Wanted: Geriatricians
On May 12th, 2022, I posted a blog regarding our nation’s cockamamie physician reimbursement policies (“Physician Reimbursement Askew). I pointed out that primary care physicians average net incomes about two-thirds that of subspecialists. The difference lies in procedures—interventions such as colonoscopies are valued way out of proportion to the cognitive work of diagnosis and care…
Exercise for Everyone
The word is out about the benefits of exercise. Some recent publications (e.g., US Department of Health and Human Services: “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans”) have put some numbers to it. First, some definitions. The guidelines speak to “moderate physical activity” and “vigorous physical activity.” The former includes brisk walking and everyday activities such as…
The FDA and Patient Advocacy
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease) is a uniformly fatal disease that attacks the nerves that control all of the muscles in the body. Patients diagnosed with this disease slowly lose the use of their muscles, including those that are needed to breathe, and die on average two to five years after being diagnosed. …