Dr. Morgan Grams at Johns Hopkins Hospital and colleagues have published a study that suggests that the presence of protein in the urine can be a significant prognostic sign of likelihood of later more severe kidney disease.
Protein in Urine May Be Risk Factor For Later Kidney Failure
July 30th, 2010Closer Scrutiny of “Family” on the Horizon In Health Insurance Reform
July 29th, 2010A growing number of companies are hiring outside audit firms to confirm that the dependents of employees are eligible to receive the new mandatory health insurance coverage. Executives from audit vendors Budco and ConSovo comment.
Michael Jackson’s Doctors Cleared of Criminal Misconduct
July 29th, 2010The California State Attorney General’s office has cleared seven physicians and one nurse from possible criminal charges relating to the death of singer Michael Jackson. Dr. Conrad Murray who has been charged with manslaughter was not part of the investigation.
Former Surgeon Dr. Karl Ehrens Wanted For Stalking
July 28th, 2010Former South Carolina surgeon Dr. Karl Ehrens is wanted on charges of harassment for allegedly stalking an 18 year old woman in Charleston, South Carolina.
Grand Rounds – July 27, 2010 (Vol. 6, No. 44)
July 26th, 2010Favorite Post of the Week
Dr. Toni Brayer has a guest post at ACPInternist about how insurance companies are killing primary care. I would like every Grand Rounds Reader totake a look at thisand think very hard about what they will support in terms of insurance industry oversight. This post was first published on Dr. Brayer’s blog EverythingHealth.net.
From the Surgeons – hey, what can I say, I am a homer
Bongi is a surgeon working in South Africa – he shares part of his day.
Suture for a Living has a list of medicine-themed songs from popular music (listen, this may seem a little dorky, but you gotta understand that music is pretty important to surgeons because we always listen to music in the operating room.)
From the Shrinks
Mental Notes blogs on the importance of doctors and dentists paying particular attention to giving their best to developmentally delayed patients.
How To Cope With Pain has a post that is one of a continuing series about why chronic pain patients should seek help from a support group.
Behaviorism and Mental Health has the second part of an article on the origins of the condition called frotteurism.
Shrink Rap has a very poignant post about drug reps in the waiting room.
In Sickness and In Health has thoughts on how couples who are both ill can cope.
Insurance Industry Issues
The insurance industry viewpoint on how Obamacare is going to wreck the country is covered by InsureBlog in a refutation of commentator Ezra Klein’s piece on the effectiveness of Romneycare in Massachusetts.
Colorado Health Insurance Insider has the most practical advice post this week by explaining what to do if a rock gets caught in your nose – we kid you (s)not!!
Best of the Rest
Dr. Val at Get Better Health shares a recent video clip on how to stave off memory loss.
Our old friend Happy Hospitalist has a tres amusing post about the fall down of water charities – trust us, just read it.
A Medical Resident has thoughts about why he thinks it is in the best interests of the patient to deny them access to the notes in their chart (he’s dead wrong to think that restricting information flow is now even possible, but read his arguments.)
Health Business Blog has an interesting post about the burgeoning trend of hospitals giving (selling?) marketing companies access to patient specific electronic health records to better tailor individualized ads that will be directly sent to the patient.Will the marketing outfit know you have cancer before your doctor does?
ACPInternist has a post on debating the ethics of doctor-assisted suicide.
Healthcare Technology News provides a compendium of resources and analyses related to the meaningful use of electronic health records.
American medicine is becoming increasingly corporate and now some physicians are actually filling positions with the title “Chief Experience Officer.” Hard to know, really, what that might be, but take a look at the post to find out at ACPHospitalist.
Dr. Pullen says he is off his normal subject matter with a post on prescription-abusing NFL quarterback busts, but oh, yeah, baby… training camp is here!!
And, going from pill-popping jocks to the more sensitive type, Dr. Charles sends us a poem about the end of life in a hospital bed. Attention, attention, attention Grand Rounds Readers, please check out this post if you like to write poetry as Dr. C. has details about a poetry contest he is sponsoring where the prizes are a cherry tomato and (gasp for a poetry contest!!) real cash – yep, 500 bucks to the winner.
In the terrifically named blog Glass Hospital, there is an argument that the current concept of the Patient-Centered Medical Home won’t work.
Many kudos to Dr. Nick Genes for originating the Grand Rounds series. Next week’s Grand Rounds will be at Life in the Fast Lane.
Hospital Kitchens at University of Pennsylvania Have Most Food Safety Citations In Philly
July 25th, 2010The annual report of hospital kitchen food safety citations show that the two hospitals in the University of Pennsylvania Medical system have the most citations of any hospital kitchen in the Philadelphia region.
Disclosure: this editor is a former employee of the University of Pennsylvania Health System
Prosecutions Increasing For Drivers Under the Influence of Prescription Drugs
July 25th, 2010Law enforcement officials and prosecutors across the country are becoming increasingly tough on drivers who are impaired after taking legal drugs, even with a valid prescription. The case of Kathryn Underdown, who was killed while riding her bicycle, by a “drugged” driver is described.
Dr. Anthony Romeo Revises “Tommy John” Surgical Procedure For Faster Recovery
July 25th, 2010Rush University Medical Center orthopedic surgeon Dr. Anthony Romeo has developed a new version of the elbow surgery commonly called “Tommy John” surgery that reportedly hastens recovery and return to full activity. Patient Mario DiCostanzo tells his story.
Cleve Jones, Jim Chud, Phill Wilson Reflect On Being Long-Term HIV/AIDS Survivors
July 24th, 2010With the advent of protease inhibitor drugs, patients with HIV/AIDS are living longer. Three prominent AIDS activists discuss their own battle with the disease.
