CELEBRATING OUR ANNIVERSARIES AND PROUD ACHIEVEMENTS
20 years ago TRI-PAC Health and Wellness Advocacy was established by Prof. Victor S. Dorodny, M.D., Ph.D., MPH (Founder & Chairman of the Board of Directors), and Mr. Robert Donin, MPA, President.
Over the past 20 years, TRI-PAC Health and Wellness Advocacy emerged as a nationally recognized and respected organization for its active participation in the areas of healthcare policy design and implementation.
In practical terms, we were fortunate to be able to assist thousands of patients coping with life changing illnesses with such issues as denial of care, appropriateness of care, access to care, limits of coverage, out-of-network services, to name a few.
It is a not for profit organization Governed by a respected Industry Advisory Board, TRI-PAC has been extremely effective working with local, state and national legislators and regulators to influence policy and politics of health care, as well as the practical aspects of delivery of health services.
We are proud to successfully defend the health consumers rights of our members/clients in their fights with the likes of Kaiser Permanente, Humana, Blue Shield, Health Net and others, whose bad faith actions and inaction's were jeopardizing patent's lives and well being.
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We are also proudly celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Naturopathic Evidence-Based Wellness (NEW™) Institute.
When family health and well-being are at stake, we all want the best information available. We all want the correct information. We want unbiased information.
The National Institute of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies that we traditionally rely upon to serve as vanguards of medical authenticity are experiencing funding and manpower shortages. While these agencies are without doubt the most capable sources of evaluating legitimate health-benefit claims, they are buried by the sheer volume of their mandates, and have difficulty coping.
Dr. Dorodny, the founder of the non-profit NEW™ Institute, recognized the critical need for a repository of unbiased, timely medical research and information. The goal of NEW™ was and remains to provide such a repository of current, reliable, legitimate, hard information that empowers its members to make good, safe decisions for both consumers and providers.
The advocacy of NEW™ serves first and foremost as a member resource. When appropriate, it also assist regulatory agencies such as the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in determining the legitimacy of claims made by product suppliers and vendors.
Finally, it provides an authoritative resource for its members who manufacture food supplements to educate their markets about the true benefits of their products through compelling and compliant advertising and marketing.
All-in-all, please Be Well!
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For more information on our organizations, membership, etc., please contact Mr. Robert A. Donin, M.P.A. by mail: 11693 San Vicente, Suite 346, Los Angeles, CA 90049, (310) 420-2169, or by e-mail: robertdonin@yahoo.com
Founder & Chairperson of Board, Victor S. Dorodny, M.D., PhD, MPH can be reached by e-mail: Dorodny@doctor.com
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ПРАЗДНУЕМ НАШИ ЮБИЛЕИ И ГОРДЫЕ ДОСТИЖЕНИЯ
20 лет назад TRI-PAC –Организация Защиты Здоровья И Прав Медицинских Потребителей была создана Академиком Виктором С. Дородный, Доктор медицины, Доктор философии, Магистр Организации Здравоохранения. Основатель и Председатель Совета Директоров, и г-н Роберт Донин, MPA, Президент и Исполнительный Директор
За последние 20 лет, TRI-PA Организация Защиты Здо
ровья И Прав Медицинских Потребителей превратилась в национально признанную и уважаемую организацию которая активно участвует в области здравоохранения разработке и осуществлении медицинской политики государства и отдельных штатов..
В практическом плане нам повезло быть в состоянии помочь тысячам пациентов справляться с болезнями угрожавшими их жизни и бороться на их створоне к таких случаях, как отказ в помощи, адекватности медицинской помощи, доступа к медицинской помощи, пределы покрытия, вне сетевых услуг, и многих других.
Это некоммерческая организация, регулируемая Консультативным Советом была чрезвычайно эффективной в работы с местными, региональными и национальными законодателями и регуляторами влияющих на политику здравоохранения, а также практические аспекты доставки медицинские услуги.
Мы гордимся тем, что смогли успешно защитить здоровье тысяч и тысяч потребителей в их боях с подобными Kaiser Permanente, Humana, Blue Shield, Net и многими другими страховыми компаниями чья недобросовестность, действий и бездействия ушрожали жизни и здоровью пациентов.
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Мы также с гордостью отмечаем 10-летие Института Натуропатической Доказательной Медицины-(NEW ™) институте.
Когда здоровье семьи и благополучие находятся под угрозой, мы все хотим наилучшую имеющейся информации. Мы все хотим правильную информацию. Мы хотим объективную и своевременную информацию.
Национальный институт здоровья (NIH), Национальная Администрация пищевых продуктов и медикаментов (FDA), и другими учреждениями, которые мы традиционно полагаемся проверять качесва и подлинность продуктов и пищевых добавок испытывают нехватки финансирование и рабочей силы. Хотя эти учреждения, без сомнения, наиболее надёжными источниками такой информации, они похоронены под объемами работы и мандатов.
Доктор Дородный, основатель некоммерческого NEW ™ института, вовремя оценил насущность и необходимость сщздания хранилища объективной, своевременной медицинской информациию
Цель NEW ™ была и остается предоставления такого виртуального хранилища, надежной, законной, краткой информации, которая дает возможность как потребителемб так и производителям, принимать правильныеб своевременные, и безопастные решения..
NEW ™ Институт, в первую очередь, служит ресурсом для потребителей. При необходимости, мы также помогаем регулирующих органов, таких как FDA и Федеральная торговая комиссия (FTC) в определении законности претензий, предъявленных поставщиками и продавцам продукции.
Наконец, он обеспечивает авторитетный ресурс для своих изготовителей пищевыч добавок и помогает им правильно и законно рекламировать и продавать свою продукцию..
Для получения дополнительной информации о нашых организациях., пожалуйста, свяжитесь с г-н Роберт А. Донин, MPA (Mr. Robert A. Donin. MPA) по почте: 11693 Сан-Висенте, Suite 346, Los Angeles, CA 90049, (310) 420-2169, или по электронной почте: robertdonin@yahoo.com
С основателем и председателем совета Академиком Виктор Семёновичем Дородным можно связаться по электронной почте: Dorodny@doctor.com
Showing posts with label Dr. Dorodny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr. Dorodny. Show all posts
Friday, November 23, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The War Against Doctors
Reprinted from the http://townhall.com/columnists/halscherz/2012/05/15/the_war_against_doctors
by Hal Sherz
by Hal Sherz
Imagine completing college, then 4 years of graduate school and finally working as a trainee for three to ten years while earning 3-4 times the Federal Poverty level. Then you are permitted to work on your own and go into business, but are unable to set the rates that you will charge your customers.
You are required by the federal and state government to pay for the privilege of working, and have to comply with intrusive regulations making it more costly to conduct business with no ability to pass these costs along to your customers.
You have almost a 100% chance of being sued during your career and in many cases cannot get insurance to protect you. Your job requires 60-80 hours per week and weekends and nights no longer belong to you.
Your business is being threatened by individuals who have not gone down your path and want to get into your business “through the back door”, because they believe that they can do an equivalent job without all of the sacrifice that you have made. And they are getting this opportunity.
This is the reality for US physicians.
SD is a plastic surgeon who needed to leave her state and move across the country because it became impossible to meet overhead and to earn a salary. MB is a urologist in the southeast who could not afford her overhead because insurance companies slashed her reimbursements, so she had to move into an 1100 square foot office. RA is a surgeon in the north who faces the possibility of losing his entire referral base which the local hospital now controls, unless he cooperates with them. JS, an ophthalmologist and her husband, a surgeon, could not make ends meet in California because insurance reimbursement is so low and had to leave to provide for their family of 4.
At a time when it is trendy to invoke the term “war” against various groups, such as the contrived, GOP “war against women” or “war against seniors”, it may appear trite to say that there is a war against doctors; but there is.
This has been going on for decades and cannot be blamed on President Obama or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but sadly, both have facilitated an escalation of this war.
One might ask- is there a war against doctors? The simple answer is yes and it is all about money and control. There is no healthcare without doctors, who happen to be at the center of the myriad of healthcare events under their daily control. Healthcare is a $2.3 Trillion annual economy accounting for approximately 16% of our gross domestic product. There is tremendous incentive to control doctors and hence, the flow of huge dollars. Entities have unsuccessfully tried to do so in the past. Insurance companies in the 1980s tried doing so using capitated HMOs. Publicly traded Wall St. firms in the 1990s made a futile attempt to buy medical practices to squeeze out profits by controlling physician behavior.
The lessons of the past were not lost on the architects of the ACA, but it required a group assault on physicians, coming at them from different directions. The cabal of the hospital and the insurance industries, along with the federal government posed an almost insurmountable challenge. In exchange for the support of the American Hospital Association, the federal government gave hospitals a tremendous advantage, by outlawing physicians from opening their own hospitals, which would naturally compete against existing hospitals. Furthermore, the ACA promotes Accountable Care Organizations as a preferred reimbursement model for healthcare. This arrangement is like capitated HMOs, but on steroids. The third party payer issues a single payment for a hospitalization and leaves it to the ACO to divide the payment fairly (not likely).
In anticipation of this change in reimbursement, hospitals are purchasing physician practices in an attempt to control healthcare market share. The likely outcome will be fewer doctors who are self-employed, as reported in the Wall St. Journal, and ultimately, the demise of the private practice of medicine.
The war against physicians is being waged on many fronts. Trial attorneys are fighting to preserve the status quo of the medical malpractice system, where they are the primary beneficiaries. It is coming from non-physician healthcare providers such as nurse practitioners or optometrists. They hire aggressive political lobbyists and spread around hundreds of millions of dollars to influence politicians who then create laws that confer physician status upon these allied healthcare professionals.
Public awareness of this war on their doctors is essential in order to understand the antipathy of doctors for Obamacare, and the concern that they have regarding the future of medicine in the US. It warrants a strong public outcry because when the doctors no longer work for their patients, but instead for some other entity, then heaven help our patients.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Моя краткая авто-биография
Aкадемик Дородный, Виктор СеменовичАкадемик В.С. Дородный, ректор и основатель "Naturopathic Evidence-based Wellness Institute"(Институт Доказательной Интегрированной Медицины), Малибу, Калифорния с 2003 г. до настоящего времени.
Служил Вице-президентом "Ай Си Эн Фармасьютикал" (ICN, Inc.) по корпоративному развитию в Восточной Европе, и одновременно служил Иностранным Советником Фонда Развития Экономических Наук России; Иностранным Советником Министра Здравоохранения Российской Федерации; Президентом Северного Американского Отделения РусскогоНационального Фонда " ЗДОРОВЬЕ".
До 1999 г. служил Медицинским директором "Superior Consultant Company, Inc.", Детройт, Мичиган, США - единственной в мире полностью интегрированной компании по медицине, организации и управлению здравоохранением, информационным и компьютерным системам.
Сферы компетенции Академика В.С.Дородного как врача-руководителя, консультанта и успешного международного бизнесмена включают корпоративное развитие, системный анализ организации и управления компаний, инвестиции, слияние и приобретение компаний, оптимизацию активов, коммерческую разведку.
Международный эксперт по военной медицине и медицине катастроф, Командор ВМФ США в отставке, Кувейт-Ирак (1991-1992), Командующий Медицинской Службы Береговой Охраны Южной Калифорнии (2003-2005), реактивирован в 2005 для борьбы с последствиями стихийных бедствий в США.
Также служил Техническим Консультантом Всероссийского Центра Медицины Катастроф "ЗАЩИТА", Москва, Россия (1999-2003гг.), Академик В.С.Дородный удостоен грамот и наград Генштаба России за восстановление Медицинской службы Чечни (2000-2002).
Практикующий врач, ученый и практический технолог Академик В.С. Дородный является признанным международным экспертом по фармацевтической промышленности, фармацевтической экономике, по организации и управлению медициной и здравоохранением на основе систем информации и связи, системам по предоплатной медицине, по телемедицине, а также многим другим.
Академик В.С.Дородный, являясь Учредителем и Президентом компании "Неаlth PRO Worldwide,Inc." ("Интер ПРО Здоровье", Пасадена, Калифорния, США), служил с 1993 года: Консультантом по Здравоохранению Президента США; Консультантом Организации Объединённых Наций по Экономике и Социальному Развитию; Техническим Консультантом Государственного Департамента Юстиции США и Федерального Бюро Расследований; Вице-президентом Американской Национальной Организации Врачей-Организаторов Здравоохранения; Членом Комиссии Губернатора и Сената Штата Калифорния по Перестройке Здравоохранения.
В настоящее время академик В.С.Дородный является Членом Совета Директоров Американской Ассоциации Врачей-Технологов, Американской Ассоциации Крупных Врачебных Организаций; Членом Научно-Консультативной Службы Конгресса Калифорнии, Членом Совета Директоров Американского Национального Конгресса Врачей-Организаторов Здравоохранения; Почетным Членом Международного Общества по оценке применения и внедрения технологии в Медицине и Здравоохранении; Советником Национального Института Альтернативного Будущего США, Советником Американской Государственной Администрации по качеству и безопасности пищевых продуктов и лекарств (US FDA).
Доктор Медицины, окончил Медицинский Институт имени Н.И. Пирогова, Одесса, Украина; Действительный Член Международной Академии Информатизации, Женева, Швейцария; Магистр Здравоохранения; интернатура, Медицинский Факультет Университета Альберта Энштейна, Бронкс, Нью-Йорк.
Академик В.С.Дородный окончил резидентуру по Анестезиологии и Реаниматологии, Медицинский Центр Университета Южной Калифорнии,Лос Анжелес, Калифорния, является дипломантом Американской Медицинской Академии по Обезболиванию и выпускником Института Организаторов Здравоохранения, Университет Южной Калифорнии в Лос Анжелесе; Дипломант Американской Коллегии Врачей-Юристов.
Автор многочисленных статей и книг, Член Редакционного Правления многочисленных международных медицинских журналов, единственный в США врач-член Редакционного Правления крупнейших международных журналов "Information Security-Безопасность и Охрана Информации" и "US Pharmacist Американский Врач-Провизор".
Частый спикер штатных, национальных и международных конференций по Медицине и Здравоохранению. Медицинский Корреспондент Лос Анжелевского еженедельника "Herald Tribune" и комментатор Американского Радио и Телевидения.
До 1999 г. служил Медицинским директором "Superior Consultant Company, Inc.", Детройт, Мичиган, США - единственной в мире полностью интегрированной компании по медицине, организации и управлению здравоохранением, информационным и компьютерным системам.
Сферы компетенции Академика В.С.Дородного как врача-руководителя, консультанта и успешного международного бизнесмена включают корпоративное развитие, системный анализ организации и управления компаний, инвестиции, слияние и приобретение компаний, оптимизацию активов, коммерческую разведку.
Международный эксперт по военной медицине и медицине катастроф, Командор ВМФ США в отставке, Кувейт-Ирак (1991-1992), Командующий Медицинской Службы Береговой Охраны Южной Калифорнии (2003-2005), реактивирован в 2005 для борьбы с последствиями стихийных бедствий в США.
Также служил Техническим Консультантом Всероссийского Центра Медицины Катастроф "ЗАЩИТА", Москва, Россия (1999-2003гг.), Академик В.С.Дородный удостоен грамот и наград Генштаба России за восстановление Медицинской службы Чечни (2000-2002).
Практикующий врач, ученый и практический технолог Академик В.С. Дородный является признанным международным экспертом по фармацевтической промышленности, фармацевтической экономике, по организации и управлению медициной и здравоохранением на основе систем информации и связи, системам по предоплатной медицине, по телемедицине, а также многим другим.
Академик В.С.Дородный, являясь Учредителем и Президентом компании "Неаlth PRO Worldwide,Inc." ("Интер ПРО Здоровье", Пасадена, Калифорния, США), служил с 1993 года: Консультантом по Здравоохранению Президента США; Консультантом Организации Объединённых Наций по Экономике и Социальному Развитию; Техническим Консультантом Государственного Департамента Юстиции США и Федерального Бюро Расследований; Вице-президентом Американской Национальной Организации Врачей-Организаторов Здравоохранения; Членом Комиссии Губернатора и Сената Штата Калифорния по Перестройке Здравоохранения.
В настоящее время академик В.С.Дородный является Членом Совета Директоров Американской Ассоциации Врачей-Технологов, Американской Ассоциации Крупных Врачебных Организаций; Членом Научно-Консультативной Службы Конгресса Калифорнии, Членом Совета Директоров Американского Национального Конгресса Врачей-Организаторов Здравоохранения; Почетным Членом Международного Общества по оценке применения и внедрения технологии в Медицине и Здравоохранении; Советником Национального Института Альтернативного Будущего США, Советником Американской Государственной Администрации по качеству и безопасности пищевых продуктов и лекарств (US FDA).
Доктор Медицины, окончил Медицинский Институт имени Н.И. Пирогова, Одесса, Украина; Действительный Член Международной Академии Информатизации, Женева, Швейцария; Магистр Здравоохранения; интернатура, Медицинский Факультет Университета Альберта Энштейна, Бронкс, Нью-Йорк.
Академик В.С.Дородный окончил резидентуру по Анестезиологии и Реаниматологии, Медицинский Центр Университета Южной Калифорнии,Лос Анжелес, Калифорния, является дипломантом Американской Медицинской Академии по Обезболиванию и выпускником Института Организаторов Здравоохранения, Университет Южной Калифорнии в Лос Анжелесе; Дипломант Американской Коллегии Врачей-Юристов.
Автор многочисленных статей и книг, Член Редакционного Правления многочисленных международных медицинских журналов, единственный в США врач-член Редакционного Правления крупнейших международных журналов "Information Security-Безопасность и Охрана Информации" и "US Pharmacist Американский Врач-Провизор".
Частый спикер штатных, национальных и международных конференций по Медицине и Здравоохранению. Медицинский Корреспондент Лос Анжелевского еженедельника "Herald Tribune" и комментатор Американского Радио и Телевидения.
Monday, December 20, 2010
The AMA stands in the way of nationwide implementation of HIT!?
Washington, D.C. – The American Medical Association (AMA) urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to revise the Medicare e-prescribing penalty policy in a letter sent to HHS Secretary Sebelius. AMA asserts that this policy, which would penalize physicians in 2012 if they don’t e-prescribe in the first six months of 2011, "will hurt efforts to implement widespread health IT adoption among physician practices and cause them to take on needless financial and administrative burdens".
Such assertion could not be further from the truth, as implementation of e-prescribing will foster widespread use of HIT, and specifically electronic medical records (EMR). Implementation of e-prescribing will reduce incidence of medication errors, reduce complications of multi-pharmacy and will significantly reduce fraud and abuse of prescription medications.
The facts are in direct contradiction to statements by AMA Board Secretary Steven J. Stack, M.D. regarding the issue, as not aligning these programs will ultimately delay physicians’ efforts to adopt a complete EMR.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS) has said that physicians cannot receive incentives from both the Medicare e-prescribing incentive program and the Medicare EHR incentive program simultaneously. However, if physicians choose not to participate in the 2011 e-prescribing program, they will face penalties in 2012 and 2013
Once again, the once relevant organization ends up with an egg on its face. I guess the Board of AMA as utilized the same due diligence philosophy used in its ill-fated commercial endorsement of Sunbeam products without testing what it was putting its stamp of approval on.
Dr. Stack, for one, makes me proud of having the foresight to quit AMA in 1981!
For more information on AMA's cockeyed decision process, please contact:
Lisa Lecas
AMA Media Relations
312-464-5980
lisa.lecas@ama-assn.org
Sunday, November 21, 2010
TeleMed Partners joins imminent telemedicine boom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Nov. 22, 2010
Malibu, California
CONTACT: Eva Peel, VP, Corporate Communications
Info@TeleMedPartners.com
Telemed Partners joins the imminent telemedicine boom, as Prof. Victor S. Dorodny, MD, is realigning his 17-year-old health care policy, economics and information technology consulting company, Health Pro Worldwide, Inc., and refocusing on the hot fields of health information technology (HIT) and telemedicine.
The new company, TeleMed Partners, benefiting from almost two decades of expertise, fosters strategic partnerships between HIT manufacturers, medical service providers, consumers, and payors.
Its first consulting client is US Tele-Medicine of Beverly Hills. “The current US health care system needs to expand the use of health information technologies and telemedicine. The system emerging in the wake of new health care legislation will crash without it,” says Dr. Victor Dorodny. “Adding thirty million health care consumers, while mandating extended coverage, combined with increased demand for health care from the aging baby boomers is straining the system at the seams. Telemedicine seems to be our best viable alternative to provide health care for the ever growing needs of the consumer, especially the chronically ill and aging. I have no doubt that health care delivery in the US will change dramatically in the next ten years through the adoption of telemedicine. We are in the convergent space defined by medicine, information, and technology, and plan to work hard on integrating them for the benefit of the health care consumers.”
Prof. Dorodny, MD, ND, PhD, MPH (http://www.drdorodny.com/) President & CEO of TeleMed Partners, was one of the creators of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). He has served on the Advisory Board of the Assoc. of Medical Director of Information Systems and is the Past President of the National Assoc. of Managed Care Physicians (Western Division).
He conceived, designed, and led development of Knowledge-based Health Information Systems (KbHIS©) operational databases for healthcare organizations. He has consulted for the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Hospital Organizations, the National Association of Consulting Pharmacists, the National Pharmaceutical Council, and the FDA, and is internationally recognized for advancing electronic medical/health record technologies, and promoting confidentiality and security of health information.
For an expanded biography please see http://www.drdorodny.com/.
#######
Malibu, California
CONTACT: Eva Peel, VP, Corporate Communications
Info@TeleMedPartners.com
Telemed Partners joins the imminent telemedicine boom, as Prof. Victor S. Dorodny, MD, is realigning his 17-year-old health care policy, economics and information technology consulting company, Health Pro Worldwide, Inc., and refocusing on the hot fields of health information technology (HIT) and telemedicine.
The new company, TeleMed Partners, benefiting from almost two decades of expertise, fosters strategic partnerships between HIT manufacturers, medical service providers, consumers, and payors.
Its first consulting client is US Tele-Medicine of Beverly Hills. “The current US health care system needs to expand the use of health information technologies and telemedicine. The system emerging in the wake of new health care legislation will crash without it,” says Dr. Victor Dorodny. “Adding thirty million health care consumers, while mandating extended coverage, combined with increased demand for health care from the aging baby boomers is straining the system at the seams. Telemedicine seems to be our best viable alternative to provide health care for the ever growing needs of the consumer, especially the chronically ill and aging. I have no doubt that health care delivery in the US will change dramatically in the next ten years through the adoption of telemedicine. We are in the convergent space defined by medicine, information, and technology, and plan to work hard on integrating them for the benefit of the health care consumers.”
Prof. Dorodny, MD, ND, PhD, MPH (http://www.drdorodny.com/) President & CEO of TeleMed Partners, was one of the creators of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). He has served on the Advisory Board of the Assoc. of Medical Director of Information Systems and is the Past President of the National Assoc. of Managed Care Physicians (Western Division).
He conceived, designed, and led development of Knowledge-based Health Information Systems (KbHIS©) operational databases for healthcare organizations. He has consulted for the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Hospital Organizations, the National Association of Consulting Pharmacists, the National Pharmaceutical Council, and the FDA, and is internationally recognized for advancing electronic medical/health record technologies, and promoting confidentiality and security of health information.
For an expanded biography please see http://www.drdorodny.com/.
#######
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
sliMDream™ ( aka triMDream™ )-Innovations in Medical Weight Control
...available to residents of Los Angeles county October 15, 2009.
This proprietary weight loss system is based upon my 34 years of clinical, academic and research experience.
Further, I incorporate up-to-date world-wide research and current recommendations by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and American College of Physicians (ACP).
sliMDream™ ( aka triMDream™ ) system is an individualized, multi-component lifestyle intervention system to optimize, stabilize and maintain height/sex/age-appropriate weight.
sliMDream™ ( aka triMDream™ ) system includes, but is not limited to, following modalities:
· behavioral modification
· suppression of appetite
· smart nutrition with energy deficit
· adequate hydration
· management of sleep patterns and stress reduction
· appropriate physical activity with energy deficit
· metabolic enhancers
· meal replacement
Please call (424) 204-5004 to be directed to a location near you to learn the essential 7 "seas" to success.
Be Well!
Dr.D.
This proprietary weight loss system is based upon my 34 years of clinical, academic and research experience.
Further, I incorporate up-to-date world-wide research and current recommendations by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and American College of Physicians (ACP).
sliMDream™ ( aka triMDream™ ) system is an individualized, multi-component lifestyle intervention system to optimize, stabilize and maintain height/sex/age-appropriate weight.
sliMDream™ ( aka triMDream™ ) system includes, but is not limited to, following modalities:
· behavioral modification
· suppression of appetite
· smart nutrition with energy deficit
· adequate hydration
· management of sleep patterns and stress reduction
· appropriate physical activity with energy deficit
· metabolic enhancers
· meal replacement
Please call (424) 204-5004 to be directed to a location near you to learn the essential 7 "seas" to success.
Be Well!
Dr.D.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Diabetes, Heart Disease and Sea Vegetables.
Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Sea Vegatables originally published by Well Being Journal, Vol.13, #3, May-June 2004.
What's the hoopla with "healing" lopps?
Originally posted Wednesday, February 28, 2007 on www.AskDrD.comIonized wrist bracelets are popular over-the-counter alternative treatments for pain.
Originally "developed" by Dr. Manuel Porto in 1973, only 4 million bracelets have been sold worldwide to counteract the damaging effects of positive ions.
Negative ions are generally abundant in nature through plants, waterfalls, rain storms and forests—all of which might offer a natural good feeling.
These ions, unfortunately, might be depleted in urban areas as a result of modern technology, pollution and the greenhouse effects.
The human body is exposed to positive ions from electronic equipment, cell phones, electrical wiring, and machinery encountered in everyday modern life
Physical stress and exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) Rays may also elevate the positive ion levels within the body.
Research suggests that excessive positive ion levels might be associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) lack of concentration, muscle and joint aches, and feeling of nausea, etc.
Contrary to my opinions in the initial (2006) report on the subject, further review of relevant literature and research clearly demonstrate that there is no clear and/or convincing evidence as to the effectiveness of the ionized bracelets and the mechanisms of their action remains in dispute.
In 2002, the Scientific Assembly of the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) was presented with an original prospective study by Robert Bratton, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida on the effect of ionized wrist bracelets on musculoskeletal pain.
Patients were then randomized to receive either ionized bracelets, or placebo bracelets that exactly matched the appearance of the ionized bracelets.
Patients were reporting pain at baseline and while wearing the bracelet for up to 4 weeks. At the outset of the study, 80% of subjects believed that the ionized bracelets would help pain.
After the 4 week trial, both groups did report significant reductions in pain from baseline at all study points, despite the fact that there was no significant difference in the pain scores.
These findings echoed those of a 2002 prospective trial of magnetized bracelets for carpal tunnel syndrome pain. (Carter R, Hall T, Aspy CB, Mold J.
The effectiveness of magnet therapy for treatment of wrist pain attributed to carpal tunnel syndrome. J Fam Pract. 2002;51:38-40.)
Two years later (Dec.17,2004), Medscape Medical News reported that magnetic bracelets may reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, suggest the results of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study published in the December issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ. 2004;329:1450-1454) and sponsored by the Netherlands Heart Foundation and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.
Investigators from the Peninsula Medical School evaluated the effects of bracelet therapy in 194 patients aged 45 to 80 years with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.
Comparative analysis showed greater reduction of pain in the standard magnet group as compared with placebo.
Unfortunately, the study does not resolve the extent to which the effect of magnetic bracelets is specific or due to placebo.
Also, in 2004, there was a British study (Harlow T, Greaves C, White A, et al. Randomized controlled trial of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. BMJ 2004; 329:1450-1454) devoted to the effects of magnetic bracelets on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
The study "documented" the specific therapeutic effects of the bracelets evident by the reduction of pain, stiffness and improvement in the functioning score.
Unfortunately, again and again, the investigators were not able to conclude if their data was due to specific effects on bracelets, a placebo, or both. (!)
To address the issues of bracelet-induced v. placebo effect a definitive study was conducted by the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, D.C. , Canada in 2005 and reported in the Journal of Evidence-based Nursing (Evid Based Nurs. 2005; 8(3):89 (ISSN: 1367-6539).
It "suggested" that patients who wore bracelets reported reduced pain from osteoarthritis of the hip or knee compared with patients wearing placebo bracelets.
There is a working "hypothesis" that thee positive metallic ions could, possibly, increase the level of allergen-mediated mast cell activation, which might be one of the mechanisms mediating exacerbation of allergen-driven asthma symptoms by air pollution, as well as chronic fatigue, nausea, headaches, general malaise, and, probably, recent stock market declines.(?)
However, there is no clear & convincing evidence of such correlation.
Further, a recent study from the University of Kentucky (Brain Behav Immun. 2005; 19(3):195-200 (ISSN: 0889-1591) was dedicated to the effects of "dispositional optimism"."
"Dispositional optimism" is defined by "...generalized positive expectations for the future, on physical health showed that it is more likely to be a positive consequence of optimists' greater engagement during difficult stressors...”
Fortunately for health consumers, US Government disagrees with presented "evidence", and is pursuing manufacturers of different magnetic/ionized bracelets with "dispositional pessimism":
In 2000, the Consumer Justice Center sued QT, Inc., and its owners for false advertising.The suit was settled with a nondisclosure agreement.
However, it is safe to assume that the settlement agreement included payment and a pledge to stop making most of the claims that the suit challenged.
A class-action suit is pending, and a false advertising suit is pending against the marketers of a similar device called the Balance Bracelet.In June 2003, the FTC charged QT, Inc, Q-Ray Company, Bio-Metal, Inc., and their principals, Que Te (Andrew) Park and Jung Joo Park, with false advertising, and the federal district court in Chicago issued a temporary restraining order freezing their assets and prohibiting further use of misleading claims.
In May 2004, the FTC filed a similar suit against Balance Bracelet marketers Media Maverick, Inc., of San Luis Obispo, California, and its officers Mark Jones and Charles Cody.
Among other things, the company's Web site had claimed:"...The Balance Bracelet is designed to aid the body in helping itself through electro-polarization. This helps the body return to its normal ionic balance. The Balance Bracelet acts on the body absorbing the static electricity that causes changes in different parts of the body..."
In September 2006, the Chicago court sided with the FTC and ordered Que Te Park and his companies to turn over $22.5 million in net profits and provide up to $64.5 million more in refunds to consumers who had bought the bracelets.
During the trial, Park testified that he "...could not define the term "ionization" but picked it because it was simple and easy to remember...”
The court concluded that his testimony on ionization was "contradictory and full of obfuscation" and that "he is a clever marketer but a poor witness."Park also acknowledged that QT had at least a 25% refund rate from dissatisfied customers (more than 100,000 people).
The FTC has set up a hotline number, 202-326-2063, for consumers with questions about the court’s opinion and order.
The bottom line: Armed with the "scientific" evidence above, my natural "dispositional optimism" (probably a placebo effect!?), and my deep appreciation of its artistic (and conversation starting) value, I will continue to wear my "negative ionic" pink-on-pink wristbands.
Be well!
--
This article is to be used for education and general discussion purposes only. It does not constitute medical opinion and should not be used for or relied upon as medical advice. Publication of this newsletter does not create physician-patient relationship between the reader and the author. The article does not contain comprehensive description of the subject issues discussed. It is based on present medical knowledge which is subject to change and is unclear in numerous respects. Statements regarding the bio-efficacy of any and all bracelets (ionic, magnetic, decorative), and/or wristbands have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The issues discussed can not be resolved without specific analysis of the specific circumstances of each person. The readers should consult with their individual health care/wellness professional to resolve their individual situation.
Why can(?) anal sex kill
First posted Saturday, March 3, 2007 on www.AskDrD.comAn "authoritative" website, capable of inducing a mental image, claims" "...It’s important to remember that HIV can be transmitted through anal sex, especially anal intercourse.
In fact, the risk of HIV transmission is greater than it is in vaginal intercourse because the lining of the rectum tears more easily than the vagina. The resulting skin breaks and bleeding increase the possibility of the transmission of bodily fluids containing the virus that causes AIDS.
Such a conclusion can be reached only by a militantly ignorant author.
Review of the foundational (written by yours truly in 1996), and current literature on the subject begs to disagree.
My, then revolutionary, theories of 13 years ago were noticed, (after years of ridiculing) and acknowledged by the only organization that really counts:
"... In fact, unprotected (without a condom) anal sex (intercourse) is considered to be very risky behavior.
It is possible for either sex partner to become infected with HIV during anal sex. HIV can be found in the blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, or vaginal fluid of a person infected with the virus.
In general, the person receiving the semen is at greater risk of getting HIV because the lining of the rectum is thin and may allow the virus to enter the body during anal sex.
However, a person who inserts his penis into an infected partner also is at risk because HIV can enter through the urethra (the opening at the tip of the penis) or through small cuts, abrasions, or open sores on the penis..."
But some advice never changes, whether practiced or not:
"...If people choose to have anal sex, they should use a latex condom. Most of the time, condoms work well.
However, condoms are more likely to break during anal sex than during vaginal sex.
Thus, even with a condom, anal sex can be risky.
A person should use generous amounts of water-based lubricant in addition to the condom to reduce the chances of the condom breaking..."
The only practical way not to get infected during sex, is to avoid having it all together.
Be Well!
My sincere thanks to the Editorial and Publishing leadership of the US Pharmacist Journal for their foresight in March of 1996 (eleven years ago!) to take on an unpopular, but an important issue; and to Birdie for being my creative inspiration.
***This article is to be used for education and general discussion purposes only. It does not constitute medical opinion and should not be used for or relied upon as medical advice. Publication of this article does not create physician-patient relationship between the reader and the author. Dr.Dorodny assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any and all actions and/or inactions by any person(s) as a result of this article. The article does not contain comprehensive description of the subject issues discussed. It is based on present medical knowledge which is subject to change and is unclear in numerous respects. The issued discussed in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The issues discussed can not be resolved without specific analysis of the specific circumstances of each person. The readers should consult with their individual health care/wellness professional to resolve their individual situation.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
From Mangled Care to Direct Health CarING©
The process of health carING© is almost insurmountable in its multifaceted complexity, thus according to the rules of non-linear dynamics it simply can not be “managed”.
What can be managed, meaning rationed, are the ever-rising costs of such carING©.
“Managed care” is a primary oxymoron by default; in its present form is best described as mangled care.
When originally introduced to our naive country and promoted by then ,and still, misguided and ill qualified Mrs. Clinton and her Jackson Hole Task Force, mangled care was, defined as:
What can be managed, meaning rationed, are the ever-rising costs of such carING©.
“Managed care” is a primary oxymoron by default; in its present form is best described as mangled care.
When originally introduced to our naive country and promoted by then ,and still, misguided and ill qualified Mrs. Clinton and her Jackson Hole Task Force, mangled care was, defined as:
" A prepaid risk-based system of integrated health care delivery, having appropriate capabilities to improve quality of care and manage utilization and cost of a given population.” (Thomas Morrow, MD., at NMHCC/IT Fall 1998, Los Angeles, CA)
These for-profit extremely profitable mangled care companies have embraced, and function under divergent and practically mutually exclusive core values.
On one hand, these companies are obligated to provide rather than ration health care services.
On the other, their entire existence hinges on their obligation and ability to generate consistent profits for their executives and shareholders.
More often than not, provision of appropriate health carING© and profit margins of mangled care companies come into direct conflict.
This conflict fuels a “double explosion” of the system: while availability and quality of health services goes down; costs of services to purchasers and profits of mangled care companies go up.
This abominable situation creates significant financial “counter-incentives” to provision of appropriate, accessible, affordable health carING© which can be gauged by the divergence coefficient.
Such counter-incentives further negatively effect already financially squeezed powerless and frequently frustrated health providers.
In addition to divergent and conflicting core values, double explosion, financial counter-incentives and overall patient and provider frustration there is, what I coined, business disconnect.
Entire purpose for insurance, companies, HMOs and other "mangled" health care organizations existence is to grab as many pennies from consumer’s health care dollar as they are allowed to by the workers.
Business disconnects exist due to interlined logistical, financial, physical and ethical aspects of mangled health care:
•The recipient usually does not request, does not order, or pay for the service.
•The payor never requests, does not receive, nor order the service.
•The orderer does not pay, nor receive the service.
In order to achieve their business objectives, here are some of the strategies used:
•If someone is already paying a lot, let him or her continue.
•Even if a lot of people complain about managed care quality, it won’t contain cost.
•Never provide coverage unless the treatment is unpleasant.
•Quality is being in a waiting room with people who earn more money than you do.
Please visit www.workingamerica.org/healthcarehustle maintained by AFL-CIO for real life stories.
Despite such an unorthodox business model, they do grab a sizable chunk: 17 cents out of every healthcare dollar without actually working, being sick, or providing services.
Here are three of many “secrets” in health carING © that health insurance companies do not want health consumers to know:
• Health consumers can request and receive health carING© from doctors, nurses,
These for-profit extremely profitable mangled care companies have embraced, and function under divergent and practically mutually exclusive core values.
On one hand, these companies are obligated to provide rather than ration health care services.
On the other, their entire existence hinges on their obligation and ability to generate consistent profits for their executives and shareholders.
More often than not, provision of appropriate health carING© and profit margins of mangled care companies come into direct conflict.This conflict fuels a “double explosion” of the system: while availability and quality of health services goes down; costs of services to purchasers and profits of mangled care companies go up.
This abominable situation creates significant financial “counter-incentives” to provision of appropriate, accessible, affordable health carING© which can be gauged by the divergence coefficient.
Such counter-incentives further negatively effect already financially squeezed powerless and frequently frustrated health providers.
In addition to divergent and conflicting core values, double explosion, financial counter-incentives and overall patient and provider frustration there is, what I coined, business disconnect.
Entire purpose for insurance, companies, HMOs and other "mangled" health care organizations existence is to grab as many pennies from consumer’s health care dollar as they are allowed to by the workers.
Business disconnects exist due to interlined logistical, financial, physical and ethical aspects of mangled health care:•The recipient usually does not request, does not order, or pay for the service.
•The payor never requests, does not receive, nor order the service.
•The orderer does not pay, nor receive the service.
In order to achieve their business objectives, here are some of the strategies used:
•If someone is already paying a lot, let him or her continue.
•Even if a lot of people complain about managed care quality, it won’t contain cost.
•Never provide coverage unless the treatment is unpleasant.
•Quality is being in a waiting room with people who earn more money than you do.
Please visit www.workingamerica.org/healthcarehustle maintained by AFL-CIO for real life stories.
Despite such an unorthodox business model, they do grab a sizable chunk: 17 cents out of every healthcare dollar without actually working, being sick, or providing services.
Here are three of many “secrets” in health carING © that health insurance companies do not want health consumers to know:
• Health consumers can request and receive health carING© from doctors, nurses,
pharmacists, hospitals, labs, pharmaceutical companies, and others without mangled care.
• Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, labs, pharmaceutical companies, and others can
• Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, labs, pharmaceutical companies, and others can
provide health carING© without mangled care.
• Healthcare consumers can pay for health carING© without mangled care companies.
Only complete elimination of mangled care as the middle man, can generate enough money to provide appropriate, accessible and affordable health carING©.
Patient-driven health care model promoted by mangled care must give way to direct health consumer-administered health carING ©.
I, for one, am willing to make a difference and show the way.
• Healthcare consumers can pay for health carING© without mangled care companies.
Only complete elimination of mangled care as the middle man, can generate enough money to provide appropriate, accessible and affordable health carING©.
Patient-driven health care model promoted by mangled care must give way to direct health consumer-administered health carING ©.
I, for one, am willing to make a difference and show the way.
We are making a difference (MAD), you decide!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Milestone achievement by the NEW™ Institute is a victory for health consumers.
Yesterday, September 23 2008 FDA finally launched a long awaited crackdown against companies marketing prescription medications without government approval.
The NEW™ Institute involvement with the skin cream containing papain, derived from the tropical papaya plant, provided evidence that manufacturers were selling it without federal validation of their safety and efficacy.
The cream is being touted by about a dozen of manufacturers for treatment of chronic (non-healing) skin ulcers from diabetes and other causes.
As of today, there is no single approved version of such cream in a "business" worth about $50 million a year.
The adverse reporting noted that frequently the cream was of no help to patients and caused life-threatening allergiс reactions.
Companies making this unapproved cream have till November 24 to file for FDA approval or cease production in lieu of FDA seizures and other legal actions.
Be Well!
The NEW™ Institute involvement with the skin cream containing papain, derived from the tropical papaya plant, provided evidence that manufacturers were selling it without federal validation of their safety and efficacy.
The cream is being touted by about a dozen of manufacturers for treatment of chronic (non-healing) skin ulcers from diabetes and other causes.
As of today, there is no single approved version of such cream in a "business" worth about $50 million a year.
The adverse reporting noted that frequently the cream was of no help to patients and caused life-threatening allergiс reactions.
Companies making this unapproved cream have till November 24 to file for FDA approval or cease production in lieu of FDA seizures and other legal actions.
Be Well!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Genome Unleashed
An expert on confidentiality and security of health information, co-author of HIPAA of 1996 and a former co-Editor of "Information Security" Journal I am compelled to sound off.
For "only" $1,000. web-based startup “23andMe” offers a person an “unguided” tour of geneology offering predictions of its genetic future as well as its ancestral past. Similarly, "Navigenics" will match your genes to current medical research calculating your risk for a number of diseases.
“23andMe” was funded personally by the co-founder of Google, Sergei Brin (later repaid by Google!?) who's also married to the co-founder of 23andMe Anne Wojcicki.
Google's investment in the company is driven by its desire to obtain, control, and sell valuable information without owners’ knowledge and/or consent.
Given that the vast majority of patients are unable to comprehend the results and will have to rely on the very same companies to “translate” them, most physicians are currently untrained for genomic medicine and are ill equiped to assist patients wielding printouts indicating “variations” in a particular gene possibly leading to successful claims of medical malpractice.
Issues of genomic information ownership and release create new fertile ground for litigation.
Who owns the genomic test results? Is it the patient, testing lab, Google, patient employer, insurance company, lending institution, state and/or federal government?
Fortunately for the genomic industry, Food & Drug Administration which strictly regulates diagnostic testing for diseases, has been “slow to respond” to business practices of these companies and its consequences!
An individual can finally make a quick life-changing decision (even deadly one) based on the results of a genetic test. Armed with individuals genomic information employers can deny employment and/or promotion'; insurance companies can and will deny coverage; banks will deny loans under the justification of unreasonable business risk?
We are Making a Difference (MAD), you decide.
Dr.D.
For "only" $1,000. web-based startup “23andMe” offers a person an “unguided” tour of geneology offering predictions of its genetic future as well as its ancestral past. Similarly, "Navigenics" will match your genes to current medical research calculating your risk for a number of diseases.
“23andMe” was funded personally by the co-founder of Google, Sergei Brin (later repaid by Google!?) who's also married to the co-founder of 23andMe Anne Wojcicki.Google's investment in the company is driven by its desire to obtain, control, and sell valuable information without owners’ knowledge and/or consent.
Given that the vast majority of patients are unable to comprehend the results and will have to rely on the very same companies to “translate” them, most physicians are currently untrained for genomic medicine and are ill equiped to assist patients wielding printouts indicating “variations” in a particular gene possibly leading to successful claims of medical malpractice.
Issues of genomic information ownership and release create new fertile ground for litigation.
Who owns the genomic test results? Is it the patient, testing lab, Google, patient employer, insurance company, lending institution, state and/or federal government?
Fortunately for the genomic industry, Food & Drug Administration which strictly regulates diagnostic testing for diseases, has been “slow to respond” to business practices of these companies and its consequences!
An individual can finally make a quick life-changing decision (even deadly one) based on the results of a genetic test. Armed with individuals genomic information employers can deny employment and/or promotion'; insurance companies can and will deny coverage; banks will deny loans under the justification of unreasonable business risk?
We are Making a Difference (MAD), you decide.
Dr.D.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Great American Smokeout of just a Great Smoke Screen?
According to the results of a national survey conducted in 2006 roughly 1 in 5 adults in the US smoke cigarettes, a figure that has not changed much since 2004.The new findings, which appeared in the November 9th issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, were released in advance of Great American Smokeout, to be held this year on November 15.
About 80% of current users reported smoking every day. Roughly 44% of current smokers had made an attempt to quit smoking in previous year and had stopped for more than 1 day.
This lack of decline in cigarette smoking is accompanied by simultaneous (and growing-400 so far) proliferation of hookah bars/clubs as a "safer" social (group activity) alternative.
Smoking cessation methodology probably failed due to the fact that most laboratory studies are conducted on non-humans. Dr. Edythe London, a leading researcher at UCLA, recently admitted in her Op-Ed article in LA Times that animal tobacco dependency model is completely different from that of humans.
Even Dr.London might concede that animals (primates) in the wild can rarely be found in hookah bars surrounded by the rest of the pack equipped with laptops.
In a recent (November 7, 2007) article in the LA Times by Animal Liberation Front (ALF) spokeswoman Lindy Greene claims that “data from one species cannot be extrapolated to another with more than 5% to 25% accuracy”
With 30% being within the acceptable margin of error for any study, Dr. London’s “esteemed” animal research is nothing more than a very expensive (for taxpayers and consumers) guesstimating.
Animal researchers, driven by quest for publishable data and financial well-being, solely dependent on grants from corrupt manufacturers, might do better by just flipping a coin--50% success rate.
Further, the study claims that smoking prevalence differed by gender and race: 23.9% of men vs. 18.0% of women smoked and 10.4% of Asians vs. 21.9% of whites were smokers. In addition, smoking prevalence fell as educational level rose and increased with poverty.
Studies at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences demonstrated that despite African-American children's having a lower exposure to tobacco compared to whites, they have higher levels of serum nicotine than white children.
Further studies are needed to determine whether there are racial differences in the metabolism of other tobacco-related toxins and to assess the efficacy of interventions to reduce ETS exposure among all children.
Race is not a definitive biologic construct, but rather an imprecise arbitrary categorization that is a proxy for multifaceted cross-connected environmental, cultural, socioeconomic, and biologic variables almost insurmountable in its complexity.
I dare Dr. London & Co. to account for all of the critical variables and to publicly admit that animal research can be only approximated, at best, to humans--a far cry from human-relevant data!?
The absurdity of continued animal research is propagated by unscrupulous pharmaceutical manufacturers, their “pet” scientists and the FDA despite the multiple thousands of consumer injuries and deaths every year from adverse reactions to drugs tested "safe" in animals (VIOXX any one?) and, conversely, causes potentially beneficial drugs tested "unsafe" to be discarded.
ALF’s methodology of protecting “creatures that society would arbitrarily place outside the circle of moral compassion and beyond the reach of effective defense” fails to properly use science to educate general public through mass media.
I firmly believe that only a strong outcry form educated public coupled with public refusal to buy products implicated in animal testing/abuse can make a tangible difference for the animals.
We are MAD, you decide!
Dr.D.
P.S. Making a Difference---MAD
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Kudos to Assemblyman Mark Leno...
... for the introduction of AB 1472(Leno): The California Healthy Places Act
Our health is largely determined by where we live, work, and play.
The California Healthy Places Act would provide technical assistance and grants to community organizations and local health agencies to evaluate land-use planning decisions to ensure that they create and maintain communities that promote health, through the new California Department of Public Health.
According to the Institute of Medicine, improving health in the 21st century will require new approaches to environmental health, including strategies to deal with unhealthy buildings, urban congestion, poor housing, poor nutrition, and environmentally-related stress.
Health impact assessments can provide important evidence to back up community positions and concerns, giving communities a direct role in asking and answering questions important to healthy growth, whether those questions come from an environmental justice, environmental health, economic justice or other community perspective.
It provides community organizations with political and economic power in planning decisions that equals that of big developers and corrupt politicians who support them.
It’s about time to give Californians a say in the way their communities are being developed/preserved and the way their money is being spent.
We gripe, you decide.
Be Well!
Our health is largely determined by where we live, work, and play.
The California Healthy Places Act would provide technical assistance and grants to community organizations and local health agencies to evaluate land-use planning decisions to ensure that they create and maintain communities that promote health, through the new California Department of Public Health.
According to the Institute of Medicine, improving health in the 21st century will require new approaches to environmental health, including strategies to deal with unhealthy buildings, urban congestion, poor housing, poor nutrition, and environmentally-related stress.
Health impact assessments can provide important evidence to back up community positions and concerns, giving communities a direct role in asking and answering questions important to healthy growth, whether those questions come from an environmental justice, environmental health, economic justice or other community perspective.
It provides community organizations with political and economic power in planning decisions that equals that of big developers and corrupt politicians who support them.
It’s about time to give Californians a say in the way their communities are being developed/preserved and the way their money is being spent.
We gripe, you decide.
Be Well!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Kudos to AFL-CIO, its Members and Affiliates…
…for their effort to address “mangled health care" head-on!
In Thursday, March 22, 2007 edition of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Anya Sostek, staff writer, writes (excerpted with commentaries by Dr. Dorodny):
“…The "Health Care Hustle" Web site invites readers to submit their stories of being broken down and bruised by the health-care system.
The site www.workingamerica.org/healthcarehustle which opened to the public yesterday and to members last week, already has attracted more than 500 responses, which is only a drop-in-the bucket, considering the daily obstacles workers and their families need to overcome to access appropriate health carING.
Working America, a community affiliate of the AFL-CIO which represents about 1.5 million Americans who are not part of labor unions encourages users to send automated messages to "greedy corporations," the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the insurance industry and the Bush administration.
According to Ms. Karen Nussbaum of Working America, the organization plans to launch a major campaign against the "evildoers" who receives the most votes against them.
The “evildoers” only care about their executive compensation, stock options, share prices, private jets, etc.
Currently, workers and their Unions have only themselves to blame for proliferation of and the abuse by the “evildoers” that are “just doing their jobs”.
Strive for universal access to appropriate and affordable health carING is an achievable, but a long-tem undertaking. Universal payer/single payer proposals are abundant, problematic and deceiving.
"The trade union movement today is both more embattled and smaller, and that means that it has to use the weapons of the week," said Prof. Lichtenstein (UCSB). "It's the same thing that any agitational group who is out of power would do."
But creative media campaigns will not properly address what’s on the mind of every worker: health carING. Address these issues and watch your membership and your power soar.
Organize your members and move from an "agitational group" to an enabling one.
Unfortunately, sending automated messages to “greedy corporations” will not work either.
It will not work because Pharma Manufacturers only care about their profit margins. Please read the “NEW Prescription for Pharma Marketing” and related postings on this site.
Similarly, insurance companies have core values divergent from those of workers and their families.
In addition to the conflicting core values, “business disconnects” exist due to logistical, financial, physical and ethical aspects of mangled health care:
*The workers and their families usually does not request, do not order or directly pay for the services.
*The insurance companies, HMOs, never request, do not receive, nor order the services.
*The doctors who order the services do not pay for them, nor receive the services.
Insurance companies, HMOs and other "mangled" health care companies entire purpose is to grab as many pennies from workers health care dollar as they are allowed to by the workers.
They do grab a sizable chunk: 15 cents out of every healthcare dollar without actually working, being sick or providing services.
Sign me up!
The lame-duck President Bush did not care about the worker even before he became a lame duck.
Dear Unions,
Please return to your basic focus on collective bargaining and controlling the purse strings, with a clear understanding of the fact that employees are the buyers (direct and/or indirect) of health carING services.
Employees are the buyers of health care and should drive, if not control, all health caRING decisions.
Workers and their families can request and receive health carING from doctors, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, labs, pharmaceutical companies, etc, without mangled care companies.
Doctors, nurses, pharmacist, hospitals, labs, pharmaceutical companies, etc, can provide health carING without mangled care companies.
Workers and their families can pay for health carING without mangled care companies.
Employees and their Unions do not need the middle men (employer, insurance company, managed “mangled” care company and its stockholders) to take a 15 cent bite out of every health carING dollar!
I, for one, am willing to make a difference and show the way!
We gripe, you decide.
In Thursday, March 22, 2007 edition of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Anya Sostek, staff writer, writes (excerpted with commentaries by Dr. Dorodny):
“…The "Health Care Hustle" Web site invites readers to submit their stories of being broken down and bruised by the health-care system.
The site www.workingamerica.org/healthcarehustle which opened to the public yesterday and to members last week, already has attracted more than 500 responses, which is only a drop-in-the bucket, considering the daily obstacles workers and their families need to overcome to access appropriate health carING.
Working America, a community affiliate of the AFL-CIO which represents about 1.5 million Americans who are not part of labor unions encourages users to send automated messages to "greedy corporations," the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the insurance industry and the Bush administration.
According to Ms. Karen Nussbaum of Working America, the organization plans to launch a major campaign against the "evildoers" who receives the most votes against them.
The “evildoers” only care about their executive compensation, stock options, share prices, private jets, etc.
Currently, workers and their Unions have only themselves to blame for proliferation of and the abuse by the “evildoers” that are “just doing their jobs”.
Strive for universal access to appropriate and affordable health carING is an achievable, but a long-tem undertaking. Universal payer/single payer proposals are abundant, problematic and deceiving.
"The trade union movement today is both more embattled and smaller, and that means that it has to use the weapons of the week," said Prof. Lichtenstein (UCSB). "It's the same thing that any agitational group who is out of power would do."
But creative media campaigns will not properly address what’s on the mind of every worker: health carING. Address these issues and watch your membership and your power soar.
Organize your members and move from an "agitational group" to an enabling one.
Unfortunately, sending automated messages to “greedy corporations” will not work either.
It will not work because Pharma Manufacturers only care about their profit margins. Please read the “NEW Prescription for Pharma Marketing” and related postings on this site.
Similarly, insurance companies have core values divergent from those of workers and their families.
In addition to the conflicting core values, “business disconnects” exist due to logistical, financial, physical and ethical aspects of mangled health care:
*The workers and their families usually does not request, do not order or directly pay for the services.
*The insurance companies, HMOs, never request, do not receive, nor order the services.
*The doctors who order the services do not pay for them, nor receive the services.
Insurance companies, HMOs and other "mangled" health care companies entire purpose is to grab as many pennies from workers health care dollar as they are allowed to by the workers.
They do grab a sizable chunk: 15 cents out of every healthcare dollar without actually working, being sick or providing services.
Sign me up!
The lame-duck President Bush did not care about the worker even before he became a lame duck.
Dear Unions,
Please return to your basic focus on collective bargaining and controlling the purse strings, with a clear understanding of the fact that employees are the buyers (direct and/or indirect) of health carING services.
Employees are the buyers of health care and should drive, if not control, all health caRING decisions.
Workers and their families can request and receive health carING from doctors, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, labs, pharmaceutical companies, etc, without mangled care companies.
Doctors, nurses, pharmacist, hospitals, labs, pharmaceutical companies, etc, can provide health carING without mangled care companies.
Workers and their families can pay for health carING without mangled care companies.
Employees and their Unions do not need the middle men (employer, insurance company, managed “mangled” care company and its stockholders) to take a 15 cent bite out of every health carING dollar!
I, for one, am willing to make a difference and show the way!
We gripe, you decide.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Shame on John Edwards...
...for shamelessly exploiting the unfortunate progression of his wife's cancer. Her previous bouts of cancer did not stop Mr. Edwards from campaigning in 2004 when his wife was receiving chemotherapy. Her psychological scars of abandonment are probably still healing.
Shame on Mr. Edwards for using his wife's now fatal condition to "breed new life" into his losing candidacy for President
Fortunately, during my 32 years of carING for patients with cancer and other terminal diseases (with and without social stigma attached) I only came across one patient, and one next of kin that were actively publicizing and benefiting from their terminal diseases.
Both individuals were illegally abandoned by their "mangled care" insurance companies, and were doing so to collect funds for life-prolonging treatments.
Fortunately for Mrs. Edwards, she appears to be able to afford the best care available in this country without participating in a public debate and discussion of her most sacred possession: her life--a "living monument" to her husband's ambitions, despite his floundering campaign.
Shame oh her physicians for their willing participation in Mrs. Edwards' joint CNN-FOX disease management circus, and for possible HIPAA violations.
Mr. Edwards' time "invested" in press releases, news conferences, TV appearances, etc might have had a "higher return" should he engage in private carING for his wife.
I wonder if Mr. Edwards can ride the "sympathy wave" long enough to make a difference?
We gripe, you decide.
Be Well!
Shame on Mr. Edwards for using his wife's now fatal condition to "breed new life" into his losing candidacy for President
Fortunately, during my 32 years of carING for patients with cancer and other terminal diseases (with and without social stigma attached) I only came across one patient, and one next of kin that were actively publicizing and benefiting from their terminal diseases.
Both individuals were illegally abandoned by their "mangled care" insurance companies, and were doing so to collect funds for life-prolonging treatments.
Fortunately for Mrs. Edwards, she appears to be able to afford the best care available in this country without participating in a public debate and discussion of her most sacred possession: her life--a "living monument" to her husband's ambitions, despite his floundering campaign.
Shame oh her physicians for their willing participation in Mrs. Edwards' joint CNN-FOX disease management circus, and for possible HIPAA violations.
Mr. Edwards' time "invested" in press releases, news conferences, TV appearances, etc might have had a "higher return" should he engage in private carING for his wife.
I wonder if Mr. Edwards can ride the "sympathy wave" long enough to make a difference?
We gripe, you decide.
Be Well!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Patient Dumping: a Lott of accusations
Here is the e-mail we received from Mr. Jim Lott, director of communications for Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC) in response to our posting of March 14, 2007 "Kaiser Permanente Arraignment".
__________________________
Subject: RE: Possible Spam: "Kaiser Permanente arraignment..."
__________________________
Subject: RE: Possible Spam: "Kaiser Permanente arraignment..."
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:34:54 -0700From: "Jim Lot, "
CC: "Mark Gamble"Trudy Duncan" "Jennifer Bayer"
Dear Mr. Donin,
I am saddened and chagrinned by the unenlightened comments made by Dr.Dorodny in your/his blog. Not only would I expect a health care practitioner to have a better understanding of the issues involved with so-called patient dumping, but I think it is irresponsible of him (and you) to imply by the content in your blog that Kaiser is guilty of the charges filed and should be punished...before a trial has taken place. What about due process? I believe in free speech, but Dr. Dorodny's comments are irresponsible. Please consider that to be our (HASC) response to your invitation.
Regards,
Jim Lott
_____________________________________________________________________
In further review of the available information, I have to agree with Mr. Lott that naming just the Kaiser Hospital was irresponsible on my part.
Hence, I am going to act in a socially and professionally responsible manner by citing the most recent patient dumping by Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) of a 41-year-old paraplegic man left in soiled hospital gown, without a wheelchair, on the curb by a hospital-hired van as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Acting in a responsible manner , the office of the Los Angeles city attorney has begun investigating whether staff from Hollywood Presbyterian hospital dumped a paraplegic man in a gutter in front of a local mission.
Unfortunately, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center continues to act irresponsibly in refusing to cooperate with authorities conducting the investigation.
California does not have a State law prohibiting patient dumping, so the LA city attorney's office can only sue Kaiser and Hollywood Presbyterian under state law used to deal with unfair business practices (typically used to prosecute slum lords).
Kaiser Permanente is aslo being pursued on false-imprisonment charges for allegedly leaving a homeless woman on Skid Row last year.
The federal government, however--not the LA city attorney's office--would decide whether this behavior also violates EMTALA.
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center has already hired the crisis management firm Sitrick and Co . to help weather the storm of criticism, in an attempt to defuse the situation.
The money would have been better spent on hiring additional social workers and creating a responsible and legal way to discharge patients without skid-row dumping.
The hospital is also quoted as saying that in the future it will require: “…the individual provide written consent to any transportation”—an irresponsible proposal considering that the two recently dumped patients are suffering from diminished mental capacity and are unable to give informed consent.
In answering Mr. Lott’s rhetorical question: ” ...What about due process?” we ask Mr. Lott, what about patients’ due process?
Ms. Jennifer Bayer, public affairs director for the Hospital Association of Southern California, was recently quoted saying fines and arrests are not productive.
We beg to disagree and suggest the following enlightened steps:
Hospitals should be penalized financially in a severe manner sufficient to erode their bottom line;
Dear Mr. Donin,
I am saddened and chagrinned by the unenlightened comments made by Dr.Dorodny in your/his blog. Not only would I expect a health care practitioner to have a better understanding of the issues involved with so-called patient dumping, but I think it is irresponsible of him (and you) to imply by the content in your blog that Kaiser is guilty of the charges filed and should be punished...before a trial has taken place. What about due process? I believe in free speech, but Dr. Dorodny's comments are irresponsible. Please consider that to be our (HASC) response to your invitation.
Regards,
Jim Lott
_____________________________________________________________________
In further review of the available information, I have to agree with Mr. Lott that naming just the Kaiser Hospital was irresponsible on my part.
Hence, I am going to act in a socially and professionally responsible manner by citing the most recent patient dumping by Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) of a 41-year-old paraplegic man left in soiled hospital gown, without a wheelchair, on the curb by a hospital-hired van as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Acting in a responsible manner , the office of the Los Angeles city attorney has begun investigating whether staff from Hollywood Presbyterian hospital dumped a paraplegic man in a gutter in front of a local mission.
Unfortunately, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center continues to act irresponsibly in refusing to cooperate with authorities conducting the investigation.
California does not have a State law prohibiting patient dumping, so the LA city attorney's office can only sue Kaiser and Hollywood Presbyterian under state law used to deal with unfair business practices (typically used to prosecute slum lords).
Kaiser Permanente is aslo being pursued on false-imprisonment charges for allegedly leaving a homeless woman on Skid Row last year.
The federal government, however--not the LA city attorney's office--would decide whether this behavior also violates EMTALA.
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center has already hired the crisis management firm Sitrick and Co . to help weather the storm of criticism, in an attempt to defuse the situation.
The money would have been better spent on hiring additional social workers and creating a responsible and legal way to discharge patients without skid-row dumping.
The hospital is also quoted as saying that in the future it will require: “…the individual provide written consent to any transportation”—an irresponsible proposal considering that the two recently dumped patients are suffering from diminished mental capacity and are unable to give informed consent.
In answering Mr. Lott’s rhetorical question: ” ...What about due process?” we ask Mr. Lott, what about patients’ due process?
Ms. Jennifer Bayer, public affairs director for the Hospital Association of Southern California, was recently quoted saying fines and arrests are not productive.
We beg to disagree and suggest the following enlightened steps:
Hospitals should be penalized financially in a severe manner sufficient to erode their bottom line;
State of California should immediately suspend hospital's license to operate;
Hospital executives should be held civilly and criminally responsible for patient dumping;
The LA City Attorney office should prosecute them to the fullest extent allowable by law for unfair business practices, false imprisonment and any and all other charges they could come up with.
State Legislature should immediately criminalize patient dumping and attach mandatory jail terms.
Federal authorities should intervene immediately to investigate the violation of patients civil rights and to enforce EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act).
Hospital executives should be held civilly and criminally responsible for patient dumping;
The LA City Attorney office should prosecute them to the fullest extent allowable by law for unfair business practices, false imprisonment and any and all other charges they could come up with.
State Legislature should immediately criminalize patient dumping and attach mandatory jail terms.
Federal authorities should intervene immediately to investigate the violation of patients civil rights and to enforce EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act).
In the meantime, each sentinel event ("sentinel" because they signal the need for immediate investigation and response) of patient dumping by an accredited hospital should be reported to the Joint Commission for an immediate review of hospital's accreditation and suspension of its Medicare funding. Click here to download Sentinel Events Policy and Procedures
They dump and try to get away with it, we gripe and get called names, you decide!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Kudos to the California Association of Physician Groups (CAPG)...
... and its President Mr. Donald H. Crane for the recent decision by CAPG’s Public Policy Committee to support AB 374, the Compassionate Choices Act.
The Committee was strongly drawn to the proven, seven year experience of a very similar law in Oregon.
By giving patients facing imminent and inevitable death the option of self-administering life ending medication, the law ushered in a host of important improvements to end-of-life care: increased referrals to hospice care; improved pain management services; a rise in comfort care teams and high attendance at end-of-life seminars for physicians.
Most importantly, a marked increase in the difficult task of physicians and families of engaging in frank conversations about end-of-life options.
The Committee acknowledged that a minority of physicians may oppose this bill, but observed that the participation by physicians was strictly at their option and that this bill
presented a real opportunity to genuinely improve patient care.
CAPG decides, we do NOT gripe, you decide.
Be Well!
The Committee was strongly drawn to the proven, seven year experience of a very similar law in Oregon.
By giving patients facing imminent and inevitable death the option of self-administering life ending medication, the law ushered in a host of important improvements to end-of-life care: increased referrals to hospice care; improved pain management services; a rise in comfort care teams and high attendance at end-of-life seminars for physicians.
Most importantly, a marked increase in the difficult task of physicians and families of engaging in frank conversations about end-of-life options.
The Committee acknowledged that a minority of physicians may oppose this bill, but observed that the participation by physicians was strictly at their option and that this bill
presented a real opportunity to genuinely improve patient care.
CAPG decides, we do NOT gripe, you decide.
Be Well!
Kaiser Permanente Arraingment...
...is being held today in a Los Angeles court.In adherence to its motto "Customer is always wrong", Kaiser is charged with dumping a confused homeless person in the downtown skid row upon her release from a Kaiser hospital.
In addition to sending some of the Kaiser executives to jail and imposing sky-high fines (to benefit health services for the homeless), the court should sentence the remaining Kaiser national and regional executives to 48 hours sentence by walking around downtown dressed only in a hospital gown without money, food or shelter.
State of California must revoke Kaiser's license to operate, unless and until dumping of patients is thoroughly investigated and prevented from happening in the future.
It's about time we speak with Kaiser in their own language-profits!
Kaiser dumps, we gripe, you decide.
Be Well!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Dr. Sokolov's 378 Thousand Reasons...
...for not-caring about the patients and for his "green outlook" on health carING.To be more specific, there are more than 377,952 reasons for Dr. Sokolov to care more about his clients than he cares about patients/health consumers.
In it's eternal wisdom, the Editor of Modern Healthcare elected to ignore our posting "Health Consumers & Mr. Inlander v AMGA & Dr. Sokolov" of March 6, 2007.
$377,952.16 is just the face value (of 03/13/2007) of Dr. Sokolov's 9,622 shares of Hospira Pharmaceutical that he owns as a Director.
Modern Healthcare editor's core value reflect his allegiance to his advertisers, and their core values (profit) divergent with that of health consumers.
Once a throw-away publication, always a throw away publication.
We gripe, you decide.
In it's eternal wisdom, the Editor of Modern Healthcare elected to ignore our posting "Health Consumers & Mr. Inlander v AMGA & Dr. Sokolov" of March 6, 2007.
$377,952.16 is just the face value (of 03/13/2007) of Dr. Sokolov's 9,622 shares of Hospira Pharmaceutical that he owns as a Director.
Modern Healthcare editor's core value reflect his allegiance to his advertisers, and their core values (profit) divergent with that of health consumers.
Once a throw-away publication, always a throw away publication.
We gripe, you decide.
Be Well!
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