The US Preventive Services Task Force recently issued a draft recommendation to lower the starting age of colorectal cancer screening (CRC) from 50 to 45. We examine both the potential benefits and harms of expanding screening to a younger age group. More
Despite larger health threats consuming the nation this year, pharma did not let up on their fear-mongering advertisements. Check out a few of the scariest-- if you dare! More
How does structural racism manifest in the hospital sector and what can we do about it? At the first in the Lown Presents event series, Lown Institute leaders invited a health equity expert and the CEO of one of the most inclusive hospitals in the nation to discuss this crucial topic. More
Public health experts are striving to stop the spread of Covid-19 by spreading the word about masks, social distancing, and other preventive measures. But there is much more they can and should be doing to save lives from Covid-19, argues Harvard public health professor Dr. Mary T. Bassett, in a recent article in Nature. More
As we move toward value-based care models, how do we prioritize patients that have historically been neglected in our health care system? More
Rural hospitals are struggling in the pandemic. But will a new payment model help or hurt? More
In a keynote address for the US Deprescribing Research Network Conference, Dr. Cara Tannenbaum urged participants to reimagine the future of deprescribing research. More
Did Trump receive the "best care possible"? Or was he overtreated? More
At a presentation for the Massachusetts Health Data Collaborative, Vikas Saini and Shannon Brownlee discussed why they created the Lown Hospitals Index, how the metrics were developed, and what the results show about hospitals in Massachusetts. Watch the full presentation here! More
Many cardiologists recognize that placing coronary stents for stable heart disease has limited clinical benefit for patients. But low-value stents are still common -- how can we change this practice? New research in JAMA Internal Medicine provides some suggestions. More
How can we measure what really matters in primary care? In an essay in KevinMD, Dr. Michelle-Linh Nguyen offers a vision for better metrics in primary care. More
In this latest edition of “Lown Hospitals Q&A,” Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini talk about the prevalence and harm of hysterectomy overuse, and what the Lown Index shows about hysterectomies in US hospitals. More
Why should patient safety advocates care about medication overload? Watch Shannon Brownlee's presentation for Patient Safety Day on the importance of deprescribing as a patient safety issue. More
From drugs to masks to financial assistance, the US government has distributed Covid-19 resources in a way that exacerbates health inequities. How can we make sure that when a vaccine is ready for distribution, that it goes to those who need it most? More
A recent set of best practices on billing from a hospital industry group was hailed as promoting racial equity-- but does it go far enough for patients? More
In this week's Hospitals Q&A video, Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini discuss the American health care paradox and where hospitals fit into the equation. More
We spoke with Dr. Tom Perry, clinical associate professor at UBC to ask him about practical ways to avoid medication overload and the assumptions about medications we need to rethink in our society. More
Overprescribing of opioids can lead to dependence and serious harm, but abrupt tapers or discontinuation can also be disruptive for patients already taking opioids. How can primary care clinicians prescribe pain medications responsibly? More
To what extent have efforts to change clinician habits worked, when it comes to low-value carotid imaging? We interviewed Dr. Tim Anderson, co-author of a recent study on the topic, to find out more. More
What are safety net hospitals and why do they matter? In this latest edition of “Lown Hospitals Q&A,” Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini answer three questions about safety net hospitals. More