Memorial Day Weekend Post: The Best Care Anywhere

In the past, I have commented on an article by Phillip Longman describing the quality of care at the VA.  Mr. Longman recently wrote a book titled The Best Care Anywhere.  The book claims that “the long-maligned Veterans Health Administration has become the highest-quality healthcare provider in the United States.” Gooznews interviews Mr. Longman.  Below are some…

Charles Barkley and the Nanny State

Michelle Obama’s is deeply involved in her recently involved in fight against childhood obesity.  Eating healthy and exercising more is a laudable goal.  But do we want the government operatives taking the role of a Biggest Loser Drill Sergent?  Could government weight monitoring become a reality? Maybe. In an interview with Marv Albert, President Barack…

Effect of Massachusetts Health Reform on Hospital and Preventive Care

Kolstad and Kowalski (2010) examine how the Massachusetts individual mandate affected uninsurance rates, hospital and outpatient utilization, and preventive care: “Among the population discharged from the hospital in Massachusetts, the reform decreased uninsurance by 28% relative to its initial level. Increased coverage affected utilization patterns by decreasing length of stay and the number of inpatient…

Rand Paul and the oil spill

Rand Paul is the the son of libertarian Senator Ron Paul and is currently running for Senate in the state of Kentucky.  Although Dr. Paul (an ophthalmologist) recently won the primary in his state, he’s gotten in some hot water for some comments he made.  For instance, he’s stated opposition to some parts of the…

Applying the Toyota Production System to Healthcare

Until their most recent quality stumbles, Toyota’s production techniques were the darlings of the management consulting world.  The Toyota process is embodied by the concept of kaizen, a Japanese notion of continuous improvement. The latest gurus have even applied the production techniques to the health care arena (see Designed to Adapt). A Health Affairs article…