American families spent more on hospital care than federal taxes in 2018
They say that nothing is certain but death and taxes. Maybe we should add "high health care costs" to that list of certainties... More
The “confounding” effect of compliance bias
What is compliance bias and how does it affect research on health interventions? More
Hope, Hype, and Hospitals
What do advanced cancer patients expect from their clinicians and how does this affect their treatment? More
The moral price we pay for “innovation”
Our willingness to turn a blind eye to the profiteering of biotech is a moral failing, writes Dr. Vikas Saini in a Commonhealth op-ed. More
Genomic sequencing in primary care: Promises unfulfilled
Will routine genomic sequencing be the innovation that revolutionizes medicine? Or is it more hype than substance? More
Benzos increasingly prescribed for dubious indications, study shows
A new study sheds finds that benzodiazepine are being increasingly prescribed chronic pain and long-term use, which may have harmful consequences. More
Are we over-regulating diagnostic tests?
Do FDA rules make it too difficult for new diagnostic tests to be approved? Or is it too easy? More
In pharmaceutical marketing, a little goes a long way
A new study shows that in pharmaceutical marketing, the number of doctors you target may matter more than the amount of money you give them. More
Incorporating cost into shared decision making conversations
The cost-benefit equation for lung cancer screening is missing a significant type of cost... More
Turning the tide on physician burnout
Physician burnout appears to be getting worse. These doctors are sending a call to action to address the problem. More
Can physician characteristics predict overuse?
A new study finds that observable physician characteristics don't help much in explaining overuse. Then what could be the explanation? More
Why can’t we get real hospital prices?
Why can't we get better price transparency for health care services in hospitals? Because the "real" price doesn't exist... More
“Medical schools have it completely backwards”: Why we need health education transformation
The Reimagine Medicine program started with an artist with a long experience of illness and a doctor with a long fascination with storytelling. Together, Ray Barfield and Marina Tsaplina are ready to transform medical education. More
FDA’s proposed reform for medical devices lacks teeth
In a recent Washington Post op-ed, Shannon Brownlee and Jeanne Lenzer explain why the FDA's proposed changes are unlikely to make a real difference in medical device safety. More
Measuring harm from low-value care
How frequently are patients harmed by low-value care in hospitals? A new study sheds light on hospital-acquired complications of unnecessary care. More
Community benefit spending not well defined or reported, investigation shows
An analysis by Modern Healthcare finds that reported spending on community benefits by hospitals leave out important information, and vary widely between hospitals across the country. More
Remembering Dr. Lisa Schwartz, overdiagnosis and health communication expert
Dr. Lisa Schwartz, expert in overdiagnosis and health care communication, passed away in November 2018. We remember her vast contribution to medicine and journalism. More
Unnecessary wisdom tooth removal and opioid overprescribing go hand in hand
We should not just be asking, "Why are we prescribing so many opioids" but also, "Why are we doing so many wisdom teeth extractions?” More
Another futuristic health care startup ignores overuse
Silicon Valley has the fix for primary care and - surprise! - it's more technology. More
Why we have a primary care crisis – and how we solve it
In a two-part blog series in Health Affairs, Lown Senior Vice President Shannon Brownlee and primary care doctors Andy Lazris and Alan Roth lay out the reasons behind these major issues and a blueprint to start fixing them. More