Health Care Thoughts: Cardiologists Gone Wild
by Tom aka Rusty Rustbelt
Health Care Thoughts: Cardiologists Gone Wild
I have been waiting……. for a major federal investigation into unnecessary cardiology interventions.
According to the NYT a major target are some HCA hospitals in Florida.
The NYT focuses on HCA and for-profit, but I think this is a much broader problem.
Unlike some other specialties (say orthopaedics), there is very wide diagnostic and treatment judgment in cardiology. That however, is not an excuse for excessive treatment.
More details likely to follow.
There is more discretion in ortho than you appear to believe. Not all total joint replacements are created equal.
Steve
Atwul Gwande had and article which described how 10 orthopedic surgeons at one hospital each used a different make of joint replacement. It took lots of work to make them change. In fact the article suggests that physicians get their own opinions and then put up big obstacles when standardization is proposed.
Good summary article on this issue.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/48559692
Steve: true enough, but joint replacements are rarely scheduled as emergency procedures (excepting splintering hip fractures).
Lyle – I have dealt with that issue, and much of the issue comes from the surgeons’ training with a particular system.
The hospital has one overriding interest – saving money (which I understand).
Access to health care varies across countries, groups and individuals, largely influenced by social and economic conditions as well as the health policies in place. Countries and jurisdictions have different policies and plans in relation to the personal and population based health care goals within their societies. Thanks.
Regards,
hcg 1234
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