United States healthcare spending in 2009 averaged more than $8000 per person, for a total of $2.5 trillion (17.6% of gross domestic product.)
By 2018 these totals are projected to be $4.3 trillion (20.3% of GDP and $13,100 for every resident.)
Healthcare Spending in the United States
September 2nd, 2010Surgeon Dr. Fred Dweck and Others Guilty In Huge Medicare Fraud Case
September 1st, 2010Hollywood, Florida surgeon Dr. Fred Dweck and five nurses have been found guilty in a $37 million Medicare fraud scheme.
New DNA PCR Test For Tuberculosis Shows Great Promise For Speedy Diagnosis and Treatment
September 1st, 2010A new testing method to determine if a patient is infected with tuberculosis has been developed by a consortium of research institutions with funding coming from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Drs. Peter Small and Mario Raviglione comment.
Dr. Jeffrey Parks Writes of Being General Surgeon
September 1st, 2010Dr. Jeffrey Parks, who blogs at Buckeye Surgeon, describes his feelings around being a practicing general surgeon.
Fish Oil Reduces Common Form of Breast Cancer
September 1st, 2010A report recently published by lead researcher Emily White has shown that women who take regular fish oil supplements may reduce their risk of the invasive ductal type of breast cancer.
Dr. Hal Scherz Writes Wall Street Journal Editorial Blasting Obamacare
August 31st, 2010Pediatric urologist Dr. Hal Scherz has written an editorial published in the Wall Street Journal blasting Obamacare. Scherz is the founder of Docs4PatientCare in Atlanta, Georgia.
Archaeologist Finds Evidence Of Brain Surgery Being Performed – 4000 Years Ago!
August 31st, 2010Archaeologist Onder Bilgi has found evidence in the archaeological remains found at Ikiztepe, Turkey that a Bronze Age community performed brain surgery using obsidian scalpels.
Prominent Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Don Chow in Critical Condition After Motorcycle Crash
August 30th, 2010Prominent Ottawa orthopedic surgeon Dr. Don Chow is in critical condition after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car this past weekend. Chow is the team physician for the Ottawa Senators National League hockey team.
Montana Oral Surgeon Dr. Jerry Mancuso Arraigned On Cocaine Charges
August 30th, 2010Billings, Montana oral surgeon Dr. Jerry Mancuso has been arraigned on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in federal court.
“The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”
August 30th, 2010Sir William Osler (1849-1919), Legendary “Founding Father” of Johns Hopkins Hospital
LT-cage Bone Growth Device A Cautionary Tale of Lax FDA Oversight, Physician Conflict of Interest
August 30th, 2010Dr. Thomas Zdeblick, a prominent surgeon at the University of Wisconsin, has made millions in royalties from a device whose research he has sponsored and whose application to the FDA he championed. However, the device which is marketed under the trade name Infuse and which delivers a substance called human bone morphogenetic-2 (or BMP-2) has been linked with dangerous complications. Dr. Zdeblick’s alleged conflict of interest in sponsoring the device is detailed.
Physician Assistant Jim Love Explains Why He Feels He Gives His Patients Great Care
August 29th, 2010Jim Love is a physician assistant in central Maine who thinks that America should move towards a model of medicine where care is given by non-physicians. Love, who as a young man tried but could not get into medical school, works in an office under a sign that says Sebasticook Family Doctors that is about 25 miles from his supervising physician. But, he says is confident in his skills and care.
Dr. Mark Krasna Describes Surgery To Treat Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating)
August 29th, 2010Thoracic surgeon Dr. Mark Krasna performs a surgical procedure called thorascopic sympathicotomy to treat hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating in people who fail medical treatment of this sometimes socially embarrassing condition.
Promising New Melanoma Drug Being Tested
August 28th, 2010A drug against melanoma being described by researchers as “phenomenal” is one step closer to being widely available to patients after results of an early study were released two days ago. The gene therapy drug acts against the BRAF protein that causes skin cells to abnormally replicate. Dr Keith Flaherty of the Developmental Therapeutics Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Lynn Schuchter at the University of Pennsylvania took part in the study and comment.
Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown Sues Dr. Lawrence Kurtzman For Defamation
August 28th, 2010The disagreement between surgeons Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown and Dr. Lawrence Kurtzman about who is qualified to perform which plastic surgical procedures has now moved into the courts. Dr. Mandell-Brown is suing Dr. Kurtzman and is asking for $3 million in damages. The case is scheduled to be heard in November.
