Comments on: Spine fallout http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/pending/2008/09/17/spine-fallout/ Patent Pending blog Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:54:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Stephen http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/pending/2008/09/17/spine-fallout/#comment-42 Stephen Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:00:51 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/pending/2008/09/17/spine-fallout/#comment-42 Tom, this is a late post to your notes, but publishing compensation figures for physicians won't help patients understand the basis for recommendations. The transparency patients need is the basis for the recommendations--evidence, community standards, what a payer will even pay for, etc. Physicians, especially surgeons in this case, may have good practical reasons for preferring one orthopedic product over another. That should go into the calculus, and should be communicated. But as titillating as these consultancy sums are, they may be a red herring in the search for understanding about recommendations physicians make. Patients and consumers ultimately do need more transparency and information--but that's evidence, research, the sum of personal experience, the collective 'wisdom of the crowd,' or a combination of these. The 'retail health care marketplace' that is slowly taking shape will have to deliver this to consumers, and while early efforts are uneven, it's clearly a trend that's here to stay. Tom, this is a late post to your notes, but publishing compensation figures for physicians won’t help patients understand the basis for recommendations. The transparency patients need is the basis for the recommendations–evidence, community standards, what a payer will even pay for, etc. Physicians, especially surgeons in this case, may have good practical reasons for preferring one orthopedic product over another. That should go into the calculus, and should be communicated. But as titillating as these consultancy sums are, they may be a red herring in the search for understanding about recommendations physicians make. Patients and consumers ultimately do need more transparency and information–but that’s evidence, research, the sum of personal experience, the collective ‘wisdom of the crowd,’ or a combination of these.
The ‘retail health care marketplace’ that is slowly taking shape will have to deliver this to consumers, and while early efforts are uneven, it’s clearly a trend that’s here to stay.

]]> By: Frank http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/pending/2008/09/17/spine-fallout/#comment-37 Frank Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:21:59 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/pending/2008/09/17/spine-fallout/#comment-37 Tom, The other big hidden device industry in Minnesota is hearing aids. Starkey Labs has nearly 2000 people in Minnesota (about as many as St. Jude) and ReSound in Bloomington has around 500. There are dozens of other hearing aid companies of all sizes in the state, all tracing their Roots back to Miracle Ear Tom,

The other big hidden device industry in Minnesota is hearing aids. Starkey Labs has nearly 2000 people in Minnesota (about as many as St. Jude) and ReSound in Bloomington has around 500. There are dozens of other hearing aid companies of all sizes in the state, all tracing their Roots back to Miracle Ear

]]> By: Jack Hammer http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/pending/2008/09/17/spine-fallout/#comment-36 Jack Hammer Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:20:15 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/pending/2008/09/17/spine-fallout/#comment-36 Gee whiz, Wally! If all the lawyers and doctors are crooked, who can we trust? These "decisions" by ortho surgeons contribute greatly to the high cost of health care, but do they care? Of course not. As long as they are fully compensated, the financial aspect of the HCO or patient is of little interest of them. Regarding Dr. Polly, the university and his lawyers do have an obligation to the state's constituency! After, our tax dollars prop up the school, its educational units and its sham of a relationship with Fairview! Gee whiz, Wally! If all the lawyers and doctors are crooked, who can we trust?

These “decisions” by ortho surgeons contribute greatly to the high cost of health care, but do they care? Of course not. As long as they are fully compensated, the financial aspect of the HCO or patient is of little interest of them.

Regarding Dr. Polly, the university and his lawyers do have an obligation to the state’s constituency! After, our tax dollars prop up the school, its educational units and its sham of a relationship with Fairview!

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