2 doctors walk into a bar

I was reading a fascinating article, published over at medscape. Before you ask, yes, I stay current on the medical journals. Despite the frequent urges to yell at the screen or send off nasty e-mails I find that occasionally, someone over there will get it right.

Not today though.

In a article written by a vascular surgeon and a cardiologist they discuss why the health care costs of America are skyrocketing and what can be done about it. "Dollar wasting" they call it.

One of the citations they make is of how salaried surgeons at a New York hospital were ordered to increase their admissions and operations by 20% or face a pay cut. They (the authors) think its crazy for every hospital to want to be in the black.

What a crock.

There are so many things wrong with that line of thinking, from the hospital viewpoint and the surgeon viewpoint that figuring out who is right becomes moot. In the end, the patient suffers.

Medical mistakes are out of control in this country. In the land of freedom and opportunity 7 jumbo jets worth of people die every year from medical mistakes. Hospitals are run by executives, bottom-liners responsible to a board, not to the son or daughter of the patients they malign in order to cut corners.

They don't get it now, nor will they, because their system of 'health care' propagates itself on the sick. More people sick, more money for them.

Until we begin demanding and paying for people to keep us healthy, not just symptom-free but actually healthy, we (and our kids) are in big trouble.

in your face

Ya, turns out you can just moderate the comments section. I didn't have to go all joseph georbels. Such a shame, these dudes cold posting in my comments. Not even comments about me, mind you. I can deal with 'you suck' or 'what you talkin' bout foo' (although Mr.T rarely posts in here). I mean, if I cared about acceptance I would have gone to medical school, amirite?

No, what bothers me is the people using my comments section to validate their silly fake shoe ads. Acting like they want advice, about shoes mind you, but really just trying to get mah audience.

Well, enough of that.

I moderated the heck out of the comments.

In other events:

We are a good-looking group.

My dudes.

The website is done but not yet cool. Finkchiropracticcenter.com to check it out.

just do this

I post timely, important information on here as well as my own thoughts on life in general. A lot of people tell me they think it's pretty funny stuff. On occasion people comment that something I said (wrote) changed how they thought about their own health, and in the new context they were able to make better decisions. Other people think this blog is just another way for me to talk about myself.

Who is right, and what am I trying to accomplish?

I'm not telling.

What I am telling is that the idiots who come on to this blog and post their b.s. shoe ads in my comments section can go test drive a prius.

I'm locking the comments section.

the worst

Growing up, we all have that second-parent type person who helps us along, gives us advice, pulls our head out, etc.

That person is good for telling things you cannot tell to your friends, and you sure as heck can't tell your parents. I guess you could call them a bridge-friend, or something, I don't know.

When that person dies. It sucks.

I feel old now, in a way I never did before. The people who gave me advice growing up and in my first couple years in practice are dying, and not in freak accidents.

pass the salt

What's up with these made-for-TV medical doctors wearing scrubs on daily shows? Did they just come from an OR? Were they in the middle of rounds and realize they have a 50 minute show with a live audience waiting?

Am I jealous?

You bet I am.

I want thousands of screaming fans. Thousands.

Anyway. I wanted to post about a topic I am going to be covering at the Fink Chiropractic Center play-date, which I just thought up.

The play-date, I just thought up the play-date, not the topic. I don't randomly post on topics, we'd be here forever.

The greatest thing about the interwebz is the unfettered access to mountains of data about all sorts of topics. It allows you (me) to explore ideas about increasing family health with some modicum of authority. The authority of data!

Bored yet?

Fine.

Sit down with your kids and eat as a family.

Some peeps at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University posted some incredible statistics on families that eat meals together versus those that do not.

The families 'boning down' together are less likely to experience members with eating disorders, drug use, smoking, and alcohol abuse. The kids specifically are less likely to consume junk, overeat, and are less likely to be overweight.

All from sitting down to eat as a family. When you think that the 3 most chronic conditions affecting kids are from lifestyle decisions, this is pretty powerful stuff.

I can hear your thoughts you know.

Kids are too busy with practice? Have too much homework? Husband getting home late? You have a show coming on soon?

Who.
Friggin'.
Cares.

You are the parent. You are in charge of the health of your own health and that of your flock. This is a huge, huge, huge milestone for keeping your peeps healthy and giving them a shot at a long, healthy life.

Make it happen, your kids deserve it.