The frequency and harms of care cascades
How often do care cascades happen, and what harms do they cause? More
Blog
Those three little words
I still remember the first time I said those three little words. Growing up in a loving Welsh family, I’d heard them said many times. But the first time they roll off your tongue will always be different. You try to choose your moment, but sometimes the words take you, and the listener, by surprise. If “I love you” are the three most important words in life, then “I don’t know” are the three most important in medicine. They’re also the most underused. Their power comes from admitting that doctors don’t, and can’t, know everything.
Is medical education too focused on the “right answer”? Or not enough?
Some doctors say that medical school is focusing too much on social issues and not enough on curing patients. But others say the changes to medical education haven't gone far enough. More
Can value-based payments help reduce waste in health care?
Even though proven interventions exist to reduce waste on the clinical side, implementing them on a large scale is easier said than done... More
The RCT blind spot
Randomized controlled trials are known as the "gold standard" in medical research--but they also have a significant down-side... More
News story or advertisement? Advertorials obscure hospital sponsor
A new series of articles in the Boston Globe touts the generosity and quality of Boston Children’s hospital. But who is funding these articles…? More
Incidence vs mortality: Which cancers are we overdiagnosing?
Over the past several decades, the medical community has made many positive advances in cancer prevention and treatment, leading to reduced deaths from cancer. However, for some types of cancer, we have not improved mortality rates despite pouring billions of dollars into early detection efforts. Which types of cancers are we preventing, which types are […] More
Redefining informed consent: What do patients want to know?
A new study examines the definition of informed consent and finds that patients want to know much more than clinicians usually tell them. More
The Impact of Rhode Island’s Multipayer Patient-centered Medical Home Program on Utilization and Cost of Care
Medical Care journal More
We help journalists avoid reliance on sources with financial conflicts of interest
For the past 11 years, HealthNewsReview.org has helped journalists find industry-independent experts to use as sources in their stories. It’s an effort begun by journalists Jeanne Lenzer and Shannon Brownlee (now a VP at the Lown Institute), but joined by me and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD, of Georgetown not long after. More
Routine urine testing: It’s a culture problem
Testing asymptomatic adults for urinary tract infections often leads to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. So why do doctors keep doing it? More
Testing a radical approach to cancer: Less chemotherapy
This oncologist is taking a "Lownian" approach to treating advanced cancer. More
The debate around 5G’s safety is getting in the way of science
It seems 5G is likely as safe as any other cell phone technology—but that shouldn't preclude more research. More
Research on overuse harms: Where do we go from here?
How do we frame overuse not just as an issue of cost but also as an issue of harm? A recap of the Lown Institute meeting on overuse harms research. More
Why is it difficult to provide the right care to adults with dementia?
The latest edition in the Lown Right Care Series in American Family Physician offers tips for providing right care to adults with dementia. More
Virginia’s “best” hospital sues 6,000 patients each year
The University of Virginia Medical Center is ranked as the "best" hospital in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report, but the hospital is among the worst when it comes to suing patients for unpaid medical bills. More
The top ten overuse studies of 2018
Which studies on overuse in 2018 were the most influential? More
Overtreatment of diabetes leads to thousands of hospitalizations each year
A recent study finds that overtreatment of older adults for Type 2 diabetes is common, harmful, and preventable. More
Patricia Gabow Receives Lienhard Award From National Academy of Medicine for Transforming Safety Net Hospital Into Nationally Recognized Health System
Purdue bankruptcy settlement not enough, AG Healey, former addicts say
Recovering addicts who say Purdue Pharma got them hooked on opioids are turning their heads at the company’s bankruptcy deal. Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute and co-chairman of the Right Care Alliance, said measuring dollars against human lives isn’t fair. “Both Purdue and the Sacklers are really kind of dodging what the truth is here,” said Saini. “They deserve to face real justice and honestly I don’t think real justice is about the money.” More