The IRS and ObamaCare: A Marriage Made In Hell
The United States Constitution was printed on 6 pages of paper. You can carry a small copy in your pocket and nobody will even know. By contrast, the IRS Tax Code is now 73,954 pages long. The Tax Code is so complex and fraught with pitfalls that I do not even attempt to do my own taxes. As the latest IRS scandal unfolds regarding the targeting of specific Americans for their political beliefs, it is that little Constitution that will be used to defend against the powerful IRS bureaucracy.… Read the rest
80% of Americans Don’t Get Enough Exercise
According to a recent CDC report, only 1 in 5 Americans get enough exercise! Shocking! And like most of you, I can’t wait to read the next report that documents how many of us fail to eat the number of recommended servings of broccoli each week.
As most of you know, there are few things I enjoy more than exercise. However, I sure don’t do it because the government tells me to do it. I also don’t exercise for my health.… Read the rest
Preparing for the Collapse of ObamaCare: Some Advice on Timing for Doctors
The difference between a hero and a martyr is timing. A hero takes charge and leads his people to victory. A martyr loses his life in defense of his beliefs. When ObamaCare collapses under its own weight, which type of doctor will you be?
Reading the Tea Leaves: Based upon several important indicators, I believe that ObamaCare will fail before it is ever fully implemented. For every physician who is running to comply with all of its new rules and regulations, stop running for a moment and think.… Read the rest
The Most Important Word
I was recently asked to give a talk to a group of doctors who were frustrated with their professional lives. They were attending a conference called Medical Fusion, where they would be exposed to a group of colleagues who had somehow found professional job satisfaction. Because I had authored Concierge Medicine, I was asked to be among the speakers and explain how I had found a way to break free from the system.
After accepting this engagement, I made the decision that I would not play the role of Tony Robbins or Dr.… Read the rest
Will Doctors Unionize?
Dr. David Leffell, the former president of the Yale Medical Group, recently wrote an editorial for the WSJ in which he discussed the unintended consequences of the new healthcare law. Specifically, Leffell discusses what the law is doing to change the practice patterns, mindset, and status of American doctors. He also muses about the impact these changes will have on patient care. Read the article here.
As Leffell observes, doctors are now facing an increasingly burdensome set of regulations as they prepare for the onset of ObamaCare in 2014.… Read the rest
What is Concierge Medicine?
What is Concierge Medicine? Concierge medicine, boutique medicine and direct practices are all terms used to describe a new form of medicine in which patients pay a doctor directly for enhanced medical care. In return for payment, the patient receive services such as guaranteed same-day appointments, 24/7 access to the physician by cell phone or beeper, house calls, emergency room visits and hospitalizations directed by the physician. In addition, wellness care and preventative care are often provided.… Read the rest
A Nasty Flu Season
As you have all learned by now, this has been a particularly ugly cold and flu season. The flu epidemic hit the country about 5 weeks early this year. Fortunately, this epidemic has peaked and the number of cases is declining. However, you are still at risk of getting influenza – even if you have had the flu shot – and it will be the end of February before this is all over.
In addition to the flu there are two other infectious diseases that have been circulating throughout the Tucson community.… Read the rest
Revenge of the Nerds, Part II
| As some of you know, I recently went through the process of re-certifying with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). As a licensed physician, and previously board-certified internist, I am not required to re-certify to practice internal medicine. I’ve been an internist for two decades now, and I would still be an internist without the imprimatur of the Board. However, as I explained to my 14-year-old son, testing and being graded never really stops. When you no longer have teachers, it is important to put yourself into situations where you are challenged.Having said this, the process of becoming board-certified in internal medicine has become more than just a little bit bizarre. |
In Memory of Dr. Martin Gardy
As I did last year around the holidays, I’m going to share a more personal story in this December’s newsletter. Earlier this year, a wonderful physician and teacher, Dr. Martin Gardy – my mentor at Cornell Medical College – passed away. Without question, Dr. Gardy was the most influential teacher in my life. Like all great teachers, he taught by example. He was also an incredibly articulate and wise man, and he shared a lot of pearls of wisdom with me.… Read the rest
Electronic Medical Records Save 80-Billion-Dollars, LOL!
Almost 4 years ago, the government announced it would require doctors and hospitals who accept Medicare to implement electronic medical records (EMRs). At the time, I posted a blog about the pitfalls of this decision. I said that EMRs would not save money, and that the quality of medical care would suffer. I explained that in a recently published editorial in the WSJ, two Harvard Medical School professors had mirrored my opinion. These doctors stated, for the record, that they had voted for Mr.… Read the rest
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