Welcome to the June 9th edition of 5-Shot Friday.
My apologies for being absent, it’s been a busy several weeks with patient care and assisting colleagues. Like y’all, there are times when I have to work harder and not necessarily smarter, because nothing less than brute force will do.
I’ve also been scratching my head, trying to make sense of the replacement for the Affordable Care Act, the legislative move in California to propose a single payer system for health insurance, and the effects of these efforts on everyone at large. I’d love to be able tell you what it all means and how it will play out – this is a blog about health and wellness -- but after talking to folks who’ve forgotten more about health policy than I’ll ever know, it’s STILL unclear exactly how the chips will fall.
The best distillation? Like one theory behind Wall Street being unaffected by former FBI Director Comey’s testimony, some things will keep sailing on, regardless. There will always be a need for proven quality in healthcare, there will always be a premium placed on compassion and caring (aka “patient satisfaction”), and there will always be a need for healthcare to be affordable. It can’t suck, it can’t treat you like dirt, and it can’t be out of reach (for patients to pay for, or doctors and other providers to keep doing).
It’s the practical application of the so-called Triple Aim, and it’s pretty much the universal prescription for what future healthcare systems must deliver, lest they eventually crash, burn, and implode. My commentary: we will have chosen wisely if what’s coming fits that bill, and will be suffering if not, until we get there.
And now: back to our regularly scheduled 5-snippet programming
1. Neurotech: Cyberpunk Is Real
“The field…is known as neurotechnology, or simply neurotech—a marriage of neurology, neuroscience, neurosurgery and the kind of hardware that goes into smartphones. Today, most neurotech companies are focused on medical applications, which they think could be a multibillion-dollar market. Deep-brain stimulators, which use electric pulses to reduce the tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease, have been implanted in more than 100,000 people. Preliminary research suggests that targeted brain stimulation with similar technology can improve recall in those with memory loss—a potential game-changer for the 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease. Neuropace’s RNS system is currently the only FDA-approved implant able to both sense and respond to neural activity. Medical-device makers such as Medtronic, Boston Scientific and Stryker aren’t far behind.”
2. WhatsApp vs. Cyberattacks: With Great Power Comes…
…great responsibility, again quoting SpiderMan’s uncle.
The breaking down of traditional silos – how healthcare providers used to be sequestered, each practitioner isolated in his or her own organizational cocoon – allows for breakthroughs in quality patient care and convenience. Records shared instantly between team members treating a patient, experts sharing insights that build on others’ insights as they discuss a tough case across the globe.
But the same digital access that incubates revolution and progress can also allow unprecedented access to criminals.
“Last year I decided to investigate this further and conducted a study with a colleague into the use of WhatsApp by doctors, later written up in the BMJ [British Medical Journal]. We found that use of these apps breaks down traditional hierarchies and allows doctors to communicate more freely with their immediate clinical team. From the most junior doctor to the most senior (though in practice often excluding the consultant), these groups allow all of us to work together more effectively, and enable shyer or less-experienced team members to seek help when they need it. They inspire camaraderie.
“The use of WhatsApp in emergency situations is growing too. Although I wasn’t personally involved, WhatsApp was almost literally a lifesaver during the emergency response to the Croydon tram crash in November 2016, as it allowed doctors at the scene to communicate with colleagues at the nearby hospital about what patient injuries to expect.
“However, despite these benefits, official advice from NHS England is very clear: “Whatever the other merits of WhatsApp it should never be used for the sending of information in the professional healthcare environment.”
Regulatory efforts seek to curb security breaches, but at the cost of going too far in the other direction and stifling the ease of use that is the basis for the initial innovations.
We may have to always contend with hobbled IT. Racing into the future with the brakes on.
3. Tweet Of The Week Numero Uno: Leading Causes Of Death In Perspective, from @daniel_kraft
4. Precision Medicine: Dr. Chiu Talks Ted(Med)
UCSF physician and microbiologist Dr. Charles Chiu gives a TedMed talk, on how next-gen sequencing is accelerating the diagnosis and treatment of mysterious infectious diseases.
Some mysteries need to be revealed ASAP.
If you’d like to get more 5-Shot Fridays, please subscribe to my email list for automatic updates delivered to your inbox (I will never share or abuse it). And if you enjoyed this week’s edition, I’d appreciate a share. [feedburner_form]
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
Share Your Valuable Thought