GLG News by Mr. Glen McDaniel MS, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
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Roche adds to anti-MRSA arsenal in Europe
April 8, 2009
Roche introduces new LightCycler MRSA advanced test in EU | www.roche.com
European healthcare organizations have always been more aggressive in identifying MRSA infections. Europe popularized the "search and destroy" protocol of MRSA containment. This new method by Roche is a valuable addition in this arsenal. I expect the LightCycler MRSA Test by Roche to be popular and very lucrative for Roche.
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Boomers numbers and demands point to increased demand for medical real estate
July 1, 2008
Aging Baby Boomers Will Drive Demand for Healthcare Properties Over Next Decade, Grubb & Ellis Report Reveals | www.bio-medicine.org
Baby boomers are rapidly aging. According to Census Bureau by 2010 there will be 77 million people aged 55 and older; a number which will grow to a whopping 98 million by 2020. This aging population, living longer with chronic illnesses and more demanding of cafeteria-type service will drive the demand for medical services and more medical real estate into the forseeable future.
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Screening babies for cholesterol has no scientific basis
October 5, 2007
Screening: Testing Early for Cholesterol | www.nytimes.com
Hypercholesterolemia has an established link with a risk of cardiac events and there has been a push to screen high risk population for early intervention in an effort to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes, for example. However to suggest any benefit from screening babies is to misunderstand the science and is immediately suspect in my view. Such a measure if adopted would increase healthcare costs and cause undue worry for parents, with no corresponding ability to mitigate the risk they are now told exists.
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Nursing Homes Owned by Private Equity Firms Worse in Quality?
October 5, 2007
Senators seek private equity nursing home probe | www.reuters.com
Recently there has been a rash of takeover of publicly owned nursing homes by private equity firms flush with cash. There is a concomitant suspicion now that quality is being compromised systematically in these institutions in order to maximize profits. It's important to ascertain if this is so. If it is, there could be a whole new rash of regulations geared towards acquisitions and/or the nursing home industry.
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SCHIP legislation vetoed by President Bush
October 4, 2007
Bush vetoes bill on children's health care | www.reuters.com
Many lower income families depend on the SCHIP program administered by individual states to pay for healthcare. Republicans see this as just another entitlement program while Democrats see it as an essential way of making sure children have access to the basics in healthcare. This veto might be based more on political than financial (and certainly medical) grounds.
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Bariatric surgery may be a legitimate way to address diabetes
September 28, 2007
Bariatric surgery - possible treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus | www.news-medical.net
Diabetes continues to be a global problem with hefty costs in dollars, death and disability. Over the years treatment has not varied much-exercise, diet and use of insulin- and the problem continues to grow. If bariatric surgery shows amelioration of diabetes (if "cure" is too strong a worrd), then surgery should be considered a legitimate option in some cases.
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Concierge medicine raises many questions
August 31, 2007
MDs offer new services, for $3,600 yearly fee | www.boston.com
It is important to look closely at the new niche called Concierge Medicine. It is obviously created out of a special need and will prove lucrative for physicians who choose to go that route. But there are larger questions of access and ethics of exclusivity/ One has to consider whether this provides better care, better service, or simply convenience. All who provide and use healthcare ought to be interested in this trend and be prepared to weigh in as more physicians pursue this model
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Changes in Long Term Care Leadership Significant
August 31, 2007
Earl Reed Steps Down as LifeCare CEO; William Hamburg Named Interim CEO | www.carlyle.com
The recent changes in leadership in the LTAC space is significant and suggests a tightening of operations. It is important to monitor the overall long term space as well as follow who goes where. The changes are not insignificant, but may not be as ominous as they appear on the surface. Investors might want to monitor the sector performance closely for the next year or so.
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Medicare should NOT pay for errors-but what are "errors"
August 16, 2007
By 2008, Medicare won't pay for hospital errors | www.fiercehealthcare.com
- Some studies show that medical errors continue to increase despite an intense focus on this issue over the last recent years. This decision by CMS should bring even more attention to this whole area of patient safety and error prevention - There will need to be increased documentation to "prove" that an infection, for example, was present at admission or was not preventible or forseeable. This might increase the cost of delivering care. - The debate will continue as to what is preventible - MCOs and other payers might well jump on the bandwagon and start parsing what is considered "allowable"
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Fight over Medicare cuts ignore patients-as usual!
August 9, 2007
HMOs to start ad blitz against Medicare cuts | news.yahoo.com
Congress is looking at making cuts to Medicare especially the privately administered Medicare Advantage plans. America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) the advocacy group is concerned solely with preserving the healthy margins enjoyed by its members, while Congress is interested in reducing Medicare spending at all costs. Where is the patient in all this?
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Siemens to acquire Dade behring
August 9, 2007
Dade Behring announces agreement to be acquired by Siemens | www.smartmoney.com
Siemens, a German company, known for medical diagnostic equipment such as imaging devices is acquiring Dade-Behring to expand its portfolio into the clinical lab science diagnostic area. As predicted in a post I did on February 28, we will be seeing more "fully diagnostic" companies combining the full range of diagnostic tools under one umbrella. Stand alone clinical lab companies are all ripe for acquisition right now.
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Minute Clinic addresses some drawbacks of clinic-in-a-box
July 30, 2007
An Innovation in Health Care Opens at CVS/Pharmacy Stores in Knoxville and Chattanooga | money.cnn.com
Mini clinics will continue to operate in retail establishments for the forseeable future. They have raised several concerns, so the company that addresses these concerns while providing the convenience will be rewarded with above average market share.
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Retail clinics created by doctors
June 28, 2007
Doctors, retailers square off | www.chicagotribune.com
Retail clinics were born out of a gap between what patients want and what doctors were able to provide. We cannot fight the trend by critisizing it. While clinics have their role, they do not replace more traditional delivery systems and patients should be educated accordingly.
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Medicare should not pay for unsafe care
May 30, 2007
Hospital-borne ailments face Medicare budget ax | www.indystar.com
Medical errors and nosocomial infections continue to be on the radar despite several years of heightened attention and regulatory prodding. There has been no requirement or incentive to document how much of each patient's cost is due to avoidable errors or complications. It makes sense that Medicare and other payers should not have to pay for the "mistakes" of caregivers. Most healthcare organizations, patients and caregivers alike should agree with this development in principle. Like with most bureaucratic policies, however, the devil will be in the details.
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Doctors should consider patient out of pocket costs
May 30, 2007
Doctors fail at fiscal prognoses | www.orlandosentinel.com
Increasingly patients are being hit with higher out of pocket costs and it is a sad, unfair reality that patients might have to balance necessary treatment against the financial burden they might incur. Doctors have a role in educating patients on the cost of alternative treatments offered. The problem is that for many modalities, physicians are no more aware of out-of-pocket than patients are.
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Avandia report raises more questions than answers
May 24, 2007
Meta-Analysis Links Rosiglitazone (Avandia) to Risk of Myocardial Infarction | www.medpagetoday.com
This report raises more questions than answers. It is important because it suggests more work be done in several areas 1. A full scale study, not just a meta-analysis is needed. Also what are the risks of related drugs like Actos? 2. The Feds need to get serious about creating a robust, responsible FDA; an agency responsive to concerns, less trusting and less beholden to pharmaceutical companies. It needs to mandate more of a "trust but verify" approach 3. Another close look at the entire approval process including guidelines for R&D done overseas
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Brokering a deal for HIV drugs is a big win
May 9, 2007
Clinton Says 66 Developing Nations To Get Cheaper AIDS Drugs | www.medicalnewstoday.com
The fact that this deal was successfully brokered is a victory for HIV patients, poor countries and the free market. As pharmaceutical companies compete to get market share and to win the PR war, they will enter into deals such as these more and more. This is one case in which everyone wins. -
JCAHO gets in on Medical Tourism Trend
May 9, 2007
SPOTLIGHT: The risks of medical tourism | www.fiercehealthcare.com
The idea of medical tourism is not entirely new, but has become an increasing trend largely for cost reasons. Many patients equate quality of care with "US-equivalent" or even "US-associated". Interestingly the JCAHO which accredits US hospitals and programs has been expanding its scope internationally to take advantage of just such a perception. Patients may benefit from the JCAHO push, no matter what JCAHO's motives.
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"Ho Hum" to Abbott's Free Style Blood Glucose Meter
April 30, 2007
Abbott Announces FDA Clearance And Launch Of New FreeStyle Lite™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System | www.medicalnewstoday.com
Abbott's new FreeStle meter does offer some good features, but it will be difficult for them to break through in a crowded market. Abbott needs to launch an adverising campaign to push the product even as it provides education as to how to best use the meter. Clinicians and Diabetes Educators need to help consumers make an informed decision.
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Good news, but use Altabax judiciously
April 26, 2007
FDA Approves Antibiotic Ointment For Children And Adults - Altabax (retapamulin Ointment) | www.medicalnewstoday.com
The approval of this new drug is very good news as long as it's used per approved indications. This drug is new in a real way since it has a novel mode of action. It's exciting that it has a short course; and since it's topical it can be prescribed even to young kids who have a difficult time swallowing pills. It contributes to the arsenal in fighting a fairly common and annoying infection among kids in schools, day care centers etc.
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