August 11, 2011

By Shaan Gandhi, PhD

Conventional wisdom dictates that expansion of computerization and information technology into any field would improve quality and efficiency. Our packages and express mail zip around the world at higher speeds and lower costs because of electronic tracking. We can travel to Boston, Bangalore or Brasilia and be assured of having access to funds because of interconnected banking networks. In the face of the ever-increasing costs of health care in the United States, accounting for $7,960 per person in 2009, perhaps an increase in the utilization of information technology in medicine would help us not only bend the cost curve but also keep pace with our peers in terms of health quality metrics, such as life expectancy.

Makes sense, right? more...

August 4, 2011

by Michelle Nall, MPH, ANP-BC

“I lost my glucometer about six months ago,” Ms. D, my middle-aged, diabetic patient said during our first appointment. Despite warnings that her poorly controlled diabetes was contributing to kidney and nerve damage, Ms. D was adamant about one thing: she would never be willing to take insulin. She wasn’t convinced that checking her glucose was terribly important either.

Sixty minutes later, I began to understand why. more...