.swf" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoGUID={3AE6C8B9-5440-4E66-A403-F35E89696673}&playerid=1000&plyMediaEnabled=1&configURL=http://wsj.vo.llnwd.net/o28/players/&autoStart=false" base="http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/" name="flashPlayer" width="412" height="363" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object> They need more technology in Congress to mine and find the information they need and when IBM Watson was demonstrated they sadly only saw this as a game, but Wall Street is ready for it, so what does that tell you about the caliber of the folks making laws?  It tells me we have a lot of non participants with technology who live in a world of distraction and denial.  <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/03/ibm-watson-did-get-chance-to-go-to.html">IBM Watson Did Get a Chance to Go To Congress-Should be a Permanent Home For Greater Intelligence for Creating Laws</a></h6> Video digital media is exploding all over the web and we have this “bill” they struggle with on the books to propose this ridiculous stipulation that will ruin everything for everyone.  We all pretty much know what is and what is not acceptable but sometimes even that gets gray out there with video content.  Jails are already full so even enforcing such a law is a lark at minimum.  Perhaps a little  more participation in social networking would wake some folks up.  BD <blockquote> Okay, this is just getting ridiculous. A few weeks back, we <a href="http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110513/11210514265/senators-who-say-merely-linking-to-certain-sites-should-be-felony.shtml">noted</a> that Senators Amy Klobuchar, John Cornyn and Christopher Coons had proposed a new bill that was designed to make "streaming" infringing material a felony. At the time, the actual text of the bill wasn't available, but we assumed, naturally, that it would just extend "public performance" rights to <a href="http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap5.html#506">section 506a</a> of the Copyright Act. Supporters of this bill claim that all it's really doing is harmonizing US copyright law's civil and criminal sections. After all, the rights afforded under copyright law in civil cases cover <a href="http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#106">a list</a> of rights: reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works or perform the work. The rules for criminal infringement only cover reproducing and distributing -- but not performing. So, supporters claim, all this does is "harmonize" copyright law and bring the criminal side into line with the civil side by adding "performance rights" to the list of things. Furthermore, as we suspected, in the <a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s112-978">full text of the bill</a>, "performance" is not clearly defined. This is the really troubling part. Everyone keeps insisting that this is targeted towards "streaming" websites, but is streaming a "performance"? If so, how does embedding play into this? Is the site that hosts the content guilty of performing? What about the site that merely linked to and/or embedded the video (linking and embedding are technically effectively the same thing). Without clear definitions, we run into problems pretty quickly. So yeah. If you embed a YouTube video that turns out to be infringing, and more than 10 people view it because of your link... you could be facing five years in jail. This is, of course, ridiculous, and suggests (yet again) politicians who are regulating a technology they simply do not understand. Should it really be a criminal act to embed a YouTube video, even if you don't know it was infringing...? This could create a massive chilling effect to the very useful service YouTube provides in letting people embed videos. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110601/01515014500/senators-want-to-put-people-jail-embedding-youtube-videos.shtml">Senators Want To Put People In Jail For Embedding YouTube Videos | Techdirt</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:8abd1873-0b6f-48e3-9351-d431a71cdf5a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/digital+illiteracy" rel="tag">digital illiteracy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Senators" rel="tag">Senators</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Congressmen" rel="tag">Congressmen</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/YouTube" rel="tag">YouTube</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/videos" rel="tag">videos</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/copyright" rel="tag">copyright</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/embed+videos" rel="tag">embed videos</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/criminal+offense" rel="tag">criminal offense</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/claims" rel="tag">claims</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/court" rel="tag">court</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/lawsuit" rel="tag">lawsuit</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bill" rel="tag">bill</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/streaming" rel="tag">streaming</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/digital+media" rel="tag">digital media</a></div>

Out of Focus Lawmakers With Digital Illiteracy–Bill To Make It A Criminal Offense for Embedding You Tube Videos and Time And Money Wasted With John Edwards Case

This further proves the case that we need some focus and the right technology to understand and drill down on the complicated wording used r...

Saturday, June 04, 2011

Jackson Laboratory Pulls Plan to Build Facility in Sarasota County, Florida-Lack of State Funding For Economic Development Stem Cell Research Project

Creating the research and development center would have brought additional jobs <a href="http://www.jax.org/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="129" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oZnziVhf5Kc/Tepm-Tp0UQI/AAAAAAAAyqs/b4NXYz410nw/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="233" /></a>and additional spin off companies to the area but now the company is looking to build in other states, such as Utah and Texas to further research on personalized medicine.  According to the article below the state wanted a proposal for a reduced amount of funding which Jackson Labs said was not possible and did not resubmit a lower dollar amount.  Jackson Labs had not been able to meet with Rick Scott, governor of Florida who appeared to not be very keen on the project going back to the days of campaigning.  The governor had also been on record as being opposed to embryonic stem cell research so we know how that works in the wacky world of politics today and that is strange due to the fact that in a former life he was the CEO of a major hospital chain in the southeast until he was forced to resign due to an investigation of Medicare fraud.  It all seems to point back to the same old direction once again.  Voters would have been asked in time to add an additional $100 million in local funding.  BD  From the Website: “We are an independent, nonprofit organization focusing on mammalian genetics research to advance human health. Our mission is to discover the genetic basis for preventing, treating and curing human disease, and to enable research for the global biomedical community.” <blockquote> Jackson Laboratory said Friday it will withdraw its request for $100 million in state funding, ending its plans for a proposed biomedical village in Sarasota County that could have eventually employed thousands. The decision brings to a close Sarasota County's high-profile and expensive effort to move the local economy away from its dependence on construction, retirees and tourism and break into the burgeoning life sciences and pharmaceutical fields. Had the lab overcome severe state funding obstacles and achieved its promise, biomedical science would have become one of the largest sectors in the local economy by 2031. By then, the lab would have had an annual economic impact of $550 million, through direct employment, spin-off companies and affiliated research. The six-month effort to get the Bar Harbor, Maine-based lab to build a 129,000-square-foot research facility here fell apart Friday when it was asked to submit "a much-reduced proposal" for state funding and declined to do so, Chuck Hewett, Jackson's executive vice president, said in a release. That meeting apparently never came about, though a scheduled meeting this week was widely rumored. Hansen, state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, and Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta all said they thought a meeting with Scott was scheduled. The governor had made negative comments about Jackson's Collier County bid during last year's campaign. Since Scott became governor, his limited comments about the Jackson project all involved whether the lab's economic impact would generate enough in new state tax dollars to warrant a state investment. Scott's office declined Friday to comment on Jackson's decision. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110603/BREAKING/110609877/-1/news?p=1&tc=pg">Jackson Laboratory pulls plan to build facility in Sarasota County | HeraldTribune.com</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:e43e3250-7453-45f3-9971-25bbd4abaa05" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Jackson+Laboratories" rel="tag">Jackson Laboratories</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Florida" rel="tag">Florida</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/politics" rel="tag">politics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/fudning" rel="tag">fudning</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/genomics" rel="tag">genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer" rel="tag">cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/enonomics" rel="tag">enonomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/research+and+development" rel="tag">research and development</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rick+Scott" rel="tag">Rick Scott</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sarasota" rel="tag">Sarasota</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/governor" rel="tag">governor</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/jobs" rel="tag">jobs</a></div>

Jackson Laboratory Pulls Plan to Build Facility in Sarasota County, Florida-Lack of State Funding For Economic Development Stem Cell Research Project

Creating the research and development center would have brought additional jobs and additional spin off companies to the area but now the co...

Saturday, June 04, 2011

Researchers Ask For Help From Your Computer–BOINC-Become a Home Researcher Or Just Donate PC Power

I have covered similar items such as the program at Stanford to where you can let <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zsTtjXYL_UI/Tem_lLfNh8I/AAAAAAAAypc/vc9JE-qD-n4/s1600-h/image%25255B9%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="81" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/---oqUgWhwN0/Tem_lx7mgqI/AAAAAAAAypg/QPShCzLiApI/image_thumb%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="250" /></a>your computer idle power contribute to research.  It only runs when your computer is idle and the screensaver comes on.  <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/">BOINC</a> is a little more involved to where you can again let your computer be used for power or you can join in with projects and contribute some research time! <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/protein-folding-put-your-computer-to.html">Protein Folding – Put your Computer to work for Science during Idle time – Stanford University</a></h6> Use the idle time on your computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) to cure diseases, study global warming, discover pulsars, and do many other types of scientific <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="81" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--XdQUkddnyg/Tem_mJk4BpI/AAAAAAAAypk/DiDy5JALasw/image%25255B26%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="140" /></a>research. It's safe, secure, and easy: <ol> <li><a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/projects.php">Choose</a> projects </li> <li><a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download.php">Download</a> and run BOINC software </li> <li>Enter an email address and password. </li> </ol> Or, if you run several projects, try an <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/wiki/Account_managers">account manager</a> such as <a href="http://www.gridrepublic.org">GridRepublic</a> or <a href="http://bam.boincstats.com/">BAM!</a>. <ul> <li>Scientists: use BOINC to create a <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/volunteer.php">volunteer computing project</a> giving you the computing power of thousands of CPUs. </li> <li>Universities: use BOINC to create a <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/trac/wiki/VirtualCampusSupercomputerCenter">Virtual Campus Supercomputing Center</a>. </li> <li>Companies: use BOINC for <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dg.php">desktop Grid computing</a>. </li> </ul> Open-source software for <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/volunteer.php">volunteer computing</a> and <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dg.php">grid computing</a> <a href="http://boincstats.com/bam/"><img alt="image" border="0" height="202" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0_l7BBe4d_A/Tem_mgbEscI/AAAAAAAAypo/nHsQG0wlQhM/image%25255B24%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="404" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L76IOVdhTSY/Tem_m_2wchI/AAAAAAAAyps/tqKSdx8gxW0/s1600-h/image%25255B25%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="266" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BI2_Odfksrc/Tem_nRwHVtI/AAAAAAAAypw/SltYzIfrsZ8/image_thumb%25255B11%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="404" /></a> Below are the current stats so if you are interested in participating you can use the links to read up and get some additional information.  With measuring TeraFLOPS you can see they are getting some serious computing power too!  BD  Active: 307,470 volunteers, 489,404 computers. 24-hour average: 5,776.06 TeraFLOPS. <a href="http://boinc.netsoft-online.com/e107_plugins/boinc/get_user.php?cpid=6363ecc12855138f61876a21feeef411&html=1">John P. Myers</a> is contributing 5,826 GFLOPS. Country: United States; Team: SETI.USA <hr /> <blockquote> Scientific research has an unbounded need for computing power to analyze data and to simulate reality at scales ranging from subatomic to cosmological. <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/anderson/">David Anderson</a> is working to unlock a new source of computing power: the billions of PCs owned by people around the world. This resource is far more powerful than clouds, grids and <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KYqyLwrFFy0/Tem_nmwOm9I/AAAAAAAAyp0/GdXeguAdqfI/s1600-h/image%25255B22%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="148" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nl-i3n4X-gU/Tem_oMqOtfI/AAAAAAAAyp4/7bDklsEFfcM/image_thumb%25255B10%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="152" /></a>supercomputers, and is nearly free to scientists and funding agencies. Anderson and his team develop a software system called <a href="http://boinc.berkeley.edu/">BOINC</a> to support "volunteer computing," in which PC owners can donate their idle time to science projects. BOINC transforms a large set of volunteered computers, which are diverse, un-trusted, and sporadically available, into a trusted and predictable resource for high-throughput scientific computing. Currently there are over 50 BOINC-based projects doing research in areas ranging from biomedicine to cosmology, with 300,000 active volunteers and 500,000 PCs. This computing power has led to scientific progress of many sorts, including the recent discovery of a new and unusual pulsar, as described in the following <a href="http://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=117500">NSF press release</a> and an article in <a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/citizen-scientist-pulsars/">Wired News</a>. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.livescience.com/14038-researchers-home-computers-bionic-anderson-sl.html">Researchers Ask For Help From Your Home Computers | ScienceLives | LiveScience</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:619f27cd-bc62-4ec7-b035-61ab76e799e4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Protein+Folding" rel="tag">Protein Folding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Genomcis" rel="tag">Genomcis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Surface+Technology" rel="tag">Surface Technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DNA" rel="tag">DNA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pharmacogenomics" rel="tag">Pharmacogenomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/National+Science+Foundation" rel="tag">National Science Foundation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Stanford" rel="tag">Stanford</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/BOINC" rel="tag">BOINC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/research" rel="tag">research</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/power" rel="tag">power</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PCs" rel="tag">PCs</a></div>

Researchers Ask For Help From Your Computer–BOINC-Become a Home Researcher Or Just Donate PC Power

I have covered similar items such as the program at Stanford to where you can let your computer idle power contribute to research. It only ...

Friday, June 03, 2011

CMS Working to Allow Certain Organizations Access to Physician Claim Data–Cost Will be In the Millions and Data Will Be Flawed

Obviously there’s pressure from members of Congress with bills created to put this information online and of course there’s the Dow Jones lawsuit wanting the same thing.  I think this is perhaps an idea that could wait for a better time, as the cost will be in the millions.  It’s just like we have a lot of consumer health apps written today <img align="right" border="0" height="100" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TdGNBXVd00I/AAAAAAAAxTs/wfmKtnTqZFw/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="195" />and some of it is done just because they can write it.  Of course there’s good software created too but a large majority of what is done today ends up on the cutting room floor. I don’t know if anyone else has taken time to notice the deluge of data and information we all have flying at us today but I’m affected and there’s a lot of it, so tell me how many consumers will use this?  How many will have time? <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/11/do-some-think-that-health-it-costs-and.html">Do Some Think That Health IT Costs and Systems Grow On Trees-Certainly Starting To Give That Impression of Late</a></h6> You don’t always have to create data pools and information to search just because it’s there and again in my opinion this is a huge waste of time and money by all means.  Maybe CMS has their own plans for data arranged in this manner and certainly it will be data the insurance companies will all hone in on as they can’t get enough data today and will analyze anything that breathes today.  I can see the restrictions on qualifying who would have access and maybe this is their way out of having to supply this information to more than perhaps a small handful, again after they have spent millions on data that is crunched and full of errors.  If you have ever done any medical billing, you know exactly what I am talking about and it’s those in positions who have never been exposed to the information or had any hands on that think this is such a great idea.  When everyone is trying to save money we need to spend million on this? I said the Congressmen proposing this were digitally illiterate to want this data out <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="183" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n6zq99uOlHM/Tem45DcmSoI/AAAAAAAAypQ/WdlXbdwxe1c/image%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="229" />there.  It’s a waste of time and money right now.   <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/05/two-more-senators-propose-more-bills-to.html">Two More Senators Propose More Bills to Publish Medicare Claims Data Without A Hint of Digital Literacy Relative to Cost and Time</a></h4> The doctors who have had a run of some bad billers know what is going to show up out there too. <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/10/medicare-data-baseit-is-not-ready-for.html">Medicare Data Base–It Is Not Ready for Prime Time To Expose to the Web Due to Errors Factors and Consumer Credibility In It’s Present State Relating to Physician Records</a></h6> To make my case all you have to do is look at both the CMS and other for profit MD referral sites and see the flaws there and that’s just a yellow pages listing with consumers adding comments along with any negative board comments and they can’t get that right. I’m a taxpayer like everyone else who has worked with data bases and I am up to date on current trends and the huge amounts of data we have to look at and again what’s the purpose of this, spend the big dollars and do it just because it can be done?  Where’s common sense anymore?  You can see the post from a short while back where I found my former MD who had been dead for 8 years still listed with HealthGrades and several of the other referral sites as taking new patients and honoring HealthNet, so guess how this claim data is going to look when they take and aggregate it with insurance company numbers.  I understand that is the ultimate plan here to combine both Medicare and the insurance numbers.  There’s going to be a ton of Health IT companies hanging their tongues out to get a chunk of this multi-million dollar project.  <img align="right" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TdGNCASGBAI/AAAAAAAAxT0/l22qSJZgOQs/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" /> <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/09/healthgrades-and-other-md-rating-and.html">HealthGrades And Other MD Rating and Referral Sites List “Dead Doctors” on Their MD Information Pages And Even Include the Insurance Plans the “Dead Doctors” Honor</a> In the day and age we live in today no data would be better than the flawed information that’s going to result from this project and besides save the money and spend it on patients, a much better cause.  Before this decision is finally made, they should go visit some doctors and billers and see what’s going to end up out there, they will tell you and some doctors are not going to look good and it will ultimately offer too much information and make a decision process more difficult.  Word of mouth referrals are still the best as well as research on the web to help out.  BD  <blockquote> The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to allow certain organizations access to Medicare claims data to produce public reports that will offer consumers and employers a more accurate snapshot of the performance of physicians and hospitals. These reports, combined with private sector claims data, will identify the hospitals and physicians with the highest quality and cost-effective care, <a href="http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-14003_PI.pdf%20">the agency said in announcing its proposed rule</a> June 3. The proposed rule supports efforts of the health reform law to improve healthcare quality and lower costs. CMS will formally publish it in the June 8 Federal Register and accept public comment for 60 days. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.govhealthit.com/news/cms-intends-publicly-report-provider-performance">CMS to publicly report provider performance | Government Health IT</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:04ff469e-1d69-4d66-b1ea-f2574035b133" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Dow+Jones" rel="tag">Dow Jones</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wall+Street+Journal" rel="tag">Wall Street Journal</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medicare" rel="tag">Medicare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/algorithms" rel="tag">algorithms</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/media" rel="tag">media</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/lawsuit" rel="tag">lawsuit</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HHS" rel="tag">HHS</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/AMA" rel="tag">AMA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/American+Medical+Association" rel="tag">American Medical Association</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Doctors" rel="tag">Doctors</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Grassley" rel="tag">Grassley</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/digital+illiteracy" rel="tag">digital illiteracy</a></div>

CMS Working to Allow Certain Organizations Access to Physician Claim Data–Cost Will be In the Millions and Data Will Be Flawed

Obviously there’s pressure from members of Congress with bills created to put this information online and of course there’s the Dow Jones la...

Friday, June 03, 2011

Physical Virtue Solution To Assess and Train Neck Disorders, Microsoft Kinect And More As Shown This Week at the Israel Conference

This week I attended the Israel Conference in Los Angeles and what showing of new technologies.  You can use the link here or at the bottom the post to see what on the schedule and what companies were represented.  I was able to catch up with a few and of course I’m always on the look out for those technologies for <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XguixDhcXg4/TelXK3lX-5I/AAAAAAAAynY/hX7jwsy5lww/s1600-h/image%25255B5%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="165" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5QL2shJdrGA/TelXLUirmWI/AAAAAAAAync/vwHpMs_1rAU/image_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="219" /></a>healthcare and I found a few individuals to speak with.  The first technology is called <a href="http://www.physicalvirtue.co.il/">Physical Virtue</a> and I was able to to talk with Dr. Hilla Saris-Bahat from Israel and watch several demonstrations on how the product works.  The therapy is simple and actually pretty relaxing as you learn how to move your head and neck with the help of the a trip lane video and moving an object around it.  I was able to watch the computer as others put on the “glasses” to try it out.  In watching others, the participation here looked very relaxing and who can’t use a little bit of that today.  Dr. Hilla Sarig-Bahat took some time out and explained to me how it worked and the resulting analytics given on the computer.  She has a patent pending for the technology and has bee working on further development with interactive training for a while as it stands to shorten recovery times for injuries and even prevent chronic conditions.  She has a <a href="http://www.physicalvirtue.co.il/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=8&Itemid=8">physiotherapy clinic in</a> Israel and provides musculoskeletal rehabilitation for patients.  In addition on her website you can see her affiliation with the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/Israel/rnd/">Microsoft Israel R and D Center.</a>  Also in listening to the various panels and presentations during the day, they all highly promoted groups as such to where people can collaborate and create new and advanced technologies. too.  From the Website: <a href="http://www.physicalvirtue.co.il/">“Physical Virtue</a> - Resolving neck disorders with VR training.Physical Virtue provides a reliable and accurate method for evaluation and management of neck disorders. The developed training method is interactive, motivating and pain distracting, suitable for people suffering from pain and stiffness in the cervical spine.”<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/Israel/rnd/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="100" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UwUdAQzLGEI/TelXL5KcNZI/AAAAAAAAyng/6FgAs331t2k/image%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="173" /></a> “Physical Virtue developed a custom-made virtual reality application (patent pending) that assesses and trains neck disorders. Motion tracking is used for analysis of cervical motion. Our solution provides a reliable, functional and dynamic approach to cervical motion assessment and management. Our training is interactive, motivating and pain distracting, adjusted for home training. The Physical Virtue method has great potential to expand to other areas of medical rehabilitation. This project is supported by the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor.” <hr /> In addition I watched the Cool Content and Convergence with Microsoft/XBOX Corporate VP Ilan Spillinger, Genesis Partners General Partner Jonathan Saacks, LivePerson, Inc. CEO and Chairman of the Board <img align="right" border="0" height="127" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TTaMiMLsFbI/AAAAAAAAo3g/zceGKvGUMOM/image_thumb%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" width="193" />Robert LoCascio, Mindspark InterActive Network CEO Joey Levin, Side-Kick Co-Founder and CEO Guy Bendov, Kaltura Chairman and CEO Ron Yekutiel.  I also had some time to chat with Ilan Spillinger from Microsoft about Kinect and during the panels he told his story on how both he and and the Kinect Technology came to Microsoft and how nobody had a clue that it would take off as it did with setting Guinness World Book records for sales.  For the convention Kinect was shown with X-Box and what it does and then we got around to talking about Kinect in healthcare and what it does and how people are using it, since I post those items of interest here at the Quack.  Below are a couple of the prior posts if you want to catch up and see what’s going on with healthcare.  Side Kick, a Kinect game developer from Israel was set up with Kinect so everyone could go over and give it a whirl.  Ilan stated that right now the focus with Kinect has been gaming for the most part but that healthcare is not far off as we talked about screen resolutions and other areas that will certainly further be developed as time moves on, but he definitely saw the road in the future for more use in healthcare to come forward.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/02/kinect-and-davinci-surgical-robot-do.html">Kinect And daVinci Surgical Robot Do Simulated Surgery Suturing Together (Video)</a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/12/microsoft-kinect-working-with-pacs.html">Microsoft Kinect Working with a PACS Server-Images on Steroids Via Gestures (Video)</a></h6> <hr /> Back to the overall conference I spoke many other companies and individuals as <a href="http://www.theisraelconference.org/index.php"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="153" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Y112AjyFbYo/TelXMG9_OaI/AAAAAAAAynk/Oi8vdmeSxwc/image%25255B24%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="208" /></a>well and learned quite a bit.  One message I think everyone walked away with from the technology side is that “learned computer” technology is here to stay and is being rapidly developed in almost every area of technology today.  Again when having the opportunity to talk a bit when I mentioned that I used to code the conversations with most immediately elevated to a very technical level too which was great, not that I didn’t want to hear the rest of what was said, but I kind of like to kick things around upstairs as I seem to be one of those types of individuals who always want to get a visual upstairs in the brain:)<a href="http://www.sodastreamusa.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="165" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SgOyp6rZXWE/TelXMS83gjI/AAAAAAAAyno/fNxIv2sBGck/image%25255B20%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="159" /></a> I also have to mention one company that kept everyone going and that was the <a href="http://www.sodastreamusa.com/">Soda Stream company</a> who has the amazing product that carbonizes water and allows you to make any flavor, diet and regular that you may want.  They had a drawing to give away a few of these and their booth was busy all day long.  All products are made in Israel and they have their US office located in Pennsylvania so this was good as we all like healthy flavored water.  In addition we were all treated to a presentation from from Jonathon Miller, Chief <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-exMqazYyK4w/TelXM6neGEI/AAAAAAAAyns/qEsHomWH6LI/s1600-h/image%25255B23%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="107" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WIqhXiSBb8g/TelXNR86mJI/AAAAAAAAynw/xVKv0UIpyso/image_thumb%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="81" /></a>Digital Officer, Chairman and CEO of the Digital Media Group for News Corporation.  He has just finished up his appearance at the D9 Conference here in Los Angeles as well.  His presentation was titled “The Name of the Game is Digital News” and he had a lot of interesting comments, thoughts and topics to discuss for sure and we were all well entertained for sure.  In addition other companies represented were DocStoc and Kaltura which are 2 big names you might already be familiar with.  The video below is from YouTube which shows shows the VIP reception with a short discussion with a couple of them and explains the mission of the conference.  Docstoc said he shows up every year because everyone watches Channel 10 in Los Angeles:)  <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 395px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:92fc6e2a-4afb-47fa-932b-3fd0bfd9b333" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="9ce37b92-3b23-4cb8-bf55-df2ec0b85748" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hogHIk5VlgI" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('9ce37b92-3b23-4cb8-bf55-df2ec0b85748'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"395\" height=\"240\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/hogHIk5VlgI?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/hogHIk5VlgI?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"395\" height=\"240\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3tAeq4uj41g/TelXNhI7HCI/AAAAAAAAyn0/MNOGDY1QSA4/video617d0cfccd5b%25255B29%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div><div style="width:395px;clear:both;font-size:.8em">Israel Convention–VIP Dinner</div></div> Again as I mentioned above everyone is here to do business and the focus is on “machine learned” technologies whether it is a video media business or a company serving up ad or coupons.  In addition one other company and individual I should mention is Tal Simantov the co-<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FfElTt2UNwA/TelXOKLEImI/AAAAAAAAyn4/imgZHpvvrHM/s1600-h/image%25255B28%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="78" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MHbzw9hw7Nk/TelXOQtW4VI/AAAAAAAAyn8/yx63XDE0MCc/image_thumb%25255B10%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="147" /></a>founder and CMO of 5minMedia which is a web based application that serves up related videos for populating sites with related material.  Not too long ago AOL purchased the company and their publishers include About.com and the Huffington Post among many more.  I am working on a website for my sponsor SNN Wire myself and maybe looking at using their services myself before too much longer. Again it was a great day with a lot of networking going on and my brain hurt at the end of the day but very well focused and again seeing some new healthcare and other technology focused companies was great.  I think about the average layman seeing all of this and on one hand I think it could have served to be a big awakening and point of education and then when you get to folks like me, it offers additional education levels with being able to have access and speak directly with the officers and other key individuals of the companies represented.  At other conventions I have attended over the years there have been people hired to try to get attendees attention for conversations, but that was NOT the case at all here as everyone was in high gear to discuss, talk and share ideas and network.  Hold on to your hats as this next couple of years is going to transform digital technology into some entirely new levels and how it’s all going to play out together we don’t know as new innovations and collaborative efforts seem to occur almost daily anymore:)  BD   <a href="http://www.theisraelconference.org/index.php">http://www.theisraelconference.org/index.php</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2344f3ae-0c73-4435-ada8-619b4ef10557" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Israel+Conference" rel="tag">Israel Conference</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kinect" rel="tag">Kinect</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/X-Box" rel="tag">X-Box</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Physical+Virtue" rel="tag">Physical Virtue</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Neck+injuries" rel="tag">Neck injuries</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/therapy+technologies" rel="tag">therapy technologies</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/robotics" rel="tag">robotics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Israel" rel="tag">Israel</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/technology" rel="tag">technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/software" rel="tag">software</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/5MinMedia" rel="tag">5MinMedia</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/video" rel="tag">video</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/digital+technology" rel="tag">digital technology</a></div>

Physical Virtue Solution To Assess and Train Neck Disorders, Microsoft Kinect And More As Shown This Week at the Israel Conference

This week I attended the Israel Conference in Los Angeles and what showing of new technologies. You can use the link here or at the bottom ...

Friday, June 03, 2011

Hologic Acquires TCT International in China, Distributor of Medical Products

Hologic makes a series of diagnostics products and recently was in the news with the FDA approval of their 3D mammogram devices.  Hologram products are pretty much all in the area of women's’ health. TCT will be integrated into the Hologic operations.  BD  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/02/fda-approves-first-3-d-mammography.html">FDA Approves First 3-D Mammography Device But Opinions Divided on Usefulness Over 2-D Where Detection Rate is the Same</a></h4> <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/09/hologic-3d-mammogram-reviewed-by-fda.html">Hologic 3D Mammogram Reviewed by FDA and Determined 3D Mammograms Are Safe Even With Higher Levels of Radiation–If Approved by FDA - It’s a Software Upgrade from 2D to 3D</a> <blockquote> Hologic Inc. said Wednesday it has acquired Chinese medical products distributor TCT International Co. Ltd. for $135 million in cash.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKFMKSnPIGI/AAAAAAAAhtQ/bpQPwbsRFyw/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="85" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TKFMLH-M2mI/AAAAAAAAhtU/mmtwSiYfK9M/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="168" /></a> Hologic, which supplies diagnostic products, said that it expects the acquisition will generate $10 million in revenue and help boost earnings per share. "We firmly believe by controlling a distribution channel as extensive as TCT's, we can better leverage our entire product portfolio to drive growth across multiple market segments," said Rob Cascella, Hologic's president and chief executive. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9NJAC8O1.htm">Hologic buys China's TCT International - BusinessWeek</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a3d12d8f-ecb3-4219-95d3-370169524d6b" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hologic" rel="tag">Hologic</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/China" rel="tag">China</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/diagnostic+products" rel="tag">diagnostic products</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/mergers+and+acquisitions" rel="tag">mergers and acquisitions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/distribution" rel="tag">distribution</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/TCT+International" rel="tag">TCT International</a></div>

Hologic Acquires TCT International in China, Distributor of Medical Products

Hologic makes a series of diagnostics products and recently was in the news with the FDA approval of their 3D mammogram devices. Hologram p...

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Cleveland Clinic CEO Recommends Changes to Current ACO Rules

In addition to the Cleveland Clinic, several other hospitals and chains have sent their concerns and suggestion to CMS.  The Cleveland Clinic specifically saw conflicts that would ultimately put barriers in the way of success.  As I wrote before the cost of an ACO is not done without the proper and effective Health IT management tools in <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EFalaeJUQzI/TehvJ88BY4I/AAAAAAAAylo/kiAel1EaYX8/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PJSXguNhZVE/TehvKcRHfsI/AAAAAAAAyls/PTDi-Qh-mlY/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="210" /></a>order to contain and evaluate all areas that need to come into play.  <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/04/will-healthcare-aco-incentives-be.html">Will Healthcare ACO Incentives Be Consumed by Software and Vendor Expenses When It’s All Said and Done?</a></h4> 429 pages is a lot of rules and information to consume and analyze for implementation to meet all provisions.  CMS is still taking comments on the proposed new rules.  To qualify a minimum of 5,000 of Medicare patients needs to be managed over 3 years.  There is certainly room to save in all areas of healthcare but will rules improve the quality of care, this is the question the Clinic was questioning as some of the provisions do nothing to improve outcome.  BD  <blockquote> Proposed federal rules for accountable care organizations create significant barriers that would discourage hospitals from adopting the new model of care, according to Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove. Cosgrove made the comments in an eight-page letter addressed to Donald Berwick, top administrator for the the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), though Cosgrove stressed that the Clinic supports the concept of accountable care organizations (ACOs). Cosgrove said the Clinic was “generally disappointed” with the details of the 429-page proposed regulations that describe how ACOs would be set up and run. The letter was posted by Modern Healthcare. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.massdevice.com/blogs/massdevice/proposed-medicare-aco-rules-create-%E2%80%98significant-barriers%E2%80%99-says-cleveland-clinic-ceo">Proposed Medicare ACO rules create ‘significant barriers’ says Cleveland Clinic CEO | MassDevice - Blog entry</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:04245407-bcae-4fbf-b62a-ee7c3eb786a5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cleveland+Clinic" rel="tag">Cleveland Clinic</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CEO" rel="tag">CEO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospitals" rel="tag">hospitals</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ACO" rel="tag">ACO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CMS" rel="tag">CMS</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medicare" rel="tag">Medicare</a></div>

Cleveland Clinic CEO Recommends Changes to Current ACO Rules

In addition to the Cleveland Clinic, several other hospitals and chains have sent their concerns and suggestion to CMS. The Cleveland Clini...

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Physician Salaries Represent 8% of Total US Healthcare Cost

When it comes to the high costs of physicians in healthcare, having 8% of the total <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GdJmlLuFWqA/TehqwG_-lgI/AAAAAAAAylY/v6NJzDzbClE/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="156" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5Xu3mRrgBBY/Tehqwl9XL2I/AAAAAAAAylc/4Kilv_t1OjY/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="191" /></a>amount spent based on this survey, is small.  Costly tests still add up and radiologists and cardiologists earn between 2-3 times as family practice physicians.  The survey showed $170,000 as an average for family practice doctors but I know some that don’t even make $100k in California, in other words their salary is what’s left over after the bills are paid.  BD  <blockquote> As physicians face tighter scrutiny from consumers and public health experts, a survey conducted by <a href="http://www.healthimaging.com/_news/company/Jackson+Healthcare">Jackson Healthcare</a> reveals that physician pay accounts for approximately 8 percent of total U.S. spending on medical care, while only a minority of physicians receive additional earnings for ordering imaging or other tests.   Using data from the <a href="http://www.healthimaging.com/_news/organization/American+Medical+Association">American Medical Association</a> (AMA) and the <a href="http://www.healthimaging.com/_news/organization/Medical+Group+Management+Association">Medical Group Management Association</a> (MGMA), Jackson Healthcare estimated that <a href="http://www.healthimaging.com/_news/topic/physician+salaries">physician salaries</a> in the U.S. totaled $216 billion in 2009, while national health spending reached $2.5 trillion in that year overall. Based on results from the survey, Atlanta-based Jackson Healthcare, which provides medical staffing, management and health IT products, found that 82 percent of physicians receive no compensation for ordering imaging, prescriptions, labs or other tests. Meanwhile, a minority of physicians—36 percent—reported that their yearly income came only from fixed sources. </blockquote> <a href="http://www.healthimaging.com/index.php?id=27994&division=hiit&option=com_articles&view=article">Physician salaries 8 percent U.S. healthcare costs</a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:973c0207-4d96-4130-97eb-1584f9ea7c36" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/physicians" rel="tag">physicians</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/doctors" rel="tag">doctors</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/health+IT" rel="tag">health IT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/AMA" rel="tag">AMA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MGMA" rel="tag">MGMA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cost" rel="tag">cost</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/budgets" rel="tag">budgets</a></div>

Physician Salaries Represent 8% of Total US Healthcare Cost

When it comes to the high costs of physicians in healthcare, having 8% of the total amount spent based on this survey, is small. Costly tes...

Thursday, June 02, 2011

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Cleveland Clinic CEO Recommends Changes to Current ACO Rules

Physician Salaries Represent 8% of Total US Healthcare Cost

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