Excellent Article on Match History and Potential Problems
Just as Match Week is about to kick off, here’s an awesome article that talks a little about the history of the match and discusses the match algorithm, an NRMP lawsuit, and implications that the match contributes to poor resident working conditions. It’s a somewhat long read, but definitely worth it.
Every March, hundreds of graduating medical students put themselves at the mercy of a mathematical algorithm that pairs them with the teaching hospital they’ll go to for their residency training.
Participating students and hospitals submit rank-ordered lists of their preferences; on Match Day, a computer comes up with a matching of students to programs that all participants must accept.
The system is based on an elegant mathematical theory dating from the 1960s, yet medical students, unversed in game theory, have trouble believing that it’s fair.
It’s not surprising, then, that three disgruntled physicians, fed up with the low wages and long hours that characterize medical residencies, are blaming the algorithm for their woes.
Are Medical Students Meeting Their (Best Possible) Match? [PDF]
Outsourcing Medicine – A New Trend?
I was browsing around the SDN forums the other day and came across a thread that quickly turned into the discussion of outsourcing. I was pretty interested in the topic, and came across an interesting article after doing some research. The article is two years old, but is a good read nonetheless.
I’ve always heard people say that outsourcing will never happen. This can’t be further from the truth. If you read the article, you’ll find that it is already happening. The reality is that residents and physicians don’t want to believe that it is happening as it imposes serious threats to their livelihood. If you dig further, you can find other stories as well.
The imaging charter was presented to the FDA and there was no objection from the FDA regarding conducting the review in India. This review resulted in cost and time savings for the sponsor, and demonstrates another avenue for US companies to reduce clinical trial expenses.
Radiology has been used as a test bed for outsourcing, primarily due to the digital nature of films and ease of transporting data quickly through network pipes to the other side of the world. There are now firms dedicated to reading films during “off peak” hours. They are often located in Australia or India, as this allows for our late-night films to be read by somebody who’s in the middle of their normal workday.
Of course this brings up concerns regarding accreditation and liability, but since the practice of outsourcing continues, the problems are most likely too minor to warrant any stop to sending films overseas. Despite some of these concerns, both sides of the fence honestly believe that outsourcing and telemedicine are the wave of the future. It simply increases productivity while decreases cost.
I’ve always said that medicine is simply business, and we’re beginning to see stronger evidence of that. With the exponential increase in technology advancements (via Moore’s Law), it’s only a matter of time until telemedicine becomes so cheap that it will be foolish for all hospitals not to adopt some form of it.
What does this mean for future doctors? I honestly don’t know. I do believe that some of the more technologically-advanced specialties such as radiology and even pathology will most likely become the ones that see mass outsourcing first. Outsourcing plain old patient care and physical exams probably won’t happen for awhile, but these types of specialties will have their own problems soon enough as more students favor lifestyle over brute force hours.
How do you feel about outsourcing? Will the ease of outsourcing have an effect on how you choose your specialty? Or, do you not feel that it’s something that you will have to worry about in your lifetime?
Not My “Soul Patrol” Tattoo!
A derm doc at Harvard has developed tattoo ink in polymer bead form that looks permanent, but can be lasered & absorbed if unwanted. Sounds like a very practical idea. From a business perspective, I bet it would give tattoo parlors more business since people wouldn’t be as reticent to get a tattoo. From a health perspective, it allows people to easily change their minds about ideas or things they thought they’d never, ever, never-in-a-million-years change their minds about.
Interestingly, a tattoo guy comments that the erasable ink is “cheating permanence.” Note that the ink looks permanent, according to this article. (It essentially is permanent if you want it to be.) Also note that regular tattoo removal can cost up to ~$10K and still not be completely removed. Assuming this ink will be more expensive than run-of-the-mill tattoo ink, it sounds like a relatively cheap insurance policy.
You know, just in case you decide the Taylor Hicks tattoo on your chest isn’t your style anymore.
Pharmaceutical Marketing is Good and Here’s Why
Havidol is a new drug that has just been released to treat Dysphoric Social Attention Consumption Deficit Anxiety Disorder (DSACDAD). Well, that’s what many people thought when visiting the exhibit at the Daneyal Mahmood Gallery in New York.
“People have walked into the gallery and thought it was real. They didn’t get the fact that this was a parody or satire.”
As most of you reading this know, there is no such thing as DSACDAD, and you can’t really “have it all” with Havidol. The parody is in response to the marketing strategies used by the pharmaceutical industry to sell their products to the public.
Why is pharmaceutical marketing bad? In my opinion, it’s not.
Pediatrician Refuses To Treat Patient Because of Mom’s Tattoos
Sound crazy? It is. A pediatrician has refused to treat a patient because the patient’s mother has tattoos. In fact, Dr. Gary Merrill has the following sign in his office:
“This is a private office. Appearance and behavior standards apply.”
This means that patients cannot have body piercings, tattoos, and many other strict requirements. And, guess what guys? The AMA reserves the right that Dr. Merrill can do what he wishes in his private office – and can refuse treatment in non life-threatening situations.
Chalk a win up for private physicians that are running businesses. Just like McDonald’s can refuse service if you’re without shirt and shoes, Dr. Merrill is making his own rules of what can and cannot occur inside his business. I think this is a good thing.
Tasha Childress’ response after Dr. Merrill refused to treat her daughter’s ear infection?
I felt totally discriminated against, like I wasn’t good enough to talk to, Tasha Childress said, like he didn’t have to give me any reason for not wanting to see my daughter because I have tattoos and piercings.
You would think that this guy was the only pediatrician in town. If patients aren’t happy with the services rendered, simply go see another doc.
Problem solved.
via: [KGET News]