Physicians Practice - March 2008 - (Page 21)

QUOTEABLES “ If consumers were allowed to make [health] decisions in an efﬁcient market, through electronic medical records, through quality measures, through cost comparisons and choices and incentives, their decisions would be far more precise and wise. It would produce better health, and at a lower cost.” —Michael Leavitt, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, on the inefﬁciencies of Medicare, in The Washington Post. THE NAME’S THE THING You say Zyrtec; we say Zyprexa. You say Lamictal; we say Labetalol. Let’s call the whole thing off. Drug errors caused by confusion over similar-sounding brand names has skyrocketed in the last few years, according to the U.S. Pharmacopeia, which regulates the names of drugs, and while a few ideas for altering some of the naming conventions are ﬂoating around, no one is quite sure what to do. Since 2004, in fact, the rate of errors has more than doubled, and such mistakes may have contributed to the deaths of at least seven patients, the agency said in a recent report. “ I was trying to shed a little light on the number one problem in Mississippi.” State Rep. John Read, who is 5’11” and 230 pounds, on why he proposed a bill that would ban restaurants from serving food to obese people, in Newsweek. “ HGH is nothing. Anyone who calls it a steroid is grossly misinformed. … Everyone over 40 years old would be wise to investigate it because it increases the quality of your life. Mark my words. In 10 years it will be over the counter.” —Actor Sylvester Stallone, 61, acknowledging proudly his use of human growth hormone to get back in shape for his newest Rambo movie, in Time. TAKING THINGS A LITTLE TOO FAR? We understand the bonds of sisterhood can be powerful — and stronger still when the siblings are twins. But Doris McAusland and Dora Bennett of Madison, Wis., bless their hearts, are more than just close. They’re practically the same person. And frankly, it’s weird. Doris and Dora, 80 years old, were featured in a CBS News report last fall. They say they like and dislike the same foods. They met their husbands on the same day. They even had hysterectomies at the same time. And — here’s where it gets creepy — they have worn identical outfits every single day since they were toddlers. ) TO HO KP OC (ST WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM MARCH 2008 | PHYSICIANS PRACTICE | 21 http://WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Physicians Practice - March 2008

Physicians Practice - March 2008 Contents The Bigger Picture: Try a Little Tenderness Second Opinion Letters Physicians Practice Pearls: The Value of First Impressions Noteworthy Cover Story: Your Complete Guide to Patient Service Billings & Collections: Rules to Code By The Administrators Desk: Selecting an EMR Technology: Learn to Love Your Nerd Ask The Experts Coding The Guide The Tech Doctor: All About Blogs The Great Practice Makeover: When Bad Things Happen to Good Practices Start It Up - NEW! The Law: Audits 101 In Practice: Do As I Say... Pretty Please? Healthonomics: Handling the Changes Wrought by Medicare D Classifieds Advertiser Index

Physicians Practice - March 2008

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