Insights
Finding Health Equity in Surgery and Recovery
Finding Health Equity in Surgery and Recovery Bias, both unintentional and intentional, contribute to differences in the quality of care received by patients in the United States. The consequences of these disparities can be catastrophic to patients and their families. A 2002 report to Congress –just as relevant today as it was 20 years ago—detailed…
Read MoreThe Risk of Costly Suboptimal Surgery Has Never Been Greater
The Risk of Suboptimal Surgery Has Never Been Greater (due to Covid-19) Thankfully, rays of sunlight have appeared through the darkness of the Covid-19 pandemic. As life returns to “normal,” healthcare no doubt will resume traditional patterns as well. This leaves business, employee benefits and human resource leaders facing critical questions, including: How do I…
Read MoreWhat VCRs and Outdated Surgery Instructions Have in Common
What VCRs and Outdated Surgery Instructions Have in Common By Mario Leyba, MD It seemed innocent enough. A pre-surgery instruction sheet handed to a Goldfinch patient several weeks ago, in advance of a procedure we eventually helped the patient to successfully navigate. If you’ve had surgery yourself—or seen a loved one go through it—you’ve probably…
Read MoreAn Olympic-Sized Innovation
An Olympic-Sized Innovation Dick Fosbury had an idea. An engineering student moonlighting as a high jumper at the 1968 Olympics, Fosbury put his science background to work. Rather than take the conventional approach of jumping over the bar with a scissorkick, what if instead he went over the bar backwards, head-first? That’s right, backwards. And…
Read MorePulling Back the Curtain on Physician Referrals
Pulling Back the Curtain on Physician Referrals Over 100,000 times today in the United States, a visit between a patient and his/her physician ended with something like this: “I recommend you speak with a surgeon.” That simple statement sets a complex set of wheels in motion, not the least of which are the wheels turning…
Read MoreSurgery: Under the Microscope
Surgery: Under the Microscope “The Butchering Art” by Lindsey Fitzharris offers an in-depth and, shall we say, colorful look at the primitive days of surgery and healthcare. When it comes to the understanding of human health and the delivery of care, we should all be thankful to be alive in 2020 and not 170 years…
Read MoreWhat ‘The Price is Right’ can teach us about healthcare
What ‘The Price is Right’ can teach us about healthcare I watched a lot of The Price is Right growing up. I think I might have known the price of a pack of diapers almost before I was out of them myself! I didn’t just learn the costs of common household items and compact cars…
Read MoreMost Vulnerable Patients Make Costly Surgery Decisions
Research: Most Vulnerable Patients Make Costly Surgery Decisions A recent Goldfinch Health survey revealed critical insights into health literacy and the way consumers consider surgical decisions. Spoiler alert: novice surgical patients make costly decisions and they and their employers shoulder the consequences. But, first, a bit of background. We asked consumers: “Imagine you just found…
Read MoreThe World’s Best Cup of Coffee
The World’s Best Cup of Coffee “Center of Excellence” It’s a term you may have seen used by health insurers, hospitals and surgery centers in recent years. You might be surprised to learn no universal definition exists for qualifying a surgery center for the distinction. At its worst, a hospital or surgery center hanging the…
Read MoreTaking the Temperature of Surgery Quality
Taking the Temperature of Surgery Quality Ubiquitous in modern society, the thermometer was once a breakthrough technology centuries in the making. When leading scientists some 300 years ago finally put together the necessary elements, what resulted was revolutionary. At a glance, you could know the temperature. You didn’t know relative humidity, wind speed, or any…
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