GLG News by General and Acute Care Hospital Economic Experts

- 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"...

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...

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...

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.

Peripheral lung nodules have been difficult for the bronchoscopist in the past to biopsy in order to identify the etiology. Using these two techniques, which requires some increased training by the interventionalist, the bronchoscopist may be able to now diagnose malignancy vs infection to help with...

I could not agree more that people should have a choice and maybe the pricing markey is the US will finally drop after how it see it will work all pharmacies across the country. The manufacturers need to be held responsible for this issue, they caused it with raising prices and making more of a profit....

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.

=== Vagal Nerve Stimulators (VNS) from companies like Cyberonics [CYBX] haven't captured as much of the market as once hoped for.   === Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), from companies like Medtronic [MDT], is losing steam as mentioned in this article.   === Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS),...

• Clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo) is the original atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and some bipolar disorders. Usual daily dose is 300-500 mg. • Adding a 12.5 mg dose adds little to the management... breaking a 25 mg tab in half is pretty easy to do. • Blister packs...

• DTC is indeed a double-edged sword, but is driving up inappropriate use • Consumer Directed Healthcare + Direct-to-Consumer Advertising = Recipe for Disaster • Focus on DTC Education, not Advertising, and have it come from unbiased (or at least, less biased) sources