The Medical Quack .... by Barbara Duck

Axxent Brachytherapy System Recall-Device Released Particles of Tungsten Throughout Woman’s Breast During Treatment-Lawsuit

2011-03-07T17:01:00Z

I can only imagine what the patient is going through after specifically waiting for this device to become available as a safe method of treating her breast cancer. This happened at Hoag Hospital in Orange County and luckily enough the particles were found on a check up and now she may need to have her breast removed as a result of the malfunction. As you can read below the treatment was new in the fact that it does no require isotopes, which are used commonly with most radiation treatments...(read more)

SRI International–Where Science, Drugs and Device Technology Begin and Come Together-daVinci Surgical Robot (Intuitive Surgical) and Nuance Speech Recognition Began Here

2011-03-07T08:16:00Z

The SRI was founded 1946 as part of Stanford University. This is fascinating place to work I would guess. Robert Scoble recently took a tour and provided videos that cover some of what they do there. They have everything from contract with the FDA to figure out why devices (stents) and drugs don’t work all the way up to robotics. I’m going to focus on the the healthcare end of things even though they have a lot more than healthcare going on. When you visit the “spinoff...(read more)

Kaiser Permanente of Georgia Undergoing Major Expansion of Medical Offices and Hiring New Physicians

2011-03-06T08:06:00Z

Being in California I always think of the company’s presence here since this is where they began but they also have been expanding into several other regions of the country and Georgia is one where they are expanding to serve more of the community. BD In an effort to provide lower cost, seamless health care closer to where patients live, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia is undergoing a major expansion – adding 11 new neighborhood medical offices in metro Atlanta over the past 16 months. Medicare...(read more)

Loyola University Chicago Sells Hospital Business to Catholic Trinity Health Care

2011-03-06T07:44:00Z

Catholic ownership of hospitals is renewing in the US in some areas. Trinity updates 48 acute care hospitals and is the 4th largest non profit Catholic Healthcare system in the US. In other recent news Ascension Health has announced a joint venture for money with a private equity firm. Loyola has had several layoffs and had tough financial times. BD Ascension Health and Private Equity Firm Oak Hill Capital Form Joint Venture To Buy Catholic Hospitals and...(read more)

Anthem Blue Cross Rate Increase in California Becomes Effective May 1, 2011-As High as 39% For Cumulative Year

2011-03-06T07:00:00Z

Individual plan members have been sent letters advising of the increase. Anthem Blue Cross still states they have not made any profits on individual policies and thus we have another increase coming. Last year rates increased by 14% after a debate and retraction of the original higher proposed increases. In addition some policies will have higher co-pay amounts and deductibles. Some consumers will be paying over $1000 a month for coverage of husband and wife. BD ...(read more)

Johnson & Johnson DePuy Worldwide President Says “I’m Out of Here”

2011-03-05T20:36:00Z

He has submitted his resignation and will effective at the end of March. I can guarantee this is not a fun job right now with the recalls and all the issues the DePuy division has faced. He’s an executive in charge of running a failing implant division, and personally he did not create the units, nor did he implant any of them but it’s his bowl of wax, well at least until the end of the month. Sometimes when in positions as such with recalls and failures, you might wonder does anyone...(read more)

Stem Cells Explained-Dr. Michael West Founder of Geron Corporation Stresses The Need For Continued and Accelerated Funding

2011-03-04T21:51:00Z

I sat in on a webinar this week and as a healthcare blogger I was the lowest denominator attending but wanted to listen in and find out about what others, scientists, doctors and the Geron CEO had to say. I do quite a few posts on the Quack here and thought this might be of interest since I have written a couple times about the Geron clinical trials at UCI relative to stem cell treatments for spinal cord damage. You can read more at the links below on the trials. The FDA cleared...(read more)

Looking Up My Back Door-Colonoscopy Time (Humor-Video) Song By “ButtMeddler”

2011-03-04T20:40:00Z

This is just too cute and funny and some talent put in to make the video. Happy Hospitalist found quite a few videos and he has more at his site, a couple that have been here in the past and some other new ones, so if you want to view a few more use the link at the bottom of the post to visit his blog. The name of the composer is also cracked me up, “ButtMeddler”. BD Looking Up My Back Door March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Here are some colonoscopy video comedy...(read more)

FDA Approves Intel-GE Innovations Software And Home Monitoring Device-Engaging of Consumers Lacking Here - Payer Benefits Taking Center Stage With Current Marketing

2011-03-04T16:52:00Z

We have a lot of choices today for devices for remote and home monitoring but one suggestion for those who create these products would be to go lightly on the payer benefits, as with rising health insurance costs, do consumers care if they benefit, not a chance. I see this on almost all the web sites on how the “payers” will benefit and the message sent loud and clear is that there’s money to be made and saved and this is why you as a consumer should use one, not really that we care that much...(read more)

UnitedHealthcare Lays Off 180 Employees In Orange County-Initial Notification Sent By Instant Message to Those Affected

2011-03-04T08:15:00Z

Talk about drama when getting a lay off notice, an instant message to meet in the lobby and then taken to a hotel for the official word. Drama king tactics seem to exist with layoffs today. It sounds almost like people are being round up like a herd of cattle for goodness sakes. The layoffs were part of a reorganization effort and realignment of sales and sales support. Also in the news this week the company found out they did not get the Tri-Care business after all...(read more)

Bill Gates -TED Long Beach Talks About States Budgets (Where Are You Getting Those Algorithms) and Educational Needs

2011-03-04T07:27:00Z

Bill Gales was the curator this year for the Long Beach Convention and when it was his turn to talk he addressed budgets and the need for better education. Bill Gates Serving as “Guest” Curator for the Annual TED Conference In March 2011 Also one of my favorites is returning Juan Enriquez who speaks about regenerative medicine and I’ll be looking for his talk as well as the videos from Wake Forest where they grow body parts, and there’s lots here already on that topic. Back on track with today...(read more)

TED Long Beach-Attendees Get to Take a Ride in the Google Autonomous Car

2011-03-04T04:58:00Z

I know that parking structure in Long Beach but last time I was there no Google car. If I am not mistaken, the Google car is the forward workings of Stanford who built the autonomous car, Junior that competed in the last Darpa Urban Challenge and came in second place. The Intel car and I’m sure the Google car is the same or similar runs off of 4 servers in the trunk, just like ones you buy off the shelf. it looks like there’s a model upgrade on the car since the “Junior” days and...(read more)

Digital Illiterate GOP Senators Asking President to Withdraw Don Berwick Nomination-Back to the 8 Track Mentality

2011-03-03T22:54:00Z

Here we go again, back to the soap operas and and attention getting commentaries. I am guessing once more, based on what I read here that we have a return of the 70s folks with 8 track tape values. Dr. Berwick has not even had enough time in the job to get started, so what in the world do these folks think you get with a nomination-immediate gratification? If that’s the case we voted some questionable personalities into office as that’s a pie in the sky, especially by today’s world...(read more)

SkinPut A Projected Touchscreen That Controls Your Phone Or Game Console Technology on Your Skin

2011-03-03T22:09:00Z

Back in October of 2010 I wrote about Skinput and thought it was the solution for input and that was before Kinect came along and it still could be a mobile solution with using one’s arm for both control and data. Kinect of course allows gesture control. We are not to the point of carrying around a portable Kinect unit yet and this technology uses blue tooth wireless to input data so there’s still a lot of room here for mobility for sure. Microsoft's Skinput – Data Input...(read more)

McKesson Buying British Software Company, System C-A Microsoft Technology Partner

2011-03-03T21:42:00Z

The software company has been around in the UK for a number of years and when you go to the website you can see where last year they were the winner of the Public Sector contest for Microsoft Partner of the Year for 2010. McKesson uses Microsoft technologies as well so perhaps a way to expand into markets outside the US. McKesson like many others in Health IT are expanding via acquisitions. Recently we had this announcement with the government systems and I’m not quite sure what...(read more)