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
Introducing the Lown Right Care Series!
This new collaborative series between the Lown Institute and the Journal of the American Family Physician applies the framework of right care — evidence-based, patient-focused, high value care — to common clinical situations. More
Treats or tricks? Scary pharma ads, part 2
Halloween is time for costumes, spooky stories, and... drug advertisements? More
The narrative of “bad insurer” hides bad evidence
Why reporters need to look more carefully at evidence for costly treatments... More
Without full data, Vascepa trial results still a little bit fishy
Are omega-3 supplements the "new paradigm" in cardiovascular treatment? Not yet... More
One drug, 247 patents, $18 billion
A new report reveals how drugmaker Abbvie has abused the patent system to delay competition for its bestselling drug. More
Are bundled payments working? Yes and no.
New research on the CMS bundled payments program show mixed results - Let's break it down. More
Lown Vignette Winner: The Devil is in the Details: Combination Medications, Oversedation, and Unnecessary Testing in the Geriatric Population
Could something called "Magic Swizzle" be harmful? We talked with Dr. Ricardo Nieves about his winning vignette on the topic. More
Not-so-magic swizzle: A cautionary tale
Could something called "Magic Swizzle" be harmful? We talked with Dr. Ricardo Nieves about his winning vignette on the topic. More
To induce or not to induce, that is the question
A randomized controlled trial in NEJM finds that inducing labor reduced the rate of c-sections and hypertensive disorder. Does this mean we should induce labor in all healthy women at 39 weeks? It's not that simple. More
The four questions you need to ask your doctor
How do we get the right care in a health system that emphasizes doing more instead of doing better? The key is asking the right questions. More
Rankings revisited: What makes a hospital the “best”?
As the annual "best hospital" rankings have been released, we revisit our analysis of how hospitals get to be top-ranked. More
What’s driving America’s rural doctor shortage?
Every state in America has at least one county in which there is no doctor. What's driving the shortage of physicians and what can we do about it? More
One step into the future, and two steps back
Hospitals are developing the "check-up of the future" - but is it good for patients? More