United Health hit with $3.5 million fine

United Health has been hit with a $3.5 million dollar fine by the Department of Managed Health and it couldn't happen to a more deserving company! The department of Insurance investigated the company and found it had violated more than 130,000 claims and improperly denied 30% of claims that were reviewed during the investigation. That is not an accident. Underpaying or denying 130,000 claims

Grand Rounds - don't miss it

If you want to keep up with the medical blogosphere, check out this week's Grand Rounds hosted by Kim at Emergiblog. Check it out!.

The Law of Unintended Consequences

Health care is filled with the unintended consequences of laws, regulations and poor planning that plague our ability to care for patients. Here are a few, in no particular order. You may have more to add.Lab laws. I used to be able to contract with labs to do tests on my patients. I negotiated a low fee, kept a few dollars for lab draw and my services and everyone won. Enter California

IQ - Why do Men Think They are Smarter?

A number of studies have shown that "men" think they are better looking than they really are and "women" often underestimate their good looks, thinking they are less attractive. It should come as no surprise that the same holds true when it comes to intelligence.Adrian Furnham, a professor of psychology at University College London, reported that men and women have fairly equal IQ's but men

Handwashing Reduces Diarrhea

Here we are with fantastic technical advances of the 21st century and surprise! A new study shows that hand washing reduces episodes of diarrhea by 30%. Since diarrhea is caused by pathogens (read: germs) that get passed from human to human or human to food to human...hand washing interrupts this cycle.What was interesting about this report is that hand washing was as effective in preventing

Amswer Quiz #4

The answer is #5 Mandibular fracture. This patient was struck on his left lower jaw and suffered a comminuted fracture. The open fracture caused the left half of his mandible to be pushed upward. Surgical wiring of the jaw puts it back in alignment but he'll be drinking from a straw for a good period of time.

Medical Quiz 2008 #4

How smart are you? What is your Diagnosis? Click on the image to get a better view.#1. Dental abscess#2 Neurofibromatosis#3 Cleft jaw#4 Hemiatrophy syndrome#5 Mandibular fracture Check back tomorrow for the answer!

Medical Journal Update

Ultrasounds for aortic aneurysms: Abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures occur suddenly and are almost always fatal. They are about 4 times more common in smokers, than in people who have never smoked. The researchers studied 67,770 men ages 65-74 and found that performing an ultrasound to screen for an enlarged aorta significantly reduced death. Aorta's enlarge slowly until they rupture but do

The Shape of a Mother

I just wanted to share this link of a woman who gave birth to triplets (at home no less). She bravely photographed her growing belly and it is awesome to see. For those who are dismayed at the flabby tummy afterward...keep in mind that it takes a year for the post pregnancy abdomen to resolve...although I am sure the loose skin will remain. Who cares? The result was worth it. Check it out.

Remember Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (Jan 15, 1929 -April 4, 1968)"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed" 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."'"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.""

Oatmeal for Cholesterol

The recent news about Vytorin and Zetia not being effective for lowering cholesterol was front page headlines across America and in the medical blogosphere. What didn't get any attention was the new research that shows "oatmeal lowers cholesterol even more than we thought 10 years ago ". Dr James Anderson looked at new studies and compared them with the original conclusion reached by the FDA 10

Medical Quiz #3- Answer (see prior post)

This was a toughy. The answer is #4 Furuncular myiasis. This is a human botfly larvae (Dermatobia hominis) emerging from a nodule on the patient's upper arm. The fly's eggs are carried by mosquitoes after the female fly catches the mosquito and attaches its eggs to the body. The eggs hatch and enter the human body when the mosquito is feeding on it. The larvae develops in the subcutaneous skin

Medical Quiz 2008 #3

This one is really really hard. I missed it myself but I guarantee, when I see it in a patient...I will know what it is. Click on the image for a better view.What is the diagnosis?1. Cutaneous leishmanaisis2. Cutaneous larva migrans3. Epidermoid cyst4. Furuncular myiasis5. TungiasisCheck back tomorrow for the answer.

Grand Rounds is Here

Grand rounds this week is at Sharp Brains and is posted as a clever message to our next Mr. or Ms. President! Check it out for good medical blogging. Everything Health is mentioned again!

Clorox Goes Green

I love the green movement because it helps people think about the environment. The first step to any change is conscious thought. We can't change what we don't know.Now The Clorox Co., the Oakland firm that introduced bleach to America a century ago, is marketing natural, biodegradable household cleaners called "Green Works". More than 99% of the ingredients in "Green Works" are natural and

Emergency Room Call-Another Doctor Shortage

Across the United States, and certainly in Northern California...hospitals are facing increasing difficulty with the availability of certain specialties to cover emergency rooms. In the past, if a patient is seen in a community hospital by the emergency physician, she can call on a panel of specialists to come in when needed to see the patient. Physicians in Neurosurgery, Orthopedics,

Do You Wonder Why Americans Are Fat?

I am happy to link you to the most amazing array of bad food choices you will ever see.Reading this is enough to scare anyone into healthy, low cal eating (I hope). Can you believe those calories? (hat tip to kevinmd)

Answer 2008 Quiz #1

The answer is #1 - Leukemia.Gingival (gum) infiltration in a patient with fever, fatigue and weight loss is consistent with acute leukemia. This condition resolved after treatment.

Medical Quiz 2008 - #2

Here is your 2nd medical diagnosis challenge of 2008. This patient has fatigue, fever, anorexia and weight loss and this appearance of her gums. What is the diagnosis? Click on the image for a better view:1. Leukemia2. Scurvy (Vit C deficiency)3. Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV)4. Sarcoidosis5. Pellagra (Vit B3-niacin-deficiency)Check back tomorrow to see if you are correct.To

Doctors and Sexual Misconduct

The Ventura County Star reports some alarming statistics from the California Medical Board about prosecution of doctors who engage in sexual misconduct with patients. They looked at reports over the past 6 years and found only 1 in 7 cases had any action taken at all. Of 680 reports of bad sexual behavior, only 123 doctors received any sanction.As a physician, I pay $805 as a licensing fee to

Childbirth Classes - Not Too Popular

I remember the "60's" and one of the off shoots from the women's movement was women getting in touch with their bodies and reproduction. It is hard to imagine now, when Brittany is flashing her bare crotch to photographers and soft porn is on family time TV, but back then women actually came together in "feminist" groups to learn about their bodies. An entire industry of prenatal "

Do Doctors Make Too Much Money - Volume II

I am truly amazed that the #1 most read post I have ever written was (read the link after!) "Do Doctors Make too Much Money?". Thousands of people from around the world have "googled" that phrase and found EverythingHealth. Every day there are several visits to that one old piece. I am amazed because I wouldn't have thought there was that much interest in Doctor's incomes. Apparently there

Answer 2008 Quiz #1

The answer is #1-Rhinophyma. This condition enlarges and distorts the nose with prominent pores and thickened skin. The nose becomes larger and irregular due to hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands. The cause is unknown and it was previously thought to be related to alcohol abuse, but that has been debunked. It is most common in males and once the deformity occurs the only treatment is

Medical Quiz 2008 - How Smart Are You?

This common condition was seen in the oldie actor and comic, W.C. Fields. Can you pick the right diagnosis? Click on the image for a closer view. The answer will be posted tomorrow.

Imagine 2008- It's not hard to do

Happy New Year across planet Earth. My wish is for a world of compassion, peace and abundance for everyone.Imagine John Lennon Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today... Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all