Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
WHAT WE’RE READING: Bargain Hunting for Health Care Services
- “More Americans are Checking Prices Before Getting Health Care,” NPR’s “Shots”: Polls shows more people are shopping around for medical services.
- “Sick in America: Hispanics Grapple With Cost and Quality of Care,” NPR’s “Shots”: A national survey finds Hispanic are more likely to be uninsured or have bad insurance than any other group.
- “What Air Traffic Can Teach Us About Kidney Transplants,” NPR’s “Planet Money”: Researchers reorganize the organ-allocation system by balancing fairness and efficiency.
BLOGGER VS. BLOGGER: Should the PSA Test Be Discontinued?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in its final recommendation last week said that healthy men should not have to undergo the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood test for prostate cancer because it does more harm than good. Meanwhile, a recent survey published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that just 1.8% of physicians would discontinue the now-routine test, even though half of them said they agree with the USPSTF recommendation.
The recommendation follows numerous studies that have found that the PSA test has a high level of false positives, estimated at about 80%, which can result in unnecessary and potentially harmful care.
Sarah Kliff of the Washington Post‘s “Wonkblog,” who called the recommendation one of the “most controversial health care guidelines” by the U.S. government, wrote that the findings of the Archives survey “speak to some larger challenges for a growing movement to end unnecessary health care.” She notes that there are “a whole host of obstacles that stand between identifying a specific procedure as wasteful — and actually reducing its use in our health care system.”
Richard Knox, for NPR’s “Shots,” writes that the USPSTF’s recommendation “raises basic questions about how to interpret medical evidence” and “what role expert panels should play in how doctors practice.” Knox notes that the PSA test has helped detect prostate cancers at different levels in numerous men, which they insist helped save their lives. Some experts say such anecdotes, more than statistics, can help influence an individual’s opinions and decision. Michael Barry, director of the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation in Boston, says tells Knox that he is “reluctant … to make a decision for someone else about PSA screening” and he believes the government should be, too. Barry suggests that patients be given clear and accurate evidence for any guidelines and allow them to make a final decision.
OUR TAKE: It is understandable that questions are being raised about the USPSTF’s recommendation, but dismissing the statistics that informed it is not the right way to go. Since the PSA test has shown to be potentially harmful and unnecessary in some cases, men should be made aware of that information when asked if they want to undergo the test. If the statistical information from the Archives survey turns out to be correct after further analysis, allowing men to make their own informed decisions to opt out of the test is a good first step in eradicating the practice altogether.
by Michelle Stuckey, staff writer
WHAT WE’RE READING: Sleep In and Lose Weight
- “Waking Up Early is Making us Fat,” Daily Beast: Your sugar cravings could be caused by sleep loss.
- “How Exercise Can Jog the Memory,” New York Times’ “Well”: A new study shows daily exercise can improve your memory and your mood.
- “Feeling Lackadaisical? Sleep Apnea may be To Blame,” HealthDay/U.S. News & World Report: Researchers find 90% of Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, they just don’t know it.
WHAT WE’RE READING: The End of Costly, Unsuccessful Medical ‘Innovations’
- “In Medicine, Falling for Fake Innovation,” New York Times’ “Opinionator”: Critics worry health reform will stifle creativity, and it will — for expensive, ineffective inventions.
- “Tool-Wielding Robots Crawl in Bodies for Surgeries,” AP/ABC News: Tiny electronic snakes literally get under your skin.
- “People with Cancer, Diabetes and Heart Disease Mistakenly Think Exercise is Unsafe,” Washington Post: Breaking a sweat may actually reverse some diseases.
WHAT WE’RE READING: Actors Bring Medical Mistakes to the Stage
- “On Stage, the Repercussions of a Medical Mistake,” New York Times’ “Well”: A new play tells the tale of a fatal medical mistake and the consequences that follow.
- “Pick Your Poison: Conservatives are Hoping That the Supreme Court Scrubs the Entire Health Care Overhaul, but the GOP Might be Better off if the Justices Don’t go That far,” National Journal: How a decision to just repeal the law’s individual mandate could benefit Republicans.
- “Why People Stick with Cancer Screening, Even When it Causes Harm,” Time’s “Healthland”: Researchers say overwhelming statistical data is often unable to sway patients in the face of compelling anecdotes.
WHAT WE’RE READING: A $15 Price Tag Could be the Key To Quit Smoking
- “A Smoke-Free Country? New Zealand Taxes Aim for it,” AP/Sacramento Bee: A 40% tobacco tax hike could make it a reality.
- “How Can Obamacare Succeed? Romneycare Offers a Few Clues.” Washington Post: Massachusetts health care architects say the controversial $20 million ad campaign is exactly what the public needs.
- “Senate Approves Bill Striking Word ‘Lunatic’ From Federal Law,” The Hill ‘s “Floor Action Blog”: Lawmakers would be crazy to oppose this legislation.
BACK AND FORTH: Nurse Practitioners Could Help Deal With Doctor Shortage
In the face of a physician shortage and major increases in insured patients during health reform, there is debate over whether nurse practitioners should be given more authority over primary care duties.
New “Health Wonk Review” Available on Disease Management Care Blog
Looking for a few good health policy reads? The always-interesting “Health Wonk Review” is being hosted by the Disease Management Care Blog.
It can be found here.
WHAT WE’RE READING: Eating Healthy Costs Less
“How to Make Healthy Eating Easier on the Wallet? Change the Calculation,” NPR’s “The Salt”: Economists from USDA found consumers get more for their buck when accounting for the vitamins and minerals being consumed.
“If the Court Repeals Obamacare, Republicans Don’t Need to Worry Too Much About Replacing It,” Time’s “Swampland”: Kate Pickert argues that Americans do not expect a GOP health plan to replace Obama’s.
“Why Expose a Child to the Risks of a Clinical Trial? One mom Explains,” Wall Street Journal’s “Health Blog”: Michael Link of Stanford University says study participation by young patients keeps kids’ long-term cancer survivor rates high.
WHAT WE’RE READING: Solving the Obesity Equation
- “A Mathematical Challenge to Obesity,” New York Times: Simplifying the math.
- “Maine Company Offers Innovative Wellness Program to Employees,” Healthcare Finance News: Are cash incentives the key to healthy workers?
- “Pica, the Compulsion to Eat Dirt and Other Oddities, is Found in Many Cultures,” Washington Post: Dirt for dessert.
