First Rate: Patient Rating Systems For Doctors
September 14, 2017
Some of us won’t go to a restaurant or attend a performance without first checking how other people rated the experience. Sometimes other peoples’ perspectives are instructive and useful- and sometimes their ratings seem trivial or silly. The question is: what do we make of the ratings other people give…
For The Long Term: The Japanese Physician Who Championed Longevity
September 14, 2017
This past July, Japan mourned the passing of Dr. Shigeaki Hinohora, a physician and longevity expert who himself lived until the age of 105. He was considered a national treasure and someone who had enormous impact on the lives of Japanese citizens, who live longer than any people on the…
Cost Savings And Medical Care: Conversations That Need To Happen
August 31, 2017
No one likes to challenge their physician when a particular diagnostic test or medical intervention is recommended. Yet often times what is suggested is not covered by your insurance or may be much more costly than your physician realizes. While cost should be just one consideration in determining whether an…
Tender Age: Should The Age of Your Physician Make A Difference?
June 1, 2017
When scheduling a doctor’s appointment, your inclination may be to see the most senior physician you can, with the assumption that those who have practiced the longest have the best knowledge and skills. However, a new study published in the British Medical Journal may just shake up your assumptions. According…
Quality Care: What Makes A Hospital Doctor Excellent?
May 11, 2017
Hospitals can be scary places for anyone, but for seniors, who may be confused or frightened, the environment can be especially troubling. Having a caring and communicative doctor while in the hospital can make all the difference, but too often a parade of professionals fly in and out so quickly,…
Now You’re Talking: Medicare Payments For End-Of-Life Discussions
February 20, 2017
Physicians have historically been uncomfortable initiating conversations about end-of-life care with their patients. Such communication requires tact, sensitivity and, of course, time. In 2016, however, physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants were given the authority to bill Medicare to conduct these challenging discussions, thus allowing providers to carve out discreet time…