Pharmaceutical products fall into two categories: First, there are brand products for which there are no generic alternatives (single-source products). These products tend to be the newest to market and, because they are (rightfully) protected from direct competition, the most expensive. In many instances they are superior to older products. Second, there are products for which both brands and generics are available (multi-source products). These products are generally older than the first group, as the brands’ monopoly protection has expired, but in general the brand version is priced higher than the generic version.

Alex Brill, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, did a study cost-efficiency in the Medicaid program related to the second type of product—brand and generic versions of the same drug. By examining Centers for Medicare and Medicaid data for 45 states across four quarters, I found roughly 3.5 million instances where a Medicaid patient took a brand version of one of the 20 multi-source products. I estimate that if the lower-cost product had been used instead, the Medicaid program would have saved $329 million in 2009.

Grace-Marie Turner, founder of the Galen Institute,  wrote a nationally syndicated opinion stating that  Brill’s study supports saving money by pushing Medicaid patients onto older generic drugs instead of giving them newer, better drugs that are only available as costly brand name products.

Brill’s study and Turner’s comments bring up a valid question about the value of brand name vs generic drugs. What do you think? Are name brand medications any better than generics?”

To read the entire article, click here.

Medical Errors – How To Protect Yourself

One in three hospitalized patients may fall victim to medical errors or other adverse events—a rate more than ten times higher than previous estimates, according to a new study published this month in Health Affairs.  David C. Classen, the study’s lead researcher blames the high rate of errors in part on such factors as sicker patients with more complex medical problems and increased use of medications.

“Preventable medical errors are the fifth leading cause of death in the US, killing more people each year than motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer and HIV/AIDS combined,” says Sanjaya Kumar, MD, author of Fatal Care and founder of Quantros, Inc., a federally-certified patient safety organization in Milpitas, California. That’s why it’s crucial to understand how medical care can go awry.

Medication errors. Up to 80 percent of American adults use OTC or Rx medications or dietary supplements at least once a week. Keep a list of all drugs and supplements you take regularly in your wallet in the case that emergency care is needed. This critical list can help to avoid being given extra doses of a medication you are already taking or a drug that might react adversely with your current medications.

Infections and superbugs. Hospital-acquired infections kill up to 100,000 Americans a year.  One of the best ways to safeguard your health is to carry a bottle of hand sanitizer and ask healthcare providers to use it in your presence. Insist that providers wear gloves for IV changes or other invasive procedures. 

Hospital errors. Common preventable problems include falls, bedsores, and delays in care. If you need to be hospitalized, have a relative or friend act as your advocate that can monitor if staff is making rounds on time, double check that the right medication is given, and stay alert for problems that may require immediate help.

Procedural errors. Request that doctors use ultrasound visualization to guide needles during regional anesthesia injections and for drainage of fluid from the chest or abdomen because it’s safer when physicians can see where the needle is going. 

Surgical errors.  Ask the doctor to mark the surgery site (or doing so yourself). You also want to write “wrong leg” or “NO!” on the incorrect site. Discuss the procedure in detail with your doctor before the operation and get a second opinion from another doctor before agreeing to go under the knife. Also discuss the doctor’s experience.

To read the entire article, click here.

Concierge Medicine.

Is concierge medicine what healthcare dreams are made of? Concierge medicine, also known as boutique medicine, is a fast growing concept requires that patients pay an annual retainer, or fee, similar to those that attorneys charge clients. The annual feel ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 or more. Physicians with these exclusive private practices limit the number of patients they see, somewhere between 500 and 1,000, greatly reducing overall case load and allowing them to spend more personal time with patients.

In exchange for the annual fee, patients enjoy same-day appointments with no more long hours in waiting rooms full of others doing the same. Doctors actually know their patients by name and don’t flinch when ordering numerous preventive health screening tests. Patients have access to their personal physicians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and aren’t burdened by calling a central line with recorded instructions ’ some concierge physicians actually gives them a direct number where they can reach him.

What do you think of this concept? For more information, read the entire article.

Fourth Grader Organizes Toy Drive

To make a difference, age is not a factor. Prairie Elementary School fourth-grader, Isabella Przybylo, is a leader with heart.

In making and delivering “care bears” to pediatric patients at Advocate Condell Medical Center, she recognized a need that she and her classmates could help meet. Isabella organized a week-long collection drive and her peers and their families contributed generously.

The books, toys, and games collected were gratefully received by Advocate Condell staff member Tammy Stick, who assured the Prairie School fourth-graders, “You’ve really made a difference!”

You may read the full article on this inspirational young girl.

Community Health Advocate Inducted Into Grassroots Hall Of Fame

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has inducted Castulo de la Rocha, President and CEO of AltaMed Health Services into the NACHC Grassroots Advocacy Hall of Fame.  This award recognizes de la Rocha’s lasting contributions to ensuring the creation, survival and strength of Community Health Centers and the health center movement over many years.

For the past 33 years, de la Rocha’s passion has been delivering quality care to the underserved communities of Southern California.  Through AltaMed, each year over 150,000 patients receive health services in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Demand for health center services is growing and local, state, and national support for these initiatives is critical — now more than ever.  To read more about the positive impact that this man has had on the community, read the full article.

Every Patient’s Advocate: How To Avoid Misinformation Online

It is so easy to look up information on the Internet. According to a study by Pew Internet, 80% of us are turning to the Internet for health and medical information. But, unfortunately, we don’t always get accurate information.  Trish Torrey is author of You Bet Your Life! The 10 Mistakes Every Patient Makes and patient empowerment guide at About.com. She gives so practical tips on how to discern whether information is worth believing or if it well disguised advertisement.

To read about the practical tips to use when researching medical questions, please read the entire article.

Hospital Errors — How To Avoid Them

Research in Health Affairs reported a staggering one in three hospital admissions have some kind of injury because of medical error, not an underlying condition. Using a new way of scanning patient paperwork for notations on problems such as an abnormal lab test, researchers found 10 times more errors among three U.S. hospitals than other methods would indicate.

Consumers have to take some responsibility for themselves and their loved ones. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers tips for the consumer to help minimize medical errors.  Some of these tips are the following:

– Ask questions if you’re confused or concerned. Bring a friend or relative along to help you ask questions.

– Bring a list of all the medications you’re on, even over-the-counter or herbal medications. Or brown-bag the medications themselves. At the pharmacy, make sure the medicine is what the doctor ordered (and the correct dose).

– Get your test results. Ask when you’ll get results from a test or procedure, and whether it will be in person, on the phone, or by mail. No news isn’t always good news.

– Ask your doctor which hospital to choose for your condition, if you have the luxury of shopping around.

– If you need surgery, ask who will be in charge of your care at the hospital. Ask what exactly will happen during the surgery and how long it will take. Tell the surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurses about any allergies, medications or previous bad reactions to anesthesia.

– When the doctor writes a prescription, make sure you can read the handwriting. The pharmacist might not be able to either.

– Ask anyone who touches you if they’ve washed their hands (or used hand sanitizer). Studies show that, when patients ask, healthcare workers wash their hands more often and with more soap.

– Ask a pharmacist for the best way to measure liquid medicine. Household measuring devices such as teaspoons aren’t always accurate.

Hospitals have to take responsibility for the errors as well.  There are tips for hospitals to do to help minimize the errors on their end.  To read more on the many tips offered in this article, read the entire article.

Doctor Helps Develop Surgical Tracking Technology

Every day in this country 11 sponges are unintentionally left in patients during surgery, which adds up to 4,000 patients at risk every year in the United States This statistic did not sit well with urologist Dr. William Stewart. With the help of his son, an investment banker, he developed the SurgiCount Safety-Sponge System, which is a cost-effective method of scanning coded sponges in and out of a patient with equipment and software that tracks and accounts for each sponge.  This system gives a huge boost to patient safety during surgery.

For more details about this incredible life saving invention, read this article.

College Stress Or Something More Serious

In an inspiring account of a mother, who quickly learned the importance of being an advocate for her college aged child, it is eye opening to realize how important it is to have someone insist on further testing.  This mother was adamant that her child, who had been complaining of severe headache receive a CAT scan, which showed a mass in her brain.  After surgery and rehabilitation, this young girl is back in college.  Both she and her mother are now actively helping others who are undergoing a similar diagnosis.

For more details on this moving story, read this article.

Safety Incidents Less Likely At Top Rated Hospitals

The findings from  the annual HealthGrades Patient Safety in American Hospitals study show that patients have a 46 percent lower risk of experiencing a patient safety incident at a top-rated hospital compared to a poorly rated hospitals.

Key findings of the HealthGrades Patient Safety in American Hospitals study include:

• Medicare patients treated at hospitals recognized with a HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award had, on average, a 46 percent lower risk of experiencing a medical error compared to patients treated at bottom-ranked hospitals.
• Patients treated at top-ranking hospitals for patient safety had a 30 percent lower risk of experiencing a central-line bloodstream infection and a nearly 39 percent lower risk of post-surgical sepsis, another type of hospital-acquired bloodstream infection.
• Four patient safety indicators (death among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complications, pressure ulcer, post-operative respiratory failure, and post-operative sepsis) accounted for 68.51 percent of all patient safety events during the three years analyzed.
• The 13 patient safety events studied were associated with $7.3 billion of excess cost, which equates to an additional $181.17 per Medicare patient hospitalization.

For more information, read this article.