health
It’s Official; Doctors Have Become Commoditized – But is there still hope?
The commoditization of doctors is a pattern both insidious and distressing. Examining reimbursement and medical practitioner nomenclature trends over the past few decades, one can see with certainty that doctors have been branded commodities; we are no longer individuals possessing unique qualities and skillsets. In the minds of insurers and patients all doctors are created…
Read MoreCardiology News: PCSK9 Inhibitors
by Seth J. Baum MD Recently, there have been several articles discussing the development, efficacy, cost and long-term impact of novel cholesterol lowering drugs – called PCSK9 inhibitors – new drugs that show the capacity to greatly reduce the levels of LDL, or “bad”, cholesterol in an individual’s bloodstream. Insurance providers have pushed back aggressively…
Read MoreThe Collapse of Modern Medicine – From Bedside to Phone Calls
by Seth J. Baum MD Intending no disrespect to true war veterans, I will tell you that the 1980s was our Vietnam. As medical residents in New York City, the heart of the AIDS epidemic, daily we fought futile fights against the malevolent plague vanquishing our patients. Purportedly mild bacteria, fungi, viruses, and cancers found…
Read MoreFH Foundation’s National FH Registry Illustrates U.S. FH Population’s Risk for Early CHD
Important research recently published in the American Heart Association’s journals illustrates that the cardiovascular disease burden and treatment patterns among patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in the US remain poorly described. The study consisted of a cross-sectional analysis of 1295 adults with heterozygous FH enrolled in the FH Foundation’s CASCADE-FH Registry from 11 US lipid…
Read MoreCuring Obamacare
by Seth J. Baum, MD Sporadically during the presidential debates we hear discussions that attempt to resolve issues. One of the most contentious one relates to healthcare, Obamacare specifically. Few would argue that we are better off today than we were prior to the institution of the Affordable Care Act. Those in favor point to…
Read MoreHeart Month: Looking Back on 2015 and Forward into 2016
by Seth J. Baum, MD February is National Heart Month – a time of hope, jubilation and pride. Each year many of us write blogs or articles espousing the sentiments of optimism and accomplishment. We discuss all that has occurred and all that is promised to be. This year I must take a different tact.…
Read MoreMagnesium for the New Year: Multivitamin / Multi-minerals – A simple & Inexpensive Insurance Policy
by Seth J. Baum, MD Why is it that so many scientists and physicians ardently dissuade patients from adding a simple multivitamin / multi-mineral supplement to their daily regimen? We know the importance of vitamins and minerals: they are involved in literally every vital bodily function. Absent adequate concentrations of these substances (which we are…
Read More5 Steps To Save Our Patients: A Doctor’s Call to Action
by Seth J. Baum, MD All physicians and other health care practitioners (HCPs) recognize the insidious process that has undermined our ability to properly care for our patients. Patients don’t yet fully grasp this, but they are beginning to do so. Over the last two decades HCPs have been commoditized – all doctors are considered…
Read MoreWho is Prescribing Your Medicine? I Pray the Horse Hasn’t Died
by Seth J. Baum, MD I’ve written extensively about the mounting burden borne by doctors and patients. Looking beyond the escalating regulatory time-drains beleaguering doctors throughout the nation we see that simply prescribing medications for our patients has become a tribulation. Why this is so and what ramifications ensue, deserves exploration. Thus I have written…
Read More