Comments on: Healthcare Roundup 9/23/2009 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/09/healthcare-roundup-9232009/ A blog from inside the emergency department Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:49:47 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Matt http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/09/healthcare-roundup-9232009/#comment-13595 Matt Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:08:52 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3416#comment-13595 A couple of questions arose from the AJC pro-con tort reform editorials " After Texas capped damages, allowing negligent doctors to harm patients without the fear of lawsuits, the number of medical malpractice complaints to the Texas State Medical Board actually rose from 2,942 to 6,000 in just one year." I wonder about this, if it's not the converse to the claim the "reformers" make about how lawsuits drop. Since the law didn't take affect for some time after it passed, I wonder if the jump is during the period between passage and effect. Neither having anything to do with the actual merit of the legislation, merely the date it went into effect. "Data from the American Medical Association shows that the number of practicing physicians has actually been increasing across the board for many years. And the number of physicians is significantly higher in states without caps on damages." WC, is this true? A couple of questions arose from the AJC pro-con tort reform editorials

” After Texas capped damages, allowing negligent doctors to harm patients without the fear of lawsuits, the number of medical malpractice complaints to the Texas State Medical Board actually rose from 2,942 to 6,000 in just one year.”

I wonder about this, if it’s not the converse to the claim the “reformers” make about how lawsuits drop. Since the law didn’t take affect for some time after it passed, I wonder if the jump is during the period between passage and effect. Neither having anything to do with the actual merit of the legislation, merely the date it went into effect.

“Data from the American Medical Association shows that the number of practicing physicians has actually been increasing across the board for many years. And the number of physicians is significantly higher in states without caps on damages.”

WC, is this true?

]]> By: Matt http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/09/healthcare-roundup-9232009/#comment-13594 Matt Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:59:55 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3416#comment-13594 I have a question about an article and this is kind of a catch all thread. What about this article is true or false? http://wallstreetpit.com/5769-the-medical-cartel-why-are-md-salaries-so-high I've often wondered about this restriction on medical schools and slots. Why does it exist and who determines how many? Can one of you physicians enlighten me? I have a question about an article and this is kind of a catch all thread. What about this article is true or false?

http://wallstreetpit.com/5769-the-medical-cartel-why-are-md-salaries-so-high

I’ve often wondered about this restriction on medical schools and slots. Why does it exist and who determines how many? Can one of you physicians enlighten me?

]]> By: Doctor D http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/09/healthcare-roundup-9232009/#comment-13581 Doctor D Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:51:05 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3416#comment-13581 Seems a bit misleading. It isn't like the expected wait time at a restaurant. A few ambulances with really sick patient roll in and wait time goes up drastically. It also seems to be like fishing for unnecessary ER visits. Someone would go to the ER if there was a 15 minute wait but not if the wait is 45 minutes usually doesn't have a life-threatening emergency. Seems a bit misleading. It isn’t like the expected wait time at a restaurant. A few ambulances with really sick patient roll in and wait time goes up drastically.

It also seems to be like fishing for unnecessary ER visits. Someone would go to the ER if there was a 15 minute wait but not if the wait is 45 minutes usually doesn’t have a life-threatening emergency.

]]> By: DefendUSA http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/09/healthcare-roundup-9232009/#comment-13577 DefendUSA Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:23:40 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3416#comment-13577 Yesterday, while traveling back from SC, I saw the same approach for the hospitals there...posting the wait times on a digital billboard. I would have been tempted to pick one if I needed it, based on that. I use the urgent care centers before the ER. Much more timely and efficient IMO. Yesterday, while traveling back from SC, I saw the same approach for the hospitals there…posting the wait times on a digital billboard. I would have been tempted to pick one if I needed it, based on that.
I use the urgent care centers before the ER. Much more timely and efficient IMO.

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