Fodder

by Rob on January 22, 2009 · 16 comments

in Just Stuff Kind of Thingies

bloggers

See these three smart people?

Hah, that was a trick question.  There are only two!!  That’s Me, Edwin Leap, and Dr. Val all in NYC today for a conference put on by Consumer Reports.  Edwin looks bored, but at least Val is pretending to be interested in what I am saying.

I also got to meet TBTAM and Michael Ostrovsky (of MedGadget) last evening as we shared cocktails and engaging conversation.  Nick Genes faked a fire in his ER so he didn’t have to join us.

There were several discussions – the first on the role of medical blogs in healthcare reform, and the second on rating doctors.  I am not going to say much about them today, but suffice it to say that I have a few posts that will result from these discussions (barring head injury).

This material, written by me, is free to re-post and share under the Creative Commons agreement. In other words, use it all you want; just give me credit.
  • Ken O

    That’s not a very nice thing to say about EL! ;) I mean I know that you ard Dr Val are both smart (or at least smart enough to fool me into thinking you’re smart, which may not be the same thing? )

  • Ken O

    That’s not a very nice thing to say about EL! ;) I mean I know that you ard Dr Val are both smart (or at least smart enough to fool me into thinking you’re smart, which may not be the same thing? )

  • http://chicagotirbune.com/julie Julie Deardorff

    I was listening!!

    Especially to your doctor ranking discussion. What’s the best way to reach you for a “formal” interview?

  • http://chicagotirbune.com/julie Julie Deardorff

    I was listening!!

    Especially to your doctor ranking discussion. What’s the best way to reach you for a “formal” interview?

  • http://www.usnews.com/blogs/comarow-on-quality Avery

    What gives, Rob, you were twittering so manically you missed all the discussion about rating/ranking hospitals in that second panel? Julie, I doubt VERY much that Rob does anything formal-style.

    After further thought and the passage of a day, I am even more persuaded that the patient-opinion doc-rating sites are worse than worthless. They have great potential, due to the tiny number of patients who post, of painting a distorted and skewed picture. Claiming that these posts constitute a “data point,” as was repeatedly asserted yesterday, fails the most elementary critical-thinking test.

    But I suspect I’m in the minority. Crowds are wise! Crowds rule! Half a dozen people? Sounds like a crowd!

    Great to meet you both.

  • http://www.usnews.com/blogs/comarow-on-quality Avery

    What gives, Rob, you were twittering so manically you missed all the discussion about rating/ranking hospitals in that second panel? Julie, I doubt VERY much that Rob does anything formal-style.

    After further thought and the passage of a day, I am even more persuaded that the patient-opinion doc-rating sites are worse than worthless. They have great potential, due to the tiny number of patients who post, of painting a distorted and skewed picture. Claiming that these posts constitute a “data point,” as was repeatedly asserted yesterday, fails the most elementary critical-thinking test.

    But I suspect I’m in the minority. Crowds are wise! Crowds rule! Half a dozen people? Sounds like a crowd!

    Great to meet you both.

  • Rob

    Avery:
    I think that is why she put “formal” in quotes.

    Who would want to rank hospitals?

    Agree that there are problems with the patient rating physician sites, but I suspect they are a reality we will have to face and somehow use as best as we can.

    More to follow.

  • Rob

    Avery:
    I think that is why she put “formal” in quotes.

    Who would want to rank hospitals?

    Agree that there are problems with the patient rating physician sites, but I suspect they are a reality we will have to face and somehow use as best as we can.

    More to follow.

  • http://seaspray-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com/ SeaSpray

    That must’ve been fun!

    I wrote something nice about my urologist on Vimo, but anyone could make anything up.

    Gave him excellent rating in all categories except only good with wait time.

  • http://seaspray-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com SeaSpray

    That must’ve been fun!

    I wrote something nice about my urologist on Vimo, but anyone could make anything up.

    Gave him excellent rating in all categories except only good with wait time.

  • http://www.usnews.com/blogs/comarow-on-quality Avery

    Who would want to rank hospitals?

    There are days I ask myself that same question….

  • http://www.usnews.com/blogs/comarow-on-quality Avery

    Who would want to rank hospitals?

    There are days I ask myself that same question….

  • http://www.docgurley.com/ Jan aka Doc Gurley

    Great to finally meet you. I have the same response that you expressed, Dr. Rob, about the doctor rating sites. Hmm, I’ve been left wondering why there’s no similar push to individually, by name, rate lawyers, or CEOs or bosses just about any other category of professional. I also wondered if any of you have pondered the studies that show that your survival in CCU and ICU care is dependent on the quality of (is it drugs? procedures? DOCTORS?) – drumroll please – it’s your nurses. Studies show that the quality of your nursing care affects survival in these settings more than any other factor. By a wide margin.

    Not sure how this impacts rankings of either doctors/hospitals, but probably worth throwing into the mix. Great discussions and, again, nice to finally meet you.

  • http://www.docgurley.com Jan aka Doc Gurley

    Great to finally meet you. I have the same response that you expressed, Dr. Rob, about the doctor rating sites. Hmm, I’ve been left wondering why there’s no similar push to individually, by name, rate lawyers, or CEOs or bosses just about any other category of professional. I also wondered if any of you have pondered the studies that show that your survival in CCU and ICU care is dependent on the quality of (is it drugs? procedures? DOCTORS?) – drumroll please – it’s your nurses. Studies show that the quality of your nursing care affects survival in these settings more than any other factor. By a wide margin.

    Not sure how this impacts rankings of either doctors/hospitals, but probably worth throwing into the mix. Great discussions and, again, nice to finally meet you.

  • Ken O

    Who would want to rank hospitals?

    Politicians!!

  • Ken O

    Who would want to rank hospitals?

    Politicians!!

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