FDA approval of new Alzheimer’s drug sets a dangerous precedent
The FDA's approval of a new Alzheimer's treatment has significant implications for future drug trials, health system costs, patient safety, and conflicts of interest. More
Reducing overuse of c-sections and cervical cancer screening
Overuse is ubiquitous across medical specialties, and obstetrics and gynecology are no exceptions. Two recent studies shine a light on the problem of overuse in women's health. More
Hospitals overuse medical tests and procedures that don’t help patients, analysis finds
“Overuse is ubiquitous,” said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute. “Nearly every hospital is doing at least some things that patients don’t really need.”
“There is improvement,” he added, “but it is very slow and it is very uneven.”
Saini, of the Lown Institute, said he hopes more attention on overuse will push hospitals to do better. “We’re trying to create new norms for what it means to be a good hospital,” he said.
Overdiagnosis and overtreatment – the experts aren’t immune either
The US health system pushes treatment over prevention. This approach has many flaws, one of the most unfortunate and costly being overdiagnosis and overtreatment. More
Enough to Wreck Their Rest: $10,322 for a Sleep Study
According to Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute, a think tank that analyzes low-value health care, sleep studies fall into a gray zone.
“They are incredibly useful and necessary in certain clinical circumstances,” he said. “But it’s known to be one that can be overused.”
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“Do I need to be knocked out for this procedure?” And other questions about anesthesia overuse
General anesthesia is necessary for some medical procedures, but can put children and older adults at risk of harm. In this guest blog, a medical student shares what they're learning about avoiding anesthesia overuse. More
Less routine care during Covid-19 is not a crisis
How can the avoidance of routine care during the pandemic benefit patients? New research on the physical and financial harms from low-value preventive care show that the pandemic might have a "silver lining." More
Designing a Successful Primary Care Physician Capitation Model
This Viewpoint proposes 7 elements necessary for a successful transition from a fee-for-service (FFS) to a capitated payment model for primary care physicians, all intended to sustain their ability to improve the quality and value of the care they provide while reducing costs. More
Measuring what matters: How hospital rankings are evolving
Last year, the Lown Institute, a Brookline, Mass.-based nonpartisan healthcare think tank, broke new ground with the release of the Lown Hospitals Index that includes metrics such as racial inclusivity, pay equity and community benefit spending. The institute is now releasing updated 2021 results for the full index starting with the May 4 announcement of the top hospitals in the U.S. for avoiding overuse of low-value tests and procedures. "What we're trying to show is the hospitals at the top of our list are showing that it can be done. It is quite possible. So, for us the rationale for doing this is to show by example what can be done and then participate in what needs to be a broader movement to have American healthcare to move in that direction. It's only when we're able to do that will we be able to solve the deeper problems in healthcare, including affordability," said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute. More
Viewpoint: A Path Forward for Alternative Payment
This Viewpoint explores existing payment models and waste elimination incentives and proposes a new approach to addressing waste in health care. More