Click the link to read “Redefining Value in Healthcare: Why Providers need to take back their OR”
Read it here: https://drlanny.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Loma_Linda-_WhitePaper-1.pdf
3/6/2013: I think there is value in this article for physicians. The 7 steps outlined by the sushi chef may be overlooked in our present culture.
http://www.businessinsider.com/sushi-chef-says-give-your-life-to-your-craft-2013-3
He clearly outlines 7 “take home messages” critical for aspiring physicians and surgeons.
2/22/13: Health Care Greed: The high cost of health care in America is easily explained in recent Time magazine article. This article is worthy of one’s time. Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2013/02/20/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/#ixzz2Le1dDSYY
While most critics point to the doctors as the problem, the doctors account for 17% of the health care dollar. Doctors do contribute to the high expense by practicing defensive medicine; ordering laboratory and radiological tests. Doctors also contribute by performing unnecessary procedures which is well established in other publications.
So who and what else contributes to the high cost. Where is the rest of the money going or where is it being spent.
The Time publication points out the so called non-profit hospitals make large profits. The administrators make millions in wages, far more than the doctor’s incomes. The American Hospital Association spent $1,859,041 on lobbyists in 2012 and this is just the federal level. The trail lawyers’ lobby makes sure there is no tort reform.
Independently, I learned with an initiative I made to reduce health care costs in Michigan, that the insurance company is not interested. You might think insurance companies have an interest in reduced premiums, but that is not so since the get a percentage of premiums. Higher premiums mean increased income to the insurance company.
Perhaps the take home message of the Time article is to learn what the hospital calls their “chargemaster list prices” and that if you are hit with these unjustifiable costs, there are advocates mentioned in the article whose business it is to help negotiate such.
References: Presidential Guest Speaker Lecture
International Society Hip Arthroscopy
Boston,MA
September 28, 2012
Johnson LL. Arthroscopic Surgical Principles and Pracatice: C.V. Mosby. 1986
McCarroll, H. Relton. Unexpected Roads to Greatness. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1959;41:546-552.
Johnson, L. L.: Needlescope. In Symposium on Arthroscopy and Arthrography of the Knee, pp. 36-43.St. Louis, C. V. Mosby, 1978.
Johnson, L. L.: Joints Other than the Knee. In Symposium on Arthroscopy and Arthrography of the Knee, pp. 249-260.St. Louis, C. V. Mosby, 1978.
Johnson, L. L., Becker, R. L.: Role of the Assistant in Arthroscopy. In Symposium on Arthroscopy and Arthrography of the Knee, pp. 274-281.St. Louis, C. V. Mosby, 1978.
Johnson, L. L.: Comprehensive Arthroscopy of the Knee.St. Louis, C. V. Mosby, 1977.
Johnson, L. L.: Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy of the Shoulder.St. Louis, C. V. Mosby, 1993.
Detrisac, D. A., Johnson, L. L.: Arthroscopic Shoulder Capsulorrhaphy using Metal Staples. Arthroscopy and Related Surgery, 1993; 24(1):71-88.
Johnson, L. L.: Sports & Medicine – Who is Influencing Whom? 1990 John C. Kennedy Lecture. Am. J. Sports Med., 649-654, 1990.
Johnson, LL. Arthroscopic Abrasion Arthroplasty: A Review. Clin Orthop. 2001: 391S; S306-S317.
Johnson, L.L. The Outcome of a Free Autogenous Semitendinosus Tendon Graft in Human Anterior Cruciate Reconstructive Surgery: A Histological Study. Arthroscopy 1993;9(2):131-142.
Johnson, L. L.: A Rationale for Systematized Record Keeping and Improved Documentation, “Twenty Years at the Bed Side, Doc”. Arthroscopy 1987; 3:258-264.
Johnson LL, JohnsonAL, Colquitt JA, Simmering MJ, Pittsley AW. Is it possible to make an accurate diagnosis based only on a medical history? A pilot study on women’s knee joints. Arthroscopy 1996; 12:709-714.
Johnson, L. L., Becker, R. L.: An Alternative Health Care Reimbursement System-Application of Arthroscopy and Financial Warranty-Results of a Two Year Pilot Study. Arthroscopy. 1994;10(4):462-470.
Johnson, L. L.: Arthroscopic Abrasion Arthroplasty Historical and Pathological Perspective: Present Status. Arthroscopy Journal, 2:54-69, 1986.
VanDyk GE, Dejardin LM, Flo G, Johnson, LL. Cancellous Bone Grafting of Large Osteochondral Defects: An Experimental Study in Dogs. Arthroscopy 1998;14:311-320
LIVING IN THE PRESENT
Johnson LL, Delano MC, Spector M, Jeng L, Pittsley A, Gottschalk A. The biological response following autogenous bone grafting for large defects of the knee: Index surgery through 12-21 years’ followup. cartilage. 3 (1) Jan; 85-98. First published on August 16, 2011 as doi:10.1177/1947603511413568.
Johnson LL, Verioti C, Gelber J, Spector M, D’Lima D, Pittsley A. Pathology of the end-stage osteoarthritic lesion of the knee: Potential role in cartilage repair. Knee. 2010; 18(6). 402-406.
Guyton GP, Brand RA. Apparent spontaneous joint restoration in hip osteoarthritis. Clin Ortho Rel Res 2002, #404;pp.302-307.
Zhang D, Johnson L, Hsu, H-P, Spector, M. Cartilaginous Deposits in Subchondral Bone in Regions of Exposed Bone in Osteoarthritis of the Human Knee: Histomorphometric Study of PRG4 Distribution in Osteoarthritic Cartilage. J Ortho Res. 2007; 873-883.
Milgram JW: Morphologic alterations of the subchondral bone in advanced degenerative arthritis. Clin Orthop 173:293-312, 1983.
EYE TO THE FUTURE
Chen H, Sun J, Hoemann CD, Lascau-Coman V, Ouyang W, McKee MD, Shive MS, Buschmann MD. Drilling and Microfracture Lead to Different Bone Structure and Necrosis during Bone-Marrow Stimulation for Cartilage Repair. J Orthop Res. 2009 Nov;27(11):1432-8.
Garg AK: The use of platelet rich plasma to enhance the success of bone grafts around dental implants. Dent Implantol
Update 11:17, 2000.
Reeves KD, Hassanein K: Randomized prospective double blind placebo controlled study of dextrose prolotherapy of knee osteoarthritis with and without ACL laxity. Alt Ther Hlth Med 2000;6(2):37-46.
Reeves KD, Hassanein K: Randomized prospective double blind placebo controlled study of dextrose prolotherapy of osteoarthritic thumbs and finger (DIP, PIP and trapeziometacarpal joints) Evidence of Clinical Efficacy. Jnl Alt Compl Med 2000;6(4):311-320.
Reeves KD, Hassanein K: Long term effects of dextrose prolotherapy for anterior cruciate ligament laxity: A prospective and consecutive patient study. Alt Ther Hlth Med 2003;9(3)58-62.
Dumais R, Benoit C, Dumais A, Babin L, Bordage R, deArcos C, Allard J, Belanger. Effect of Regenerative Injection Therapy on Function and Pain in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Crossover Study. Pain Medicine 2012 Jul 3. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2012.01422.x. [Epub ahead of print]
Jayaprakasam B,VareedSK, Olson LK, Nair MG. Insulin secretion by bioactive anthocyanins and anthocyanidins present in fruits. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Jan 12:53(1):28-31
Johnson LL, vanDyk, GE, Green JR III, Pittsley AW, Bays B, Gully SM, Phillips JM. Clinical Assessment of Asymptomatic Knees: Comparison of Men and Women. Arthroscopy 1998:14(4):347-359.
Johnson LL, JohnsonAL, Colquitt JA, Simmering MJ, Pittsley AW. Is it possible to make an accurate diagnosis based only on a medical history? A pilot study on women’s knee joints. Arthroscopy 1996; 12:709-714.
www.OrthoDirectUSA.com
Gray CL. Battle for America’s Future. Healthcare, the culture war and the future of freedom.
9/18/12 It is not common for me to either read books or recommend them, but with weather change last couple of days I read two books worthy of others attention. I never like to get a book thicker than 1/2 inch nor recommend the same. They both fall into that category.
Gray CL. The Battle for America’s Soul; healthcare, the culture war and the future of freedom. Eventide publishing. This reviews the history of the various world views and nothing is new since Plato. Now the increasing divide in America is based upon the two opposing world views. He outlines the results depending upon which one prevails.
The other is: Hill Craig. Five Wealth Secrets 96% of us do not know. Family Foundations International PO Box 320 LIttleton, CO 80160 This is a very simple practical outline of basic money management and the consequences thereof.
Both can be found on the Internet. Inexpensive and worthy of your attention.
9/14/12 There must be a stop put to the head trauma in football. Several years ago I wrote the NFL about this, suggesting a simple solution that I thought everyone would understand; No hitting with the head and no hitting in the head. I did not get a response. The problem continued and now has escalated and surfaced publicly. Still the practice goes on at all levels. The practice of “Spearing” is illegal, but rarely penalized. It is common practice and probably is taught to “put your helmet on the ball” so as to cause a fumble.
The risks are to both player’s head and neck in this type of collision. The player rendering the blow cannot be so naive to think the laws of physics have been suspended when he hits with his helmet. “For every force there is an equal and opposite force.” His head and brain are inside that battering ram. It is not just the helmet stupid, it is your brain or spinal cord.
Since nothing has worked so far, a stronger penalty must be instituted for this action. Since instant replay is so available and there is precedent for identifying “irrefutable evidence” by video in football, I suggest the following method of penalizing such action.
THE SOLUTION: A video referee will monitor all plays where a player hits with his head to another player’s head throughout each quarter of the game. Since there is a hiatus in play at end of each quarter and the game, this referee announces one penalty point subtracted from the team’s score for each such incident. At the end of a close game the outcome will be known in matter of seconds. Another method would be to have the penalties and score adjustment instantaneously projected on the scoreboard.
Since this suggested rule would affect the score, the practice of hitting with the head will stop. 15 yard penalties and game ejection has not been enough. It will be a passive restraint to such action. when introduced it will stop the practice of hitting with the head from being taught. It will instill blocking and tackling methods that avoid such incidents. In my profession this suggestion would be considered PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.
8/26/12 The expression “stable technology” is the innovation of the near future in orthopedic surgery. This expression is little known by orthopedic surgeons. At a recent orthopedic meeting following a presentation on the state of the art on total joints, I asked two experts in total joint replacement the following two questions. The first was “What are the new innovations in total joint surgery”. The answer was “making modifications to the new technology” to overcome the problems. It is clear the new technology is a problem evidenced by the multiple TV advertisements to “call the number on the screen” if you had such and such total joint from J&J DePuy or Stryker. The problems with ceramic joints and metal on metal are only a few of the problems with new technology. I then asked them if they were familiar with “stable technology”? Neither were familiar, but one asked to have lunch with me so he could be advised.
The truth is that over the last several years there has been a convergence of the design of total joints so that many look alike. This is another aspect of “stable technology” The reports in the literature have shown there are many long term reports on older total joints having certain common denominatiors (look alikes) that are better than latest greatest technology from the major players. These joint consitute stable technology. Stable technology is one that has been around for a while.
It is true that the majors, like Zimmer, J&J and Stryker have strong branding that brings a high price for the total joint; i.e. 5-10 thousand dollars to the hospital. The truth is they have also a high cost to maintain the “branding” by advertisement and high cost of distribution. The truth is that their total joints are not better in design or material than other less expensive joints and perhaps in some cases they are worse.
The second tier manufacturers make 12% of the total joints sold by the major brands. In fact, most of these companies make joints for all five majors, running side by side in the production line. The facilities equal or exceed the major brands factories.
A total joint made by a second tier company for a major brand has cost of $300. They sell to the major for $600. The major brands sell it for $5000-10,00.
The truth is that the stable technology total joint will sell retail to the hospital for $1500. Do the math. Soon others will make this calculation.
These are the arguments for stable technology.
Established design; tried and true
Same materials and quality
Same manufacturer as what Major Brands sell now (12%)
Eliminate cost of distribution: www.orthodirectusa.com
Lowered or eliminated advertising expense for latest and greatest
Much less cost; i.e. $1500 vs $5000-10,000.
No compromise in patient care
May be mandated by Federal government the main purchaser of total joints via Medicare.
A major hospital chain is presently has literally bought into the concept. Do the math.
Design: Solutions by K8