St. Joseph Health System Announces Sale to Catholic Health Initiatives Based In Colorado

<p>The parent company of St. Joseph Health System is actually<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="72" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MGi1EjJians/U37YOHOdPiI/AAAAAAABKYE/5ZJjl8EzgFI/image%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="187" /> making the sale but the end result is still the same with the hospital system being sold to Catholic Health Initiatives.  </p> <p><em>“<a href="http://www.sylvaniafranciscanhealth.org/">Sylvania Franciscan Health</a> facilities provide vital healthcare services to communities in Ohio, Kentucky and Texas. With over 6,300 employees and growing, our tightly associated network of hospitals, ambulatory care centers, independent senior housing, assisted living facilities and rehabilitation centers are trusted by thousands of patients and respected leaders in the communities we serve.”</em></p> <p>Hospital mergers continue to be on the map.  BD</p> <p><iframe noresize="noresize" height="232" marginheight="0" src="http://launch.newsinc.com/?type=VideoPlayer/Single&widgetId=1&trackingGroup=69016&siteSection=theeagle_nws_loc_sty_pp&videoId=26145285" frameborder="no" width="460" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <hr />The parent company of the St. Joseph Health System announced Wednesday that it's in the process of being sold to one of the largest Catholic health systems in the country. <p>Sylvania Franciscan Health signed a non-binding letter of intent to join the Catholic Health Initiatives.<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="81" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7ntB76CUfng/U37YOhkv4fI/AAAAAAABKYM/nX2_8Cb5z6c/image%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="187" /> The St. Joseph Health System is operated by SFH, and the acquisition would include its clinics and offices around the Brazos Valley.</p> <p>The two health care systems expect to reach an agreement this fall.</p> <p>CHI is a nonprofit health care system headquartered in Englewood, Colorado. It operates more than 80 hospitals nationwide. Shay said a merger with the larger group will help St. Joseph stay competitive in bidding, keeping prices lower and gain access to more resources for growth.</p> <p><a href="http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/st-joseph-health-system-parent-company-in-buyout-talks/article_737d496f-4a5f-5e31-a740-eb68ce6a5da4.html">http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/st-joseph-health-system-parent-company-in-buyout-talks/article_737d496f-4a5f-5e31-a740-eb68ce6a5da4.html</a></p>

St. Joseph Health System Announces Sale to Catholic Health Initiatives Based In Colorado

The parent company of St. Joseph Health System is actually making the sale but the end result is still the same with the hospital system be...

Read more »

United Healthcare Medicare Advantage “Narrow Networks” Moves On To Virginia Next, More Patients Will Need To Find New Doctors

<p>The patients affected that will have to change doctors are the members who bought their coverage from AARP. This doesn’t appear to be as large as the numbers of doctors cut in other states, but still if it’s you, it has an impact.  This appears to give a little more notice this time and it appears there’s more of an effort made here to allow patients to transfer to a new doctor. <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="118" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eRcvZVOZ_1c/U34HPjEfufI/AAAAAAABKXk/WntDR4MmlN8/image%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="227" /> United is also in the Urgent care business now so will this area be seeing some of those clinics built and opened?  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/01/united-healthcare-now-entering-urgent.html">United Healthcare Now Entering the Urgent Care Clinic Business To Help Keep Patients Out of the ER, Two More Opening In Houston–Subsidiary Watch</a></h5> <p><strong>Pre-existing conditions may be gone but it’s been replaced with narrow networks for insurer risk assessments for containing costs and keeping profit levels high.</strong>  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/pre-existing-conditions-with-health.html">Pre-Existing Conditions With Health Insurance May Be Gone But Narrow Networks Are Providing The Same End Result For Many Ill Patients With Not Being Able To Get Care - Extreme Cases Of New Killer Algorithms Popping Up With Insurance Business Models…</a></h5> <p>In Connecticut the doctors and the medical groups are fighting back with a lawsuit which I believe is still being negotiated as <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/12/federal-judge-issues-injunction-against.html">ordered by a judge</a>.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/11/united-healthcare-medicare-advantage.html">United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Doctor Firing Moves On Into Ohio, New York, And Maybe More? CMS Has Known For Months About the Changes And Is Monitoring….United’s Cost Algorithm Says…You’re Out the Door</a></h5> <p>You also see some things out of left field from United at times as here’s an example with overseas policy efforts for US employees who work for companies owned by India firms.  It does get complex with a number of different types of offerings.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/08/united-healthcare-and-partner-develop.html">United Healthcare and Partner Develop Insurance Exchange Specifically For US Employees Working for India Owned IT Services</a></h5> <p>In addition with the complexities of insurers you can also see items like this to where United went out and bid and won a contract, but due to narrow networks, they had no providers to see patients in the contract they won and lost it of course.  By contrast you also see the company kicking out a check in <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/17509880-to-fix-hammer-toe-billed-by.html">New York City to pay $175,000</a> to fix a hammer toe for the wife of a banker, so do they have better out of network coverage there?  In California we have lawsuits over refusal to pay for <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/united-healthcare-gets-sued-over.html">lap band surgeries.</a>  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/01/howard-county-school-board-in-maryland.html">Howard County School Board in Maryland Rescinds United Healthcare Contract As Retirees Didn’t Want the Medicare Advantage Plan, No Providers Available..</a></h5> <p>When the numbers are crunched, which United relies on heavily as 1/3 of their revenue comes from Health IT businesses, I<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="187" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XyrPpBFrBg8/U34HQTGlNzI/AAAAAAABKXs/UABeFC3LPWY/image%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="155" />’m guessing the queries and algorithms roll to determine where the next cuts will come in.  In Phoenix, Arizona a local television station seems to be working as an advocate to handle claim disputes.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/local-arizona-television-station.html">Local Arizona Television Station Becoming a Major Patient Advocate In Battling Denied United Healthcare Insurance Claims For Consumers…”Healthcare Nightmares” (Videos)</a></h5> <p>Data mining and gamification efforts with the company are still alive and well as here’s one more purchase the company made as United sells more data than any other insurer out there as well, normally via one of their many <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/07/health-insurance-business-under-radar.html">subsidiary companies.</a>  Also be aware of all the algorithms that run out and analyze your voice when you call most insurers today so when you hear this call may be recorded, it’s out there determining and creating a data file on your “current state of mind”.  When you know this, it’s certainly on deterrent from wanting to deal with an insurance call center, that’s for sure as the data files built and availability to sell keep rolling up with such as well.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.de/2014/05/this-call-may-be-recorded-for-quality.html">This Call May Be Recorded for Quality Purposes”..Heck Not, Millions of Algorithms Have Been Turned Loose to Listen To and Analyze Your Voice When You Talk To Your Insurance Company As Algorithms Continue To Take Over the World…</a></h5> <p>Also in the news the company will set you up for text messages, I know that’s not medical care but it cost next to nothing to set up a few algorithms to send you an army of text messages if you want them.  I have to some how laugh at the marketing of this messaging as its there to “enhance your health literacy”..whoopee, no its there to remind you to make your appointment.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/02/unitedhealthgroup-buys-majority.html">UnitedHealthGroup Buys Majority Interest of Audax, Gamification and Data Mining/Selling Platform Operation–Subsidiary Watch</a></h5> <p>So it comes down to “business algorithms say” I would think as that’s what drives all of this as shareholders want their money so stay tuned for the next “narrow network” update I guess.  BD  </p> <p> <hr />UnitedHealthcare is cutting doctors from its Medicare Advantage networks in the Richmond, Roanoke and Tidewater service areas, meaning some consumers will have to find new doctors in the middle of a benefit year.</p> <p>Doctors who are being dropped have been notified, and patients who see those doctors are getting letters telling them about the change that becomes effective Aug. 1, a UnitedHealthcare spokesman said.</p> <p>In the Richmond area, UnitedHealthcare offers a Medicare Advantage plan called AARP MedicareComplete.</p> <p>“This is all part of our effort to build a more focused network around collaboration,” said Steven King, a UnitedHealthcare regional vice president overseeing the company’s Medicare and retirement businesses in Virginia.</p> <p>UnitedHealthcare has about 37,000 Medicare Advantage enrollees in Virginia. Not all are affected.</p> <p><a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/business/health/unitedhealthcare-to-narrow-medicare-advantage-network/article_616236bf-5510-56a6-b59d-89c8281d6bc0.html">http://www.timesdispatch.com/business/health/unitedhealthcare-to-narrow-medicare-advantage-network/article_616236bf-5510-56a6-b59d-89c8281d6bc0.html</a></p>

United Healthcare Medicare Advantage “Narrow Networks” Moves On To Virginia Next, More Patients Will Need To Find New Doctors

The patients affected that will have to change doctors are the members who bought their coverage from AARP. This doesn’t appear to be as lar...

Read more »

VA Crisis Should Be A Huge Wake Up Call , We Have Turned Into a Nation of “Stat Rats”, Losing Touch With the “Real” World As Virtual Values Confuse, Collide and Wreak Havoc As Models & Formulas Fail

<p>We have to stop and take a look at where this comes from and it rolls down hill.  I might get my head bit off here but it’s sad but this is the reality of what we have out there.  Even the White House is one big “template” today and we hear stats, stats, stats, stats…in so much of what gets shared with us and most of which doesn’t touch any of us directly or have any direct impact on our lives.  Yes I get a little vocal on Twitter with ‘magpie tweets” that again are stats, stats, stats and more stats too.  It’s like what have we become?  Are we that brain washed to anytime when we see a number or report that we “think” is has importance?  <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="155" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E2FRmZg_BQE/U32OkZbVHcI/AAAAAAABKXU/JNTWaRQSqaw/image%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="254" /></p> <p>Doctors deal with the real world every day and we have a name for that: patients.  Of late too again the data on the doctors, over and over and over and over and none of it is your or my doctor so what gives?  What was learned by having that data?  It was nothing that touched you or me but made for a news analytics article.  I’m not against intelligent reports that give “intelligent” information but I never saw anything so nuts in my life where the media was pounding on us “this is important” you must look at it.  </p> <p>So back on track when I watched the Anderson Cooper VA interview in Phoenix, all I could here was words about their stats, meeting their goals, nothing really about any concern about the vets that died.  It was so obvious.  I went and read on some of the message boards and sure enough there was a bundle of information where vets were talking about their issues and didn’t take long to find so I guess nobody looks at that either.  It has to be data that’s on Facebook that you can sell I guess to get anyone motivated..and that is sad.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/va-hospital-in-phoenix-broken-model-of.html">VA Hospital in Phoenix A Broken Model of Care With Health IT Scheduling Implementations Where Virtual World Values and the Real World Collide, A Deadly Case of “The Grays”… </a></h5> <p>This is really bad and it could have occurred anywhere.  We seem to just have a virtual White House that works a template day in and day out with little imagination.  It’s nothing like it used to be when I looked forward to reading what the White House had to say and I don’t real all of it, don’t have time but what I do get is just the same type of templated correspondence wanting me to yes again add my name to something and I got tired of that a while back.  It doesn’t go anywhere.  I call it “The Grays” and  we all get caught up at some point somewhere but the return back to reality is the important part here and I don’t see some folks doing that and it’s scary.  You end up with all these weird perceptio<img align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-plljo-PUd4Q/UV2UCf3JAXI/AAAAAAABGWU/TJC27hEzgmA/image%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" />ns of things that are not true (Sebelius was the public queen in that area) and it’s nonsense.  In the case of the VA, nobody had enough sense to make a left turn to save a life.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-worlds-real-world-we-have.html">Virtual Worlds, Real World We Have A Problem And It’s A Big One With A Lot of Gray Areas Finding Where The Defining Lines Exist, Confusing Many With A Lot of Weird Values And Strange Perceptions… </a></h5> <p>Again I think it’s a wake up time for all to take a look and see if you’ve been Algo Duped or talked into something that used <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/12/quantitated-justification-for-believing.html">quantitated justifications</a> for things that are not true.  So what is Nabors going to report?  Are we going to get a run down on stats from each facility?  Are we going to do some “human” things or be “stat rats” and accept what ever numbers are thrown out?  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/white-house-assigned-deputy-chief-of.html">White House Assigned Deputy Chief of Staff To Review VA Patient Safety Rules & Scheduling, A Horrific Case of “The Grays” Where Virtual and Real World Values Clashed & Created Deadly Toxic Environments </a></h5> <p>So how will we find the “bad guys” here?  Is is that bad to where the confusion of virtual versus real world values is disrupting people form doing their jobs?  I read an article the other day about a conference about “how to create happiness in the work place”.  I know there’s always new ideas but darn a two day convention on things that used to come to us naturally, or for some of us it still does.   </p> <hr /> <p><em><u>From The Grays”….</u> </em></p> <p><em><strong>“We see stock values way over inflated on what we place on virtual technologies.  When you take social networks, for the most part, what do you have?  You have a bunch of apps that connect you to something or someone and it’s all code, data and queries stored on servers.</strong> <u>No tangibles here to speak</u> of other than the cost of the hardware and yet we see stocks go way out of line here.  Sure there’s value but not to the levels of what we are seeing.  Come on, huge stock price values and IPOs on data and apps sitting on servers somewhere?  They are intangibles and they are out of balance with the values placed on the “real world”.  We need both, and boy am I seeing some very confused folks out there any more.  </em></p> <p><em>Data has value, no doubt but you are marketed as well and and your value as a human compared to an algorithm, well it’s not very good.  With complexities today and marketing, watch people on a dating site.  It’s like going into a store with <img align="right" height="89" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4yKeXZOGJWY/U2hj_S1gpvI/AAAAAAABKL4/8L1D77wzoQY/image%25255B20%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" width="238" />way too many decisions and then you are given more opportunities for some “click bait” to view even more and the site makes money as you move through a series of pages through ad exposure.  You have some very smart mathematicians that know how to work you and keep you coming back.  In other words don’t find your match, just keep coming back as the site will entertain you and keep you convinced that you need it.   This is another form of the “gray” areas as meeting someone online is hard enough as you meet them a fraction at a time.  So add on all the other money making noise and they got you.  </em></p> <p><strong><em>It was kind of funny today that I read an article that </em><a href="http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2014/03/google-running-study-figure-out-how-people-work/81505/?oref=eig-homepage-morefromGEMG"><em>Google is doing to do a study “to learn how people work”</em></a><em> so is that ironic?</em></strong><em> They seem to hire quite of them and after how many years in business they don’t know how people work?  I read another article that said employees at Google can’t separate their work from their personal lives..hmmm..a little gray here too?  It’s kind of funny they need a study as we all kind of know, and self included you have to shut it for a few hours, days, etc. to get your feet totally back in the real world.</em> “ </p> <hr /> <p><strong>We can keep pushing and pushing but it’s time to take a look at our methodologies</strong>…as I said below, people don’t work that way.  Analytics can help us with decision making for sure but when we are so far over on the other side and some numbers are lying to us..what we doing? </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/people-dont-work-that-way-world-of.html">“People Don’t Work That Way” A World of Broken Software Models That Don’t Align To the Human Side,Too Much Push At Times With Only A Proof of Concept That Fails in the Real World.. </a></h5> <p>Time to stop and think as this will continue if we don’t take a deep breath once in a while and ask ourselves is this the real world or is it virtual and do the two mix?  I have ran this by a lot of people and have not had one yes disagree with me about people being confused with what’s a real world value and what’s a virtual and the problems it’s creating.  So are we going to be cold hard stat rats and believe in all the numbers or get back to some human values here?  Watch video #1 in the footer and you’ll get the entire drift of this post and how you get sucked in, the professor does a good laying it out for you.  Visit the <a href="http://www.ducknet.net/attack-of-the-killer-algorithms/">Algo Duping page</a> if you want to see more on how you get fooled and at least become a skeptic when you need to be as technology is being used against you with people that know how to do it and suck you in.  </p> <p><strong>We need a culture change in a bad way.  BD</strong></p>

VA Crisis Should Be A Huge Wake Up Call , We Have Turned Into a Nation of “Stat Rats”, Losing Touch With the “Real” World As Virtual Values Confuse, Collide and Wreak Havoc As Models & Formulas Fail

We have to stop and take a look at where this comes from and it rolls down hill.  I might get my head bit off here but it’s sad but this is ...

Read more »

HHS Biosurveillance Plan Would Allow Government to Track Your Health Via Medical Records & More, Monitoring For Any Event It Considers A Government Defined Health Incident, United States of Secrets Part Two With Privacy Lost

<p>Comments ran out today so sorry for being late to the party but this sound like it’s going a little too far.  The National Health Securit<img alt="image" border="0" height="147" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-abSrAEGJGTI/U31vktqpckI/AAAAAAABKXE/Kp3G0-uxOaI/image%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="187" />y Strategy (NHSS)could keep track of anything with the way the language is written.  All you would need is a government defined health incident and that is very broad in definition to allow the dogs in to monitor your behavior before, during and after the incident!  So you could be monitored it sounds like and then an incident made up later?  </p> <p><b><i>“This is not privacy,” Brase said. “Officials want a ‘near-real-time’ reporting requirement for electronic data systems. What is a ‘health threat’ or ‘incident’ that could jeopardize our ‘national health security?’ The Strategy says these could include terrorist activities, antibiotic resistance, climate change or subjects surrounding the economic environment. In other words, anything and everything could become a health threat by the government’s standards.”</i></b></p> <p><u>Seriously now we need some digital centric laws!</u>  Verbiage just lets computer code run hog ass wild.  If you have not read it, take a look at the World Forum Privacy Report too where the rest of the world is watching “The Scoring of America” so if it’s not the government you are denied access with algorithmic code as the US has become a nation of Stat Rats.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/world-privacy-forum-report-scoring-of.html">World Privacy Forum Report - The Scoring of America: How Secret Consumer Scores Threaten Your Privacy and Your Future - One Big Element that Fuels the Continued Attack of Killer Algorithms & Demise of the Middle Class Creating Profiteering And/Or Denial of Access</a></h5> <p><iframe title="MRC TV video player" height="260" src="http://www.mrctv.org/embed/127173" frameborder="0" width="440" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>The biosurveillance plan is much more intrusive than the data collection currently being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  We know the CDC collects data to compile reports, etc. on the health of the US population.  A I understand this access via this program would pretty much open up any of your medical records for the government to review, scrutinize and again monitor you if they so decided.  </p> <p>If you missed it, I’ll toss this in for good “privacy” measure, <strong>it’s part two of the PBS “United States of Secrets” documentary</strong>.  Part One is good but it’s a long one and gives some good history but <strong>part 2 is where you can see the NSA snake in on Google’s cables</strong> and it might be partly the reason Google is so busy spending money in DC with Congress lobbying for what they want.  Also listen to how Google kind of “worked” a California State Senator on Gmail scanning…very interesting.  </p> <p><iframe style="height: 274px; width: 454px" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3qIamc4j-wA" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>As consumers we’re screwed all the way around I swear.  BD  </p> <hr />A very broad government biosurveillance plan that makes your health records a matter of “national security” showed up on my radar today. It opens the door leading to the government having near-real-time access to monitor your health. I apologize for only hearing about this, and bringing it to you at the last minute, since the deadline to <a href="http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/authority/nhss/comments/Pages/default.aspx">submit comments</a> is 5 PM Eastern time today, May 21. Of course the reason we might not have heard much about this “<a href="http://www.cchfreedom.org/cchf.php/900#.U3o8lC9hD9E">sneaky</a> biosurveillance plan that will track American’s health records” is because the 50-page departmental draft (<a href="http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/authority/nhss/Documents/NHSS-Public-Comment.pdf">pdf</a>) states, “Do not cite or quote.” Well that’s too damned bad, since this affects you, me, our kids, everyone in the United States! <p>It’s regarded as national security, meaning in the same way NSA surveillance was a secret until the Snowden leaks, you won’t even know how your health is being spied upon and shared with others. The 2015-2018 National Health Security Strategy (NHSS) (<a href="http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/authority/nhss/Documents/NHSS-Public-Comment.pdf">pdf</a>) will keep track of and share information about not just sick people and sick animals, but even sick plants.</p> <p>“The information collected by the government will be ‘all-encompassing’ and include ‘what our health status is, whether we exercise, how often we get a cold, or what kind of medications we’re taking,” according to the <a href="http://www.cchfreedom.org/">Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom</a> (CCHF).</p> <p><strong>Brase </strong><a href="http://cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-hollingsworth/federal-biosurveillance-plan-seeking-direct-access-americans"><strong>told</strong></a><strong> CNCNews that the “NHSS proposal would allow the federal government to monitor an individual’s behavior before, during and after any government-defined health ‘incident.’ It’s very broad. It doesn’t seem to have any limits, except they say something about, you know, properly protecting the data. But from our perspective, if the government gets access to this kind of data, [and] is allowed to do research with the data…then our privacy has already been compromised. The government has already said that our data is their data for their purposes of national health security.”</strong></p> <p>Brase warns that the “government’s biosurveillance plan is much more intrusive than the data collection currently being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” It “talks about the need for the ‘examination of data from electronic medical records’ and calls for ‘cooperation among federal and non-federal stakeholders, including the scientific community and public and private healthcare providers ... to achieve an efficient and reliable surveillance system.”</p> <p>“Cut through the jargon, and simply put, the government’s plan means that your medical records would be shared with government officials."</p> <p><a href="http://blogs.computerworld.com/privacy/23936/biosurveillance-government-track-your-health-matter-national-security">http://blogs.computerworld.com/privacy/23936/biosurveillance-government-track-your-health-matter-national-security</a></p>

HHS Biosurveillance Plan Would Allow Government to Track Your Health Via Medical Records & More, Monitoring For Any Event It Considers A Government Defined Health Incident, United States of Secrets Part Two With Privacy Lost

Comments ran out today so sorry for being late to the party but this sound like it’s going a little too far.  The National Health Securit y ...

Read more »

Bangor Hospital System Drops Remote ICU Monitoring Program - Too Expensive, No Insurance Reimbursement, Required Additional Staff - Systems Seem To Work Better With Bigger Hospital Systems That Have More Money

<p>You have to give them credit for trying and there are larger hospital systems that do say the system is working but once again, nobody wants to talk about “hospital inequality” and things don’t always work across the boards with Health IT today.  I have written about Banner Hospitals in Arizona using such a system and as far as I have read it is still working well.  Again money and volume of patients here I think have some impact. </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/hospital-inequality-yet-one-more.html">“Hospital inequality” - Yet One More Growing Issue With Healthcare In the US..</a></h5> <p>The article continues on to say they are looking at or have invested in service that will allow <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="80" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6mCHQ0o3PoQ/U3y936XKFZI/AAAAAAABKW0/iYcrlCVU_KQ/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" />doctors and patients to communicate via telemedicine which is always a good thing.  When it comes to telemedicine I think too many see it as a cure all, but it’s not as you still need to have some visits “in person” but for communication in between and minor issues that come up that can be taken care of, it works fine.   Anyway with this investment in Health IT monitoring, the hospital was paying for a system that was more costly than beneficial with Health It and you don’t know going into some investments either until it’s in place and working.  So this system turned out to be additional IT expense as well as employees that was not showing a good return and the system feels their own in house employees can monitor patients just fine.  There are all kinds of local monitoring sensors that can be added as well for a smaller expense as well.  Here’s the other side of the coin.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/07/banner-medical-centers-in-phoenix.html">Banner Medical Centers in Phoenix Offering Telehealth Monitoring in Intensive Care Unit–iCare System Option</a></h5> <p>You do reach a point though to where you really have to look and determine what is a needed investment too as software is the easiest thing in the world to over sell as the need to understand how technologies work together should be foremost, otherwise you can buy all kinds of software and Health IT programs that do what they say, but how does it all come together is the key.  BD</p> <p> <hr />The Critical Care Connection service, established in 2008, will cease effective June 20, the hospital announced in a Tuesday news release. Insurers don’t reimburse hospitals for the service, limiting the number of medical centers that could participate and leading to unsustainable costs, according to Dr. James Raczek, EMMC’s chief medical officer and chief operating officer.</p> <p>Ten hospitals take part in the program. EMMC monitors an average of fewer than three patients a day at the other hospitals throughout the region, the news release states.</p> <p>EMMC will eliminate 10 full-time positions, two part-time positions, and one pool position as a result of discontinuing the program. The hospital is working with affected employees to find them other positions within EMMC, according to the release.</p> <p>Under the program, nurses caring for seriously ill patients at outlying hospitals connect remotely with critical care nurses and specialists at EMMC for guidance on treatment options. Rather than replace local medical personnel, “eICUs” or “teleICUs” are designed to give hospital staff, particularly in rural areas, access to doctors and nurses trained in critical care who can monitor patients for signs of trouble and step in through video and audio links before complications become life-threatening.</p> <p>The Critical Care Connection also monitored EMMC’s own critical care and emergency department patients.</p> <p><strong>EMMC isn’t the only Maine hospital to drop such a program, citing high costs. In August 2013, Portland-based </strong><a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2013/08/02/health/maine-hospitals-disband-remote-icu-program-citing-costs/"><strong>MaineHealth discontinued a program</strong></a><strong> that remotely linked nine hospital intensive care units to off-site medical specialists.</strong></p> <p>Since the Critical Care Connection was established, EMMC has developed other regional services, including a telemedicine center that links doctors and patients virtually.</p> <p><a href="http://vitalsigns.bangordailynews.com/2014/05/20/home/bangor-hospital-drops-remote-icu-program/">http://vitalsigns.bangordailynews.com/2014/05/20/home/bangor-hospital-drops-remote-icu-program/</a></p>

Bangor Hospital System Drops Remote ICU Monitoring Program - Too Expensive, No Insurance Reimbursement, Required Additional Staff - Systems Seem To Work Better With Bigger Hospital Systems That Have More Money

You have to give them credit for trying and there are larger hospital systems that do say the system is working but once again, nobody wants...

Read more »

Health City Cayman Islands Opened This Year - A Partnership With Ascension Health In Medical Tourism

<p>It’s been a while back but it’s here now and I would guess that at some point in time procedures<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="245" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ex9y4gCWTk0/U3wUA-tJYmI/AAAAAAABKWc/XgNNIn54qKM/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="332" /> here may be option if not already.  I did not see it on the website but again being outside the US different laws and rules of course apply.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2012/04/shetty-signs-partner-agreement-with.html">Shetty Signs Partner Agreement with Ascension Health For New “Indian” Style Managed Hospital to Be Built in the Caymans–Medical Tourism</a></h5> <p><em>“Health City Cayman Islands is the vision of famed India heart surgeon Dr. Devi Shetty. As Chairman of Narayana Health, he oversees a network of 14 hospitals across India. Narayana Health is joined in the first phase of the project by Ascension, the largest private not for profit health system in the United States.”</em></p> <p><em>“Over the next decade, the hospital will expand to a 2,000-bed facility, and expects to be a JCI (Joint Commission International, USA) Accredited facility providing care in major specialties including neurology, oncology and other cutting edge tertiary care. The complex is also planned to have a medical university and an assisted-care living community.”</em></p> <p>It is kind of different when you go to a Catholic Hospital system website and see “investor relations” but this is their <a href="http://www.ascensionhealth.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=160">VC group</a> they set up a while back. </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2012/09/catholic-health-initiatives-to-invest.html">Catholic Health Initiatives To Invest $200 Million in Various Areas of Healthcare Via Newly Created VC Group–Non-Profit Portfolio Algorithms</a></h5> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2012/08/ascension-health-renews-its-5-year.html">Accretive Healthcare</a> is certainly glad these days Ascension renewed their contract as well.   The Cayman Islands are also known for being tax havens for big companies and <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/01/aetna-completes-200-million-dollar.html">Aetna files their re-insurance program through the Cayman Islands.</a>  You can look at most of the health insurance carriers and see a “Cayman” entity in their SEC listings.  </p> <p>There’s no pricing information yet on the website and I’m sure it’s still work in progress.  This will be interesting to see how this works with Ascension with more of an active roll or just standing by as an investor.  BD  </p> <p> <hr />Warm climates have always appealed to medical tourists, and <a href="http://www.healthcitycaymanislands.com/">Health City Cayman Islands</a>, a 130,000-square-foot facility that opened in early 2014, takes advantage of its tropical location by providing an abundance of natural light and views to nature.<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="105" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Cc3L82fW2bY/U3wUBbX5tbI/AAAAAAABKWk/RYT0FvJ8doQ/image%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="187" /></p> <p>Designed to attract Americans to the island for cardiovascular and orthopedic health services, the hospital is a partnership between Narayana Health, which oversees a network of 14 hospitals across India, and Ascension, a private not-for-profit health system in the U.S.</p> <p>Project designer Damon Romanello, executive director and managing principal at Studio+ (Fort Myers, Fla.), says the location was chosen based on its proximity to the U.S. as well as the willingness of the Cayman government to support the project.</p> <p><a href="http://www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com/article/medical-tourism-spotlight-health-city-cayman-islands">http://www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com/article/medical-tourism-spotlight-health-city-cayman-islands</a></p>

Health City Cayman Islands Opened This Year - A Partnership With Ascension Health In Medical Tourism

It’s been a while back but it’s here now and I would guess that at some point in time procedures here may be option if not already.  I did ...

Read more »

Health Insurers Complaining About the High Cost of Gelead Science Hepatitis C Treatment - Work It Out With Drug Companies, You Can’t Dump Big Costs Over to Consumers Anymore, We’re Broke

<p>$1000 a pill is a big cost for sure and the average treatment is $84,000 for Hepatitis C so again there should be some common ground to where each side takes it in the shorts a little so people can be treated.  $2 Billion dollars in sales for the drug <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="89" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FBnnVjtNtSo/U3wIt4JlOmI/AAAAAAABKWM/kZJosoXnl5o/image%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="187" />in the first quarter are some very big numbers.</p> <p>The pharma side says the insurers are at fault for pushing too much of the cost of the treatment on to patients and on the insurer side they say the treatment is hurting their profits so it looks like neither side is going to get 100% here but doctors and patients are in the middle again.  </p> <p>12 weeks of treatment compared to 48 is huge difference by comparison that Savaldi, the drug allows.  Also it has a 90% cure rate versus older methods that are at 75% and run the 48 week gambit and have more side effects.  We know as patients what will probably happen is that when cost comes up people may not get access to the new drug and will get the old treatment after a mortality assessment is performed to see what the cost risk is to cure a patient and create some kind of “scoring” system for the “yes” and “no” to appear on a claim screen.</p> <p>The good news out there though is that there are other competing drugs in the works from other pharma companies and some competition may help out a bit with price.   Would it be worth it to see a few less dollars on the profit sheets of insurers to save some lives?  I would hope so.  BD  </p> <p> <hr />(Reuters) - The leading U.S. health insurance trade group on Tuesday hit out at the extremely high cost of new specialty medicines, accusing drugmakers of taking advantage of the insurance system by pricing products at unsustainable levels.</p> <p>The latest salvo in the war on escalating U.S. healthcare costs came from AHIP - America's Health Insurance Plans - and targeted Sovaldi, the new $84,000 hepatitis C treatment from Gilead Sciences Inc.</p> <p>"Sovaldi has shown tremendous results, and it's the kind of medical innovation we need to sustain. Unfortunately, the drug's maker has priced it at an astronomical level that is not sustainable for consumers, innovation, or society," AHIP said on its Coverage blog.</p> <p>The campaign against Gilead may also be an effort to pressure other drug makers, such as Merck & Co, AbbVie and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, before they set prices for their hepatitis C drugs that are expected to gain regulatory approval in the next year or two.</p> <p><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/05/20/us-insurance-gilead-sciences-drugcosts-idINKBN0E029U20140520?feedType=RSS&feedName=health&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=309303">http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/05/20/us-insurance-gilead-sciences-drugcosts-idINKBN0E029U20140520?feedType=RSS&feedName=health&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=309303</a></p>

Health Insurers Complaining About the High Cost of Gelead Science Hepatitis C Treatment - Work It Out With Drug Companies, You Can’t Dump Big Costs Over to Consumers Anymore, We’re Broke

$1000 a pill is a big cost for sure and the average treatment is $84,000 for Hepatitis C so again there should be some common ground to wher...

Read more »

Tenet Hospitals Announces Rebranding Urgent Care Services Now “MedPost” -Emergency Room Visits Keep Rising

<p>MedPost centers are currently located in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas and from what I read here the facilities that are  now operating under other names will now be rebranded to reflect the<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="131" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4XE4oPhj3x0/U3wCI3-ciVI/AAAAAAABKV4/dzoH3SOQUcI/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="187"> MedPost identity.  Currently there are 190 outpatient centers operated by Tenet and it could be imaging, surgical centers, etc.  Three locations in Dallas were existing urgent care centers as an example. </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/06/tenet-healthcare-buys-vanguard-health.html">Tenet Healthcare Buys Vanguard Health for $1.8 Billion Cash and Assumes $2.5 Billion in Debt</a></h5> <p>You could have possibly received services at a Tenet facility and not been aware of it.  In addition Tenet is expanding it downtown Dallas headquarters and this was party due to acquiring Vanguard Health systems last year.  The CEO said ER visits have not decreased since Obamacare began.  Hospital profits and losses have been all over the board as well and it looks like Tenet is crawling back up.  A while back too Tenet was the subject of a potential hostile take over itself which <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/05/sec-issues-community-health-subpoena.html">didn’t go anywhere with Community Health.</a>  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/11/hospital-profits-and-revenue-all-over.html">Hospital Profits and Revenue All Over the Place–Tenet Shows $28 Million While a Non Profit UPMC in Pennsylvania Has Excess Revenues of a Billion a Year & Hospital Revenue Cycling Subsidiaries Compete With Those Owned And Operated by Insurance Company Subsidiaries…</a></h5> <p><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="380" id="cnbcplayer" width="400"> <param name="type" value="application/x-shockwave-flash" /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="quality" value="best" /> <param name="scale" value="noscale" /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /> <param name="salign" value="lt" /> <param name="flashVars" value="startTime=000" /> <param name="flashVars" value="endTime=000" /> <param name="movie" value="http://plus.cnbc.com/rssvideosearch/action/player/id/3000272918/code/cnbcplayershare" /> <embed name="cnbcplayer" PLUGINSPAGE="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" height="380" width="400" quality="best" wmode="transparent" scale="noscale" salign="lt" src="http://plus.cnbc.com/rssvideosearch/action/player/id/3000272918/code/cnbcplayershare" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /></object></p> <p>In addition Tenet is partnering with Texas Tech to build a teaching hospital in El Paso.  Now also in the Urgent care business, look at what United Healthcare is doing, will these be right across the street from Tenet hospitals:)  In addition United also owns either completely or 51% of some of the largest surgical groups in the US too so perhaps some of these doctors will be working at Tenet MedPost facilities too, you never know as the subsidiary games rolls things into a very confusing pattern at times with who owns who.</p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/01/united-healthcare-now-entering-urgent.html">United Healthcare Now Entering the Urgent Care Clinic Business To Help Keep Patients Out of the ER, Two More Opening In Houston–Subsidiary Watch</a></h5> <p>So we have both hospitals and insurers competing for urgent care.  <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/07/unitedhealthcare-making-bigger-aco.html">Beach Surgical Holdings</a><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="107" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WiS_qHfU8ME/U3wCJhlKZ_I/AAAAAAABKWA/6atiAlwof2s/image%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="185">, a holding company for another company is 51% owned by United and/or Optum and they manage physicians in over 130 surgical centers in the US so again it winds around as these physicans could work in a surgical center owned by Tenet and then be managed by United Healthcare or an owned subsidiary.  If that being the case this makes the line to walk interesting for Tenet at times.  BD  </p> <p> <hr> Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp. has rebranded its urgent care centers into a national network called MedPost Urgent Care, the company announced Monday.</p> <p>Six of the 23 facilities are in Texas. Three are in the Dallas area. MedPost plans to double the number of centers by the end of the year.</p> <p>The three Dallas-area facilities were existing urgent care centers rebranded under the MedPost name. A majority of the other MedPost locations were Tenet locations that the company rebranded.</p> <p><strong>Before the MedPost branding, Tenet’s urgent care locations did not operate under a unified name and often took on names of nearby Tenet hospitals.</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/business/health-care/20140519-tenet-rebrands-its-urgent-care-centers.ece">http://www.dallasnews.com/business/health-care/20140519-tenet-rebrands-its-urgent-care-centers.ece</a></p>

Tenet Hospitals Announces Rebranding Urgent Care Services Now “MedPost” -Emergency Room Visits Keep Rising

MedPost centers are currently located in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas and from what I r...

Read more »

SydaSoft Features SydaMED-CM Billing Software Module And An HL7 Connector Companion For Electronic Medical Records

<p>Do you already have a medical records system in place at your practice and need only a billing module?  The SydaMed billing module could be the perfect companion for your system.  It does not have patient scheduling and some of the other advanced<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="237" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nBYuAeedFdU/U3t41LESaCI/AAAAAAABKVY/gzN7lPMMrSs/image20.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="304" /> features.  In addition, are you on a budget to where you might be limited?  <a href="http://www.sydasoft.com/billingsoftware-pgSF-optmSMCM-smpgMD.asp">SydaMed CM billing software</a> could be the answer.  SydaSoft is a sponsor at the Medical Quack and this is the next in a series to detail additional information about their software and billing services.  </p> <p><em>“SydaMED-CM also incorporates numerous state-of-the-art features, such as image scanning (insurance cards, picture IDs, x-rays, etc.), fast "jump-to" screens that let you go from one type of work to another quickly and effortlessly, and emailing from within the program.”</em> </p> <p><strong><u><a href="http://www.sydasoft.com/medicalbilling-pgSF-optmSL.asp">SydaLink HL7</a> can also help accommodate your needs</u></strong> if you already have a medical records program.  It provides a 2 way link connecting both the medical records and the billing software.  </p> <p><em>“SydaLink is a sophisticated HL7 interface that bridges SydaMED practice management with HL7-compliant EMR systems such as SpringCharts. Users can seamlessly and automatically transfer <b>patient</b> and <b>appointment records</b> from SydaMED to EMR and transfer <b>claims information</b> from EMR to SydaMED. Users have the choice to use fully automated or monitored transfer of data.”</em></p> <hr /> <p>In addition what’s any billing or practice management system without a back up system?   </p> <p><strong><u><a href="http://www.sydasoft.com/billingsoftware-pgSF-optmBKUP-smpgABTRBS.asp">SydaSoft backup</a></u></strong> is there to handle this for you.   The service provides a remote location back up off premise to keep your information secure and available when you need it.  I can speak for that a few years ago with having a back up service at a remote location after having to rebuild a server that crashed.  </p> <p><em>“With the Sydasoft Remote Backup System, data is stored safely and securely offsite where it can be retrieved quickly and easily 24 hours a day. SydaSoft's RBS software addresses three critical issues to ensure successful offsite backup: <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="140" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_CeoGCZ4xd4/U3t42PRSaeI/AAAAAAABKVg/C1TwshlKLnA/image21.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="190" />Time, Connection Expense, and Security. </em></p> <ul><em>1. <b>Time</b>: Our RBS system 'compresses' the data prior to transfer. This means that 100 MBs of data would be compressed to approximately 15 MBs and the transfer takes minutes instead of hours. <br />2. <b>Connection</b> <b>Expense</b>: Our system leverages your existing Internet connection to transfer the compressed backup files. <br />3. <b>Security</b>: Our system utilizes multiple layers of access encryption and validation triggers. The security parameters to access your backup files are embedded into the binary code of your individual software installation on your PC. This means site security cannot be manipulated or decoded by a third party. Additionally you can place an 'Unzip' password or PIN number on all your backup files. This means that they cannot be opened by ANYONE except you.</em> “</ul> <p><strong><u></u></strong> <hr /></p> <p><em><font size="2"><b><u>A Note for Established Medical Billing Services </u></b> <br />If you are an established billing service, SydaMED can help expand your business and enhance your profitability. As a billing service, you need to have greater flexibility in order to maximize the potential of your business. You need to bill for many types of specialties. For example, you most likely need software the can handle general medical, chiropractic, UB-92, DME, and so on. <br /><strong>SydaMED is your answer</strong>.  This state-of-the-art medical practice management software is the most attractive, easiest-to-use medical billing <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="149" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UPDKJsb7IzM/U3t42vT3YVI/AAAAAAABKVo/ngRCAjrSfyw/image19.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="247" />software system on the market.  Contact us at 800-400-9558 for details on converting your medical billing service to SydaMED.  </font></em></p> <p><b><u> <br /></u></b><em><font size="2"><b><u>A Note to New Medical Billing Services</u></b> <br />If you are a start-up billing service in need of comprehensive training on software and billing daily operations, we recommend getting <a href="http://www.claimtek.com/Opportunity/">full-scale training from ClaimTek Systems</a>. ClaimTek can provide you with a comprehensive package that includes software, training, marketing and support program. ClaimTek programs teach you how to perform medical billing, market to medical providers, and get support on every step of setting up your business. For more information, visit </font></em><a href="http://www.claimtek.com/"><em><font size="2">www.claimtek.com</font></em></a><em><font size="2">.</font> </em></p> <p> <hr />Here’s a video from a business owner who made a transition from the trucking industry to creating his own medical billing business and he signed up with ClaimTek to learn how to get set up and get his business rolling with all the tools he needed.  So if you are interested in starting your own medical billing service, take a look at what <a href="http://www.claimtek.com/">ClaimTek</a> has to offer.  BD  </p> <p><iframe style="height: 273px; width: 514px" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cpi3KeUIEu8" frameborder="0" width="420" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

SydaSoft Features SydaMED-CM Billing Software Module And An HL7 Connector Companion For Electronic Medical Records

Do you already have a medical records system in place at your practice and need only a billing module?  The SydaMed billing module could be ...

Read more »

Spurious Correlations - Per Capita Consumption of Cheese As Correlated With Number of People Who Died Tangled Up In Their Bed Sheets! I Found Where All These Obscure Studies Originate:)

<p>This is a <a href="http://www.tylervigen.com/">funny page</a> with making comparisons with queries on items that are not any way related just to prove a point that you can query any old data base with another and come up with some charts and real convincing stuff.  This page is amazing and I think I have read some of these studies.  I say all the time I used to be a query monster and that any couple of data bases can be queried together to create a new and these guys got my heart here!  I love it.  If you want more on this topic, scroll on down to my footer and watch video #1 about quantitated justifications for things not true or <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2012/01/context-is-everythingmore-about-dark.html">click here</a> or <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/12/quantitated-justification-for-believing.html">here for more</a>.   Look at this chart, amazing is it not..look how close the numbers run:) </p> <p><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="283" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0f_H5QEaGlI/U3rftlG9ODI/AAAAAAABKVA/ktWjewHYwOQ/image%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="499" /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Look at how much chicken we consume as it directly relates to how much oil the US Imports!</p> <p align="left"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="291" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xFiIGiqsRHw/U3rfuh2cTVI/AAAAAAABKVI/6gdNoT0Cxb4/image%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="509" /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Here’s a video from the author below that explains what this is all about with correlations.  Some he says have meaning and some don’t and it’s up to us to figure it out and it sure seems we see stuff in the news like the charts above sometimes:)  </p> <p>Sometimes we don’t have a scientist to make that decision either but if it looks like people will read it, then it run:)  BD  </p> <p><iframe style="height: 300px; width: 506px" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/g-g0ovHjQxs" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><a href="http://www.tylervigen.com/">http://www.tylervigen.com/</a></p>

Spurious Correlations - Per Capita Consumption of Cheese As Correlated With Number of People Who Died Tangled Up In Their Bed Sheets! I Found Where All These Obscure Studies Originate:)

This is a funny page with making comparisons with queries on items that are not any way related just to prove a point that you can query an...

Read more »

Lawrence Livermore National Labs Making Catalyst Supercomputer Cluster Available For Genomics and Other Big Data Research Projects

<p>This is good news for the genomics world especially as that’s all they work with are huge data sets and I would hope they are given some priority here with their projects as what they discover with gene relationships can be life saving and has the capacity to change medical treatments with immunotherapy.  You can read below who the partners are on this project.<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="144" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Plxnrvr1Klw/U3p7Z0lFcRI/AAAAAAABKUw/w0xXKu6VXRc/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="310" />  If you are a technologist then use the link provided for the announcement as well for more specifics.  </p> <p><em>“Companies interested in access to Catalyst are invited to respond to the posted </em><a href="https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOE/LLNL/LL/FBO287-14/listing.html"><em>Notice of Opportunity</em></a><em> through the Federal Business Opportunities website and visit the </em><a href="http://hpcinnovationcenter.llnl.gov/computing-resources/catalyst.php"><em>HPC Innovation Center</em></a><em> website.</em></p> <p>One of the partners, Cray computers is also helping CMS with their data mining to find fraud.  As  I said below this could replace the Medicare Auditors for a lot of the work they do.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/heres-some-folks-that-can-be-replaced.html">Here’s Some Folks That Can Be Replaced With Technology-Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors - CMS Yarcdata Urika Appliance Can Do This Job And Is With Finding Fraud Patterns…</a></h5> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/01/medicare-looks-to-use-analytics-to.html">Medicare Looks To Use Analytics to Identify Abusive Prescribers And Require Doctors To Be Registered With Medicare To Write a Prescription-Sounds Like The CMS Cray Computer YarcData Appliance Might Be Getting A Little Busier</a></h5> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/11/cray-computers-making-big-comeback.html">Cray Computers Making a Big Comeback Thanks to Big Data–CMS Using cray YarcData Unit To Detect Fraud Patterns With Payments</a></h5> <p><em>“Jonathan Allen, a Lawrence Livermore bioinformatics scientist, is working on new methods to rapidly detect and characterize pathogenic organisms such as viruses, bacteria or fungi in a biological sample.</em></p> <p><em>"We're working on developing scalable analysis tools for next generation sequencing, in particular metagenomic sequencing," Allen said. "By comparing short genetic fragments in a query dataset against a large searchable index of genomes, we can make determinations about the potential threat an organism poses to human health."</em></p> <p>A few years ago the DOE had the same type of project going and donated computing space for research projects.  BD  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/12/17-billion-super-computer-hours-awarded.html">1.7 Billion Super Computer Hours Awarded by the DOE–Biomedical Research Projects Included for Parkinson’s and Cancer</a></h5> <em></em> <p> <hr />Lawrence Livermore National Lab is making its Catalyst supercomputing cluster available to industry, universities and other collaborators to test big data technologies, architectures and applications, the lab <a href="https://www.llnl.gov/news/newsreleases/2014/May/NR-14-05-02.html">announced</a>.</p> <p>Developed by a partnership of Cray, Intel and Lawrence Livermore, the  Cray CS300 high performance cluster is available through Livermore's High Performance Computing Innovation Center (HPCIC).</p> <p>Catalyst, built for the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Advanced Simulation and Computing program, features 128 GB of dynamic random access memory per node, 800 GB of non-volatile memory (NVRAM) per compute node, 3.2 terabytes of NVRAM per Lustre router node and improved cluster networking with dual-rail Quad Data Rate Intel TrueScale fabrics. </p> <p><a href="http://gcn.com/articles/2014/05/19/catalyst-supercomputer.aspx?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed">http://gcn.com/articles/2014/05/19/catalyst-supercomputer.aspx?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed</a></p>

Lawrence Livermore National Labs Making Catalyst Supercomputer Cluster Available For Genomics and Other Big Data Research Projects

This is good news for the genomics world especially as that’s all they work with are huge data sets and I would hope they are given some p...

Read more »

“Wearables” News Glut, Give Us A Break And Cut Some Noise- “They Going To Take Over The World But Have Privacy Issues”, How Many More Times Do We Have to Hear This? (Opinion)

<p>There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t have at least one article on both topics.  I don’t mind reading about new technologies <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="171" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Nw4Jk4zmCK0/U3oo4euTn-I/AAAAAAABKUc/nbVGihwsaE4/image%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="197" />that come out by any means and if I think it’s something cool, I’ll write about it here but geez how many more articles can we stand that say the same old thing over and over.  I get a kick out of the ones that have studies and reports that substantiate the billions that will be made.  Sure the wearables folks are not going to disappear and neither are the privacy issues that impact this and the healthcare business  in general.  Here’s one I wrote a while back about privacy.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/nike-cuts-back-on-wearables-which-opens.html">Nike Cuts Back on Wearables Which A Opens Discussion Relative To “How People Work” Current Models In Place Are Loaded With Vague Privacy Policies, How Much Data Gets Sold To Sustain the Model-And Is There A Desire For Consumers to Commit? </a></h5> <p>I know we have the quantified self movement and there’s nothing wrong with those folks who are having success and are using apps and devices to make their lives better if it works for them, but please we don’t all function the same and there is a point to where people do get bored or don’t have the time to bring in certain elements of quantifying everything in their life and drop out too.  Someone said the other day that 68% of mHealth apps have yet to yet 10k in revenue.  We also have this new issue with phones and apps to be concerned about as well.</p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/cell-phone-privacy-tracking-even-if.html">Cell Phone Privacy Tracking, Even If Your Location Tracking Is Turned Off Matching Data Can Still Occur With App Data Comparisons That Use Sensors Such As Accelerometers And More- Something Else To Be Aware Of With mHealth And Other Mobile Apps… </a></h5> <p><strong>If there’s something new out there that doesn’t have privacy issues and has great impact, bring on the news but for goodness sakes can we stop the <u>“magpie” articles</u> that say the same thing over and over and over.</strong>  Sure some of this might be marketing efforts but like I’m saying here you beat the drum so loud and for too long, people tune it out and that’s kind of what I’m doing here I guess.  Enough is enough.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/heres-app-now-go-fix-yourself-why-so.html">“Here’s an App, Now Go Fix Yourself” Why So Many Healthcare Apps Draw Little Attention From Consumers As This Is Not The “Full” Story on Patient Engagement…</a></h5> <p>Before we have wearables taking over the world, take time and figure out how people work <img align="right" height="79" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4yKeXZOGJWY/U2hj_S1gpvI/AAAAAAABKL4/8L1D77wzoQY/image%25255B20%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" width="212" />and save us a little news glut out there.  I just wrote about <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/stanford-engineer-invents-safe-way-to.html">what Stanford has done</a> with a new potential device that could power medical devices, now I consider that news as an example.  </p> <p>On the privacy end even the wearables folks themselves know that’s a huge wall right there.  I’m just saying unless there’s something really newsworthy, can you cut out some the same old repetition?   On privacy not much has changed since this 60 Minute report and the videos are good here and well worth watching.  The FTC is stuck on verbiage while computer code that mines and sells data runs hog ass wild.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/60-minutes-blasts-data-sellers-ftc.html">60 Minutes Blasts The Data Sellers, FTC Admits They Have Lost Control - Time To License and Excise Tax “ALL” Data Sellers, Banks, Companies, Etc. - Congress Needs to Act On This…</a></h5> <p>I think we have some perception issues of folks living in virtual worlds here in “thinking” they have news we want to hear repeated over and over too.  I call that <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-worlds-real-world-we-have.html">“The Grays”</a> and that’s impacting people all over.  So I would kind of venture to say here that <strong>folks in the gray world here</strong> “think” we need to be beat over the head with daily articles about wearables and security day in and day out..<strong>please let up a little bit</strong> as now I don’t know about you, but all of this has become noise that I just block out.<strong>  Too many have over done themselves here with this perception of what they think we need to hear and are becoming a noise menaces if you will</strong> and maybe give a bit more thought to “how people work” and not how we want everyone to work as people still make the ultimate decisions in the end.  Again as I said reporting new technologies and concepts is good news but let’s cut the noise on “taking over the world” if you will.  BD  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/people-dont-work-that-way-world-of.html">“People Don’t Work That Way” A World of Broken Software Models That Don’t Align To the Human Side,Too Much Push At Times With Only A Proof of Concept That Fails in the Real World..</a></h5>

“Wearables” News Glut, Give Us A Break And Cut Some Noise- “They Going To Take Over The World But Have Privacy Issues”, How Many More Times Do We Have to Hear This? (Opinion)

There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t have at least one article on both topics.  I don’t mind reading about new technologies that com...

Read more »

White House Aid Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff To Oversee Affordable Care Act And Other Policies, A Former Goldman Sachs Credit Derivatives Analyst & Civilian Pentagon Official

<p>She’s kind of young at 34 and as the Washington Post stated her background includes being an analyst at Goldman Sachs so we know she can crank numbers and do elaborate spreadsheets and the rest will remain to be seen as it’s a difficult job.  At least we don’t have another lawyer that focuses on verbiage only.  <strong>She needs to start building some new models as the ones created 4 years <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="183" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UvwTvFSkzx8/U3mNc5qO4uI/AAAAAAABKUM/HF-4Flkv7bw/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="278" />ago don’t work anymore</strong> as designed as things changed.  Let’s hope the White House returns back to the real world again too as they have been much too virtual of late.  </p> <p>When it states she will follow through on making sure the President’s major policies, let’s hope this more than a fancy spreadsheet that keeps count.  Again, let’s hope these <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/01/obama-data-team-bluelabs-partners-with.html">Blue Labs folks do something as well</a> that's creative and get the White House out of their continuous circular template that rolls out every week.  “The Grays” have taken over at the White House to where they are just too “virtual” anymore with measurements, stats, etc. and it rolls downhill, like to the VA sadly.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/white-house-assigned-deputy-chief-of.html">White House Assigned Deputy Chief of Staff To Review VA Patient Safety Rules & Scheduling, A Horrific Case of “The Grays” Where Virtual and Real World Values Clashed & Created Deadly Toxic Environments </a></h5> <p>I still say if this person is in charge of implementing technologies, there’s more data mechanics knowledge needed than what an analyst uses and we certainly can’t do for any more of the Sebelius Syndrome to continue.  Canegallo did spend a bit of time at the US embassy in Iran and Afghanistan back in 2007 and 2008 and anybody gets kudos for that service for sure.  The Washington Post said Canegallo worked on resolving the bad roll out of Healthcare.Gov and monitored the information to help colleagues sort it out and well that didn’t work too well through a lot of it as we still heard weird perceptions and stories in the news that didn’t fit.  I would downplay that part of my past if I were her:)  This is what the real job here is with Obamacare, is everyone’s business models and subsequent algorithmic formulas not working together.  You can plan all you want but unless these come together better, everything slows to a crawl and additional complexities creep right on in.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/obamacare-one-big-attack-of-killer.html">Obamacare - One Big “Attack of the Killer Algorithms” No Matter Which Direction You Turn, Compounded With a Lot of Government and Consumer “Algo Duping”….</a></h5> <p>In short she gets the fun job of negotiating with health insurers too for the news enrollment period and that’s a challenge as <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/kathleen-sebelius-kansas-governor-for.html">I said back in 2009</a> Sebelius was no contest to the very explicit detailed math business models they use to keep profits rolling in and folks can get duped.  The Algo duping game is even worse now than it was a few years ago too.  Insurers are hiring a lot of Quants to do their business models now and are going beyond actuary auditing to be ready for some tricks and creative coding and algorithms to show up.  BD </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/health-insurer-actuary-jobs-becoming.html">Health Insurer Actuary Jobs Becoming More Difficult In the Era of Killer Algorithms, Can’t Function Like They Used To As Information Changes Take Place Daily And Hourly, More Insurance Companies Are Seeking Quants to Create New Math Models, The Next Level Up From Actuary Calculations</a></h5> <hr />President Obama on Friday appointed longtime White House aide Kristie Canegallo as deputy chief of staff for policy implementation, to oversee issues that include the continuing rollout of the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/04/17/heres-how-we-got-to-8-million-obamacare-signups/">Affordable Care Act</a> and better integration of technology in classrooms. <p>The move, which comes three days before senior White House health-care adviser <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/12/07/phil-schiliro-returns-to-help-spearhead-white-house-health-care-policy/">Phil Schiliro</a> will step down, aims to institutionalize some of the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/podesta-schiliro-to-return-to-white-house/2013/12/10/194b22f4-61a7-11e3-94ad-004fefa61ee6_story.html">changes</a> chief of staff Denis McDonough made in the wake of the health-care law’s <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/challenges-have-dogged-obamas-health-plan-since-2010/2013/11/02/453fba42-426b-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_story.html">botched debut</a> last fall.</p> <p>In an interview, McDonough said Canegallo, 34, will ensure the president is following through on some of the major policies set in motion during his first term. Her portfolio will include reforming how the federal government procures technology, veteran’s affairs and immigration policy, as well as national security topics such as data privacy and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.</p> <p>Unlike many of Obama’s top advisers, who came to their jobs through politics, Canegallo started as a civilian Pentagon official on detail to the White House when Obama came into office in 2009. Trained as a credit derivatives analyst at Goldman Sachs, she served as director in the National Security Council’s Defense Policy and Strategy Directorate for two years before becoming senior adviser to McDonough, who was then the president’s deputy national security adviser.</p> <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-aide-named-by-obama-to-oversee-health-care-law-other-priorities/2014/05/16/33aad592-dd10-11e3-8009-71de85b9c527_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-aide-named-by-obama-to-oversee-health-care-law-other-priorities/2014/05/16/33aad592-dd10-11e3-8009-71de85b9c527_story.html</a></p>

White House Aid Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff To Oversee Affordable Care Act And Other Policies, A Former Goldman Sachs Credit Derivatives Analyst & Civilian Pentagon Official

She’s kind of young at 34 and as the Washington Post stated her background includes being an analyst at Goldman Sachs so we know she can cra...

Read more »

Stanford Engineer Invents Safe Way to Transfer Power Deep Inside The Body - Medical Devices Could Radically Change Down the Road

<p>This is very interesting in the fact that the future design of implanted medical device could<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="120" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_wf4gBWIZVE/U3l0LJjEVPI/AAAAAAABKT8/8ZYUDXFwJn0/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="142" /> be impacted, but in a good way.  The power module is no bigger than a grain of rice.  It could be placed almost anywhere in the body on a nerve.  </p> <p>Batteries are bulky by comparison and many devices require a big hand hand devices.  The micro implant would be a coil and a few other components.</p> <p>It could be placed at a nerve bundle and could programmed to send electrical signals and could be used potentially for Parkinson's and other neurological diseases.  </p> <p>It is wireless and is still very much as the investigational stage.  BD</p> <p><iframe style="height: 313px; width: 485px" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7WURJ9rgwjs" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p> <hr />Electrical engineer Ada Poon has invented a way to wirelessly transfer power deep inside the body. The technology could provide a path toward new medical devices.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WURJ9rgwjs&sns=tw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WURJ9rgwjs&sns=tw</a></p>

Stanford Engineer Invents Safe Way to Transfer Power Deep Inside The Body - Medical Devices Could Radically Change Down the Road

This is very interesting in the fact that the future design of implanted medical device could be impacted, but in a good way.  The power mo...

Read more »

Stryker and FDA Issue Class One Recall of OASSYS Occiput Plate -Lawsuit Filed Disputing Metal Content in Device

<p>  <em>“At issue is the OASYS Midline Occiput Plate, part of the OASYS Occipito-Cervico-Thoracic System used to promote fusion of the cervical spine and occipito-cervico-thoracic junction (Occiput - T3). The OASYS Midline Occiput Plate provides stabilization at the junction between the occipital bone and the vertebrae in the cervical spine.”</em></p> <p>The FDA approved the spinal device in 2010.  The number of devices recalled can be <a href="http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ListofRecalls/ucm366713.htm">found here.</a>  </p> <p>In addition there’s a pretty striking lawsuit if what is alleged is true with another product, the <a href="http://backpainandorthopedics.blogspot.com/2014/04/in-search-of-cervicore-smoking-gun.html">CerviCore disc</a>  not being made with titanium but rather a combination of other metals and Stryker it sounds like, lied about the content.  Well as time marched on the metal pin has either broken in some instances or deteriorated to where metal toxicity in being found in patients.  </p> <p>Investigations are going back to clinical trial patients to follow up as well.  BD</p> <p>(Updated and corrected - per reader comment) </p> <hr /> <p>The product was tested on various subjects enrolled in a clinical trial in the years prior to 2010, when FDA approval was granted and Stryker began distributing the devices starting on April 23, 2010. Less than three years later, an Urgent Medical Device Recall was announced. <br />According to documents, a pin connecting the tulip head to the plate body can be subject to fracture, posing a <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="220" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x6WX4ZrhcS8/U3hYxYuZwII/AAAAAAABKTs/H5jHYdI6E8k/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="364" />risk for blood loss, injury to the nerve and metallosis. </p> <p>The latter is the migration of toxic ions to the blood from minute particles rubbing away from metallic objects. <br /><strong>According to the lawsuit, Stryker is alleged to have claimed originally that CerviCore was fashioned exclusively from titanium. However, the complaint alleges that Stryker later admitted its medical device contained a combination of cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, titanium and nickel.</strong></p> <p>Before the Stryker recall, the medical device manufacturer originally touted the OASYS system as a breakthrough alternative to traditional methods of treatment. But it didn’t last. On May 30th of last year, Stryker issued an Urgent Medical Device Recall, advising hospitals and other health care facilities to scan inventories for recalled lots and halt their use. </p> <p>Three weeks later Stryker was back, advising surgeons having previously used the OASYS Midline plate to implement routine evaluations of affected patients. <br />The FDA also became involved, and to that end Stryker and the FDA issued a Class 1 Recall of the OASYS Midline Occiput Plate. A Class 1 recall is the most serious recall classification maintained by the FDA.</p> <p><a href="http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/stryker-fda-issue-class-1-recall-of-oasys-midline/stryker-fda-issue-class-1-recall-of-oasys-midline-19790.html#.U3hVQHaDpm1">http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/stryker-fda-issue-class-1-recall-of-oasys-midline/stryker-fda-issue-class-1-recall-of-oasys-midline-19790.html#.U3hVQHaDpm1</a></p>

Stryker and FDA Issue Class One Recall of OASSYS Occiput Plate -Lawsuit Filed Disputing Metal Content in Device

  “At issue is the OASYS Midline Occiput Plate, part of the OASYS Occipito-Cervico-Thoracic System used to promote fusion of the cervical sp...

Read more »

FDA Seizes over $11 Million Dollars Worth of Unapproved Drugs From Ascend Laboratories in Ohio

<p>Ascend as you can read below is a subsidiary of Alkem, an India based drug manufacturer of mostly generic and over the counter products.  Recently India drug companies have been under fire from the US FDA office and some plants have been closed.  It’s kind of hard<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="101" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1VeXOmlDGks/U3hB3CLiazI/AAAAAAABKTg/UihVKpUnC04/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="242" /> to tell exactly what the unapproved products are here and the US manufacturing office is located in New Jersey.  I did look at the website and found generic Keflex on the list among other over the counter generic products such as Ibuprofen.</p> <p> The FDA had performed an inspection in November of 2013 of the facility.  The complaint alleges products are also misbranded and you can read below there are some pending FDA filings.  BD</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.ascendlaboratories.com/AboutUs.aspx">From the website:</a></strong></p> <p><em>Ascend Laboratories is a subsidiary of Alkem Laboratories, one of the top seven pharmaceutical companies in India. Alkem is a vertically integrated organization with 15 manufacturing plants located throughout India, of which four are US FDA approved. The company has two state-of-the-art R&D centers located in Mumbai and Bangalore which employ over 500 scientists. The Mumbai R&D center is involved in the development of products some of which are Paragraph IV’s and first to file generics. The Bangalore R&D center is engaged in API process R&D, NCEs and Biosimilars. Currently, Alkem has 25 ANDAs pending FDA approval, five of which are Paragraph IV filings and two first to file ANDAs. In addition, the company plans to file 12-15 ANDAs per year and has in excess of 100 products under development.</em></p> <p><em>Recently named by IMS as one of the fastest growing generic companies in the US, Ascend offers a broad line of high quality cost effective generic drugs which is sustained by a robust pipeline of additional products that will continue to fuel dynamic growth. Focused on Quality and Service, Ascend distinguishes itself in a congested marketplace by its firm commitment to two critical fundamentals: Uncompromising High Quality Products and Total Customer Satisfaction.</em></p> <p> <hr />The U.S. Marshals on the request of the federal regulators and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio have seized more than $11,185,000 worth of unapproved drug that was marketed by Ascend Laboratories of Montvale, N.J. and distributed by Masters Pharmaceuticals, Inc of Cincinnati, Ohio.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm397653.htm">unapproved drugs seized</a> include Pramoxine-HC Otic Drops, intended to treat infections of the external ear caused by microbes and also to control itching. The Marshals have also seized Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppositories 25 mg that is meant to treat inflamed haemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory conditions. The list even included Urea Cream-39 percent, Urea Cream-40 percent and Urea Lotion 40 percent that is used to treat skin-thickening conditions like dermatitis and eczema.</p> <p>None of the above mentioned products have been proven safe for use or effective for their intended use. The federal regulators caution that customers using these products should consult a health care professional about the continuing use.</p> <p>A complaint has been filed by the FDA in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, alleging that the products are unapproved and misbranded drugs under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.</p> <p>This complaint follows the November 2013 inspection held at Ascend Lab's that revealed the marketing of drug products without an FDA approved drug application. </p> <p>This act of seizing products is consistent with the enforcement policy set in the FDA Marketed Unapproved Drugs Compliance Policy Guide which established that unapproved drug products first marketed after Sep 19, 2011 are subject to immediate enforcement action at any time without any notice.</p> <p><a href="http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/14781/20140517/fda-over-11-185-000-worth-of-unapproved-drugs-seized-from-ohio-distributor.htm">http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/14781/20140517/fda-over-11-185-000-worth-of-unapproved-drugs-seized-from-ohio-distributor.htm</a></p>

FDA Seizes over $11 Million Dollars Worth of Unapproved Drugs From Ascend Laboratories in Ohio

Ascend as you can read below is a subsidiary of Alkem, an India based drug manufacturer of mostly generic and over the counter products.  Re...

Read more »

Humanism in Medicine “Sometimes It’s OK To Bust The System”, Honoring The Doctor-Patient Relationship From The Gold Foundation

<p><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.humanism-in-medicine.org/images/spacer.gif" width="1" />I thought this was a good time to once again speak of the Gold Foundation in the midst of all the<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="56" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zN7j66EzxcU/U3g8w8UMFGI/AAAAAAABKTM/EGpYJN1qc78/image7.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="255" /> “fraud doctor data” that been floating around the web for the last couple of weeks.  As we all know those are the exceptions to the rule and not what medicine is really all about.  It’s about the Doctor-Patient relationship and the Gold Foundation is set up to honor doctors for their care and showing of humanism.  </p> <p>Here’s a video below where a doctor talks about a patient and how she decided to “bust the system” to allow a man to get married a couple hours before he passed away.  The wedding took place in the intensive care unit.  This is quite the story. <br /><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.humanism-in-medicine.org/images/spacer.gif" width="1" /> <br /><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.humanism-in-medicine.org/images/spacer.gif" width="1" /> <br /><iframe style="height: 282px; width: 483px" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SpbCsLccAWM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" width="640" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><strong>What’s really nice is that patients can nominate their doctor for for a Gold Doc, see the link below.  <img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kSuY6UZ2NfQ/U3g8xjMhSEI/AAAAAAABKTU/9aG5qFszRZw/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="239" /></strong></p> <p><em><b>“Gold DOC</b> is a recognition program established by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation to give patients and their families an opportunity to pay tribute and thank physicians and other healthcare professionals who demonstrate exemplary sensitivity and compassion, as well as clinical excellence, in the care of patients and their families.</em></p> <p><em>So often we hear about the negative side of healthcare – medical errors, controversy over managed healthcare, diminishing time for the doctor-patient relationship, lawsuits and soaring insurance rates. In the midst of these difficulties and obstacles, we know there are many doctors practicing humanistic, patient-centered medicine.”</em></p> <p><em>To recognize your doctor as a Gold DOC please fill out our </em><a href="http://www.humanism-in-medicine.org/index.php/misc/gold_doc_nomination_form_hm"><em>Gold DOC Recommendation Form</em></a><em>. The Foundation will send your DOC a congratulatory letter identifying you and including excerpts from your recommendation, a framed certificate and a Humanism in Medicine lapel pin. We will send you a copy of the congratulatory letter sent to your DOC.”</em></p> <hr /> <p><strong><u>What is Humanism in Medicine?</u></strong></p> <p>Humanism in medicine describes relationships between physicians and their patients that are respectful and compassionate. It is reflected in attitudes and behaviors that are sensitive to the values, autonomy, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of others.</p> <p>The humanistic doctor demonstrates the following attributes (<em>“I.E., C.A.R.E.S.”</em>):</p> <p><strong>Integrity:</strong> the congruence between expressed values and behavior.</p> <p><strong>Excellence:</strong> clinical expertise.</p> <p><strong>Compassion:</strong> the awareness and acknowledgement of the suffering of another and the desire to relieve it.</p> <p><strong>Altruism:</strong> the capacity to put the needs and interests of another before your own.</p> <p><strong>Respect:</strong> the regard for the autonomy and values of another person.</p> <p><strong>Empathy:</strong> the ability to put oneself in another's situation, e.g., physician as patient.</p> <p><strong>Service:</strong> the sharing of one's talent, time and resources with those in need; giving beyond what is required.</p> <p><a href="http://www.humanism-in-medicine.org/index.php/aboutus/what_is_humanism_in_medicine">http://www.humanism-in-medicine.org/index.php/aboutus/what_is_humanism_in_medicine</a></p>

Humanism in Medicine “Sometimes It’s OK To Bust The System”, Honoring The Doctor-Patient Relationship From The Gold Foundation

I thought this was a good time to once again speak of the Gold Foundation in the midst of all the “fraud doctor data” that been floating ar...

Read more »

UCI Irvine First Medical School To Use Google Glass

<p>10 pairs of Glass will be purchased this month and later another 30 units.  Money for the Google Glass units was donated by a philanthropist.  First- and second-year students will use Glass in their anatomy and clinical skills courses.<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="230" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KvRjPBV6rAY/U3W6hhENxvI/AAAAAAABKS8/8lOE2_guitA/image%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="304" />  Third and fourth year students will use Glass during hospital rotations.  It was just a couple years ago the UCI opened their new medical education center so with televideo in the auditorium using Glass to be able to view surgical procedures could be useful there too.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/02/uci-opens-new-40-million-dollar-medical.html">UCI Opens New $40 Million Dollar Medical Education Center - Televideo Auditorium Teleconferencing to Watch Real Time Medical Procedures</a></h5> <p>UCI was one of the first if not the first to give all medical students an IPad when they first came out as well.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/08/uc-irvine-school-of-medicine-giving.html">UC Irvine School of Medicine Giving Incoming Medical Students iPads with their White Coats With Medical Apps Loaded To Go</a></h5> <p>Having Glass will also help bridge the medical center’s Orange campus and lecture hall in Irvine.  Miller’s Children’s Hospital in Long Beach is already set up for televideo conferencing and I saw all that in making a few years ago at Millers.  It’s pretty wild being across town several miles with a big conference room where students can watch live surgery occurring in Long Beach.  One thing sure that is solved with Glass is having your hands free and for doctors, that’s a very big deal in more ways than one.  BD</p> <p> <hr />UC Irvine announced a plan Wednesday to use Google Glass <a href="http://news.uci.edu/press-releases/uci-school-of-medicine-first-to-integrate-google-glass-into-curriculum/">to teach medical school students</a> anatomy, bedside manner, and operating techniques, among other things.</p> <p>“These are very exciting times,” UC Irvine medical school dean Ralph Clayman said.</p> <p>The medical school – with 416 students now - will buy 10 Google Glass this month and another 30 later this year. A philanthropist donated the funds to buy the devices, which cost $1,500 a piece. One of their main uses will be to link students at the Irvine campus with instructors at the medical center 14 miles away in Orange.</p> <p>“If you could actually be in the room, and sit and see everything on your iPad, see exactly what the surgeon is seeing, that would be a tremendous benefit” because it would allow students to pull up relevant information on the iPad, he said.</p> <p>He said bedside manner - the invaluable skill that involves listening, comforting, and interacting with a patient – can be taught by placing Google Glass on a patient and recording what the student doctor says.</p> <p><a href="http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2014/05/14/16619/uc-irvine-to-use-google-glass-throughout-medical-s/">http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2014/05/14/16619/uc-irvine-to-use-google-glass-throughout-medical-s/</a></p>

UCI Irvine First Medical School To Use Google Glass

10 pairs of Glass will be purchased this month and later another 30 units.  Money for the Google Glass units was donated by a philanthropist...

Read more »

FDA Approves Microsoft Kinect To be Used for Stroke Recovery Rehabilitation

<p>Now this neat and how “gamification” should work and not some portal wanting to play a game to ente<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="118" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ce1bJhZca_M/U3Wx6HMFZGI/AAAAAAABKSw/yvA30CfBgTA/image%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="208" />r data to sell:)  The system uses game like exercises to evaluate motor skills.  Coordination and motor skills are the focus.  You get to see your scores if you are the patient as well.  The final program is a game that allows exercise with reflexes.  <a href="http://www.jintronix.com/">Jintronix</a> is the company who created the Kinect software.</p> <p>It can be used in a clinic or as a stand alone therapy device at home.   This type of virtual values is ok as it’s serving a purpose to help rehab for a persona in the “real world”.   Here’s a couple videos that shows how it works.  A couple other classic posts below are interesting as well with Kinect being used in a PACS system and with the DaVinci Surgical robot.    I always found that one kind of fascinating to have a million dollar or better robot work with the $150.00 Kinect unit.  </p> <h5><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></h5> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/12/microsoft-kinect-working-with-pacs.html"><strong>Microsoft Kinect Working with a PACS Server-Images on Steroids Via Gestures (Video)</strong></a></h5> <p><iframe style="height: 268px; width: 494px" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VAwzQ9LLsfA" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><iframe style="height: 269px; width: 493px" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WQ4IQC2hA0M" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>In addition for more information visit the <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/b/healthblog/archive/2014/05/09/dancing-with-the-fda-jintronix-wins-milestone-clearance-for-microsoft-kinect-gamified-rehabilitation-software.aspx">MSDN Health blog  where Dr. Crounse from Microsoft</a> tells you more about the story on the FDA process and more about Jintronix.  This was the first FDA approval for a Kinect product.  BD  </p> <p> <hr />We’ve seen how the Microsoft Kinect device can be used for more than just gaming. We’ve seen it being <a href="http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/05/xbox-one-kinect-is-therapy-device-for-cerebral-palsy-kids/">used in the medical field</a>, and now the FDA has recently approved the Kinect for use in the treatment of patients who have suffered from a stroke. Jintronix is a company that makes physical rehab software, and one of their software is designed for the Kinect and used to help treat patients who have had a stroke.</p> <p>According to Shawn Errunza, Jintronix CEO, <em>“We’re very excited about receiving FDA clearance, which paves the way for Jintronix to help in the rehabilitation of countless stroke victims.”</em> One of ways that stroke patients can recover proper use of their limbs is by participating in physical activities and exercises.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/05/fda-approves-use-of-kinect-for-stroke-recovery/">http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/05/fda-approves-use-of-kinect-for-stroke-recovery/</a></p>

FDA Approves Microsoft Kinect To be Used for Stroke Recovery Rehabilitation

Now this neat and how “gamification” should work and not some portal wanting to play a game to ente r data to sell:)  The system uses game l...

Read more »

One Way for University Medical Centers to Increase Revenue - Secure Contracts To Manage Healthcare at Correctional Facilities

<p>UMass in Massachusetts is doing just that and I’m sure there’s other similar contracts across the US but something maybe not talked about as much as other items in healthcare.  UMass will be handling the healthcare for inmates at a New York facility.  This is not their first contract and they have three others.   The contract also includes managing claims for care.  UMass in addition to their out of state contracts also manages care at 17 Massachusetts prisons.  BD  </p> <p> <hr />WORCESTER, Mass.--(<a href="http://www.businesswire.com/">BUSINESS WIRE</a>)--The Federal Bureau of Prisons has awarded<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="99" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-d6RH6gYazOE/U3Ti37k-E-I/AAAAAAABKSg/-CMeT8M-9Pc/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" title="image" width="240" /> the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Medical School a multimillion dollar contract to manage comprehensive medical services for nearly 1,000 inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) located in Ray Brook, New York. “This new contract allows us to extend our impressive experience and specialized knowledge to the FCI Ray Brook inmate population.”</p> <p>The five-year agreement is valued at a total of $8 million, and becomes UMass Medical School’s fourth federal correctional health contract. <strong>The Health and Criminal Justice Program, part of UMass Medical School’s Commonwealth Medicine division, will manage the contract.</strong> The medical school’s work at FCI Ray Brook will begin next month. </p> <p>The contract calls for UMass Medical School to coordinate inpatient and outpatient care provided by specialist physicians at the correctional facility and in community settings. The medical school will manage scheduling and handle all claims associated with the care. </p> <p><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140515005990/en/UMass-Medical-School-Awarded-Multi-Million-Dollar-Contract#.U3Td-XaDpm0">http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140515005990/en/UMass-Medical-School-Awarded-Multi-Million-Dollar-Contract#.U3Td-XaDpm0</a></p>

One Way for University Medical Centers to Increase Revenue - Secure Contracts To Manage Healthcare at Correctional Facilities

UMass in Massachusetts is doing just that and I’m sure there’s other similar contracts across the US but something maybe not talked about as...

Read more »

White House Assigned Deputy Chief of Staff To Review VA Patient Safety Rules & Scheduling, A Horrific Case of “The Grays” Where Virtual and Real World Values Clashed & Created Deadly Toxic Environments

<p>Let’s hope too that this also has an impact on the White House too as they are right in there too with a somewhat “templated” public relations and communication platform anymore.   I received my email template today from Joe Biden.  I don’t what happened there but I guess <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-worlds-real-world-we-have.html">“The Grays”</a> have had their impact there as well, especially noted with the “selfie” of both Obama and Biden.  Ok back on track here this is separate investigation from the OIG and let’s hope it’s not another Sebelius Syndrome extravaganza.  </p> <p>Ron Nabors will be in charge of the task to find out what occurred and again I think he’ll come back with what I said about “The Grays” and too much pressure and pushing to meet numbers.  With the VA in Phoenix it’s a situation that could have happened anywhere.  This storm has been brewing for quite a while as the pressure and goals and numbers to meet has been on such an accelerated<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cov86rMF4eo/U3RiWVp1pZI/AAAAAAABKSA/mhbdWO_-p1o/s1600-h/image2%25255B3%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image2" border="0" height="152" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-snbn4A_S_nA/U3RiXLZJ1yI/AAAAAAABKSI/aZVZerVQWSI/image2_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image2" width="187" /></a> path that doctors have struggling all over the US.  I like technology and what it can do to make me smarter and allow better decisions but having been a former developer I can also see when a model or models are starting to go south in the name of profit.  </p> <p>I said even the <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/ama-joins-people-dont-work-that-way.html">AMA today have some good input there as well with Meaningful Use</a> and I’m glad people are finally coming out of their virtual worlds. <strong>Former Secretary Sebelius lived in a virtual world looking for algorithm fairies at every turn</strong> as she had no data mechanics in her background and was duped over and over again.  I know I was  not very kind in a few of my posts but gosh it just got so old and other tech folks around said the same thing especially when explanations were not true and kind of made up.  Here’s one of my original posts and it didn’t take much other than having to watch the head of the VA talk to realize they were stuck in <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-worlds-real-world-we-have.html">“The Grays”</a> and put all their virtual values first and couldn’t make a left turn to save a life.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/va-hospital-in-phoenix-broken-model-of.html">VA Hospital in Phoenix A Broken Model of Care With Health IT Scheduling Implementations Where Virtual World Values and the Real World Collide, A Deadly Case of “The Grays”… </a></h5> <p>Furthermore it’s awakening for many too that “people don’t work that way” and we have had a series of failed software models.  I’m not that smart but I created an early EMR and I got fooled years ago and learned that lesson quickly as I thought I had good modules at times but had to go back to the drawing board to adjust and make it work better in the “real” world.  There’s been a big change in this area too lately with the push to sell software at times too and it shows as why do you think we have failed models.   That doesn’t mean they can’t be fixed but a bigger awareness of how people work is needed.  Heck even Google after all these years and hiring thousands of people are doing a study to find out how people work.   Virtuals values versus the real world took over and what a mess it has made and deadly too.  <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/memorial-healthcare-ipa-in-southern.html">Look at this terminology</a>, patients and doctors called “inventory”…nobody likes that but it’s what report called us. <strong>So at the VA, were the patients just “inventory” too</strong> when the virtual values are pushed to the top?  Sadly again it looks like that is the sad bottom line as on video all the executives could do was talk about the improvements of their numbers and even Anderson Cooper in the interview at the end was scratching his head too.</p> <p>So I hope we get back to the people business here and cut some of the crap of virtual values and do the right<img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="228" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8PaEDBRR_WM/U3RiXhux7rI/AAAAAAABKSQ/AINk2on6yAY/image%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" title="image" width="341" /> thing.  It much deeper rooted than just one location and it’s a philosophy that needs to be fixed from the White House on down.  Now today in the news we have reports of the same thing <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/va-veterans-wait-list/2014/05/14/id/571223/">going in Chicago at the VA,</a> see what I mean about this being much deeper than just one executive staff stuck in <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-worlds-real-world-we-have.html">“The Grays”.</a>  Here’s yet another <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/va-hospital-investigation-continues-at.html">VA facility in Wyoming</a>, gaming the system.  Again this all comes down from the virtual world influence of the White House and other executive departments.  <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/markets-are-not-rigged-spoken-like-true.html">Even the SEC “the system is not rigged”,</a> everyone on the web laughed as that was truly spoken like a data mechanics novice.   I said back in 2009 that <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/02/kathleen-sebelius-kansas-governor-for.html">Health IT would eat Sebelius up</a> too and it did at HHS.  There’s the link to what I call “The Grays” below so you can read it and form your own opinion but I have been watching this for a few years now.  </p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-worlds-real-world-we-have.html">Virtual Worlds, Real World We Have A Problem And It’s A Big One With A Lot of Gray Areas Finding Where The Defining Lines Exist, Confusing Many With A Lot of Weird Values And Strange Perceptions… </a></h5> <p>So again let’s hope Rob Nabors has his head on straight and does the complete job here and a real soul searching takes place because we need it as we have become victims of <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/12/quantitated-justification-for-believing.html">quantitated justifications that are just not true</a>, i.e. you want to bring up the flawed data of job reports too?   Nabors has a bigger job than Jeffrey Zients did with the website and he was just again someone to oversee it as he’s not a coder either.  This investigation with the VA will require some data mechanics knowledge rather than just a figure running out to look around too, so I hope they go there, look at audit tables and get some folks that know something about data entry besides just novices and users.  Once patients are entered into the VA ViSta medical records system, it works with follow up scheduling and a great set of whistles and bells but if patients are not entered into the system and a secondary system is used or paper files and/or spreadsheets are added, well you don’t have a full working system.  So what Rob Nabors know about the VA medical records ViSta?  I guess we will find out. </p> <p>I guess I felt like chewing on all with this post but it’s true with too much focus on virtual values. <img align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4yKeXZOGJWY/U2hj_S1gpvI/AAAAAAABKL4/8L1D77wzoQY/image%25255B20%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="float: right; display: inline" /> Doctors deal with the “real world” every day and there’s a name for it: patients. <strong>I say it time for everyone to think about what you’re thinking about and are you in the real world or are you hanging on to too many virtual values.</strong>  We can’t even create jobs <strong>as too much focus is on virtual values and is confusing getting a real world program started and all we got instead of jobs to fix infrastructure were a bunch of algorithms that use segmentation and deny access to many.</strong>  The World Privacy Forum is all over that and <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/04/world-privacy-forum-report-scoring-of.html">wrote a very good report</a> on how consumers are constantly scored without having any access to what the scores are and who does them.  Is the VA “scoring”?  Is it virtual scoring?  Some kind of scoring is going on to keep the Vets from being input in the system.  </p> <p>Hopefully Mr. Nabors might give this some thought as he goes through his investigation “do people work that way”…I ask myself that question quite frequently to try to keep myself balanced as well.</p> <h5><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2014/05/people-dont-work-that-way-world-of.html">“People Don’t Work That Way” A World of Broken Software Models That Don’t Align To the Human Side,Too Much Push At Times With Only A Proof of Concept That Fails in the Real World..</a></h5> <p>Anyway, that’s my take here is that tight budgets and folks looking for ways to solve the math shortage of lack of primary and other doctors available for veterans receives a big “F” for fail and we need a much better awareness of the virtual and real worlds soon, and people need to understand the difference as deadly perceptions such as what occurred here will continue…<a href="http://www.ducknet.net/attack-of-the-killer-algorithms/">Algo Duping and Killer Algorithm attacks</a> as I call it.  <strong>This video clip below says it all from Mike Osinski, who was a programmer that guess what, wrote all the software that the banks used for Sub Prime loans</strong> and listen to where he’s at today, some words of wisdom about doing something about everything with software and create all kinds of “virtual values” as subprime could not have happened without it.   The entire video is located as #2 in my blog footer here along with 3 other videos I consider that also have important messages to convey from people smarter than me.  BD</p> <p><object height="244" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://swf.tubechop.com/tubechop.swf?vurl=ed2FWNWwE3I&start=2810&end=2845&cid=1746075"></param><embed src="http://swf.tubechop.com/tubechop.swf?vurl=ed2FWNWwE3I&start=2810&end=2845&cid=1746075" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="244"></embed></object></p> <hr />White House deputy chief of staff Rob Nabors will be temporarily assigned to the VA to work on a review focused on policies for patient safety rules and the scheduling of patient appointments, officials said Wednesday. The move signals Obama's growing concern over problems at the department, particularly recent reports that hospital administrators in Phoenix kept an off-the-books list to conceal long wait times as 40 veterans died waiting to get an appointment. Similar problems have since been reported in other states. <p>The move is similar to the action the White House took last year when it assigned longtime Obama aide Jeffrey Zients to take over management of the troubled HealthCare.gov website from officials at the Health and Human Services Department. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius later resigned her post.</p> <p>Despite calls for Shinseki to step down, the White House insists that Obama continues to have confidence in the secretary, a retired four-star Army general. Shinseki said he welcomed Nabors' help in ensuring veterans have access to timely, quality health care.</p> <p>The review Nabors will oversee is separate from an inspector general's investigation into the Phoenix allegations that is already underway. Three executives at the hospital have been placed on leave while the allegations are being investigated.</p> <p><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/14/obama-assigning-deputy-chief-staff-nabors-to-oversee-va-review/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/14/obama-assigning-deputy-chief-staff-nabors-to-oversee-va-review/</a></p>

White House Assigned Deputy Chief of Staff To Review VA Patient Safety Rules & Scheduling, A Horrific Case of “The Grays” Where Virtual and Real World Values Clashed & Created Deadly Toxic Environments

Let’s hope too that this also has an impact on the White House too as they are right in there too with a somewhat “templated” public relatio...

Read more »