Category: Health Care
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COVID Still Kicks Flu Butt as Cause of Mortality in Va.
by James A. Bacon In the previous post I criticized Virginia’s response in 2020 and 2021 to the COVID epidemic, particularly the shutdowns that ignored the impact on jobs and the economy, foregone medical procedures, K-12 schooling, mental health and addiction. Let me emphasize: that’s not to say that COVID was not a huge public-health…
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Whatever Could Account for the Decline in Opioid Deaths?
by James A. Bacon Opioid deaths in Virginia have declined markedly since the end of the COVID epidemic, reports Virginia Public Media (VPM). The fatalities, many of which were attributable to fentanyl overdoses, peaked at 2,229 in 2021 and have fallen to a predicted 1,552 this year — down 30%. That number is still frightfully…
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A Public Service Message from Bacon’s Rebellion
Res ipsa loquitur — the thing speaks for itself.
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Are UVA Nurses Racist?
by James A. Bacon Last month the University of Virginia School of Nursing sponsored an online event: “Dynamics of Prejudice: Antiracist Nursing Education 1968-1978.” A major theme to emerge from the presentation was that white nurses respond defensively when called racist and their reluctance to acknowledge their racism creates obstacles for “anti-racism.” The speaker, Cory…
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Billing, Upcoding and Hospital Revenues
by James A. Bacon As the investigation into alleged management abuses at the University of Virginia Health System and School of Medicine gathers momentum, several physicians have detailed their allegations to The Daily Progress. Perhaps the most damning charge is that senior Medical Center executives pressured physicians into “upcoding” procedures to overcharge patients and their…
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BoV in Full Control of Investigation into Alleged UVA Med-School Abuses
by James A. Bacon Many University of Virginia faculty members expressed skepticism during a meeting of the Faculty Senate last week that an investigation into alleged misdeeds by the UVA Health System and School of Medicine (SOM) will be independent and credible. Their fears were inflamed by a letter that President Jim Ryan distributed to…
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Youngkin on Maternal Health: Find Out What Works
by James A. Bacon In 2022 there were 67 pregnancy-associated mortalities per 100,000 live births in Virginia. Although that translates into a rate of less than one per 1,000 births, maternal mortality has become a major issue because the rate for Black women is more than twice that of White women. The Office of Health…
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Tools of Bureaucratic Repression
by James A. Bacon The biggest controversy roiling the University of Virginia today swirls around accusations leveled by 128+ letter signatories against leaders of the UVA Health System and School of Medicine for using the tools of bureaucratic repression to create a culture of fear and intimidation. The accusers have yet to release any specifics…
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Availability of Surgery in Virginia Jeopardized by Reforms in Neighboring States
By James C. Sherlock The essential debate on COPN (Certificate of Public Need law) in Virginia has boiled down to imaging and ambulatory surgery centers, and whether those services should be regulated under the program Kate Masters, Virginia Mercury,…
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The Snowflake Factory
by James A. Bacon On Feb. 15, 2022, the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at the University of Virginia instructed its pledges to show up blindfolded at the frat house at precisely 10:28 p.m. After being led to the basement, the newbies were ordered to race one another in consuming various combinations of milk, bananas, Sprite,…
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A Rational Medical Care System?
I had cataract surgery last month. Of course, that procedure involved administration of some anesthesia. I just got the insurance statement. The total doctor/facility charges listed for the anesthetist was $1,826.40. The Medicare discounts total was $1,711.80, about 94 percent. The total amount the doctors’ group got was $114.60. Can anyone explain to me how…
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$1,900 an Hour to Close the Kids’ Wing
by Joe Fitzgerald What can you do thatโs worth $1,900? Can you do it in an hour? Iโd have to be paid $4 a word to make that much from this post, but Iโm a fast writer. And then Iโd have to write several thousand posts a year to make as much as a hospital…
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Haidt on Cell Phones and Teen Mental Illness
๏ปฟ You can gain insight into the Youngkin administration’s thinking behind its recommended bell-to-bell cell-phone restrictions in Virginia public schools by watching this video. Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera and Secretary of Health and Human Services Janet Kelly make introductory remarks. First lady Suzanne Youngkin follows with a Q&A with former University of Virginia professor…
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UVA Admin Has Lost Control of the Med-School Abuses Narrative
by James A. Bacon The controversy over an allegedly toxic work environment at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and UVA Health System reached escape velocity last week. On Thursday, President Jim Ryan and the Board of Visitors hired an outside law firm to conduct an “independent review” of allegations made in a letter…
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UVA Med Faculty Have Been Seeking Redress Since 2021
by James A. Bacon A group of University of Virginia medical-school faculty members aired their allegations against the University’s medical leadership only after two-and-a-half years of trying fruitlessly to work within the system, according to a new letter distributed by the 128 faculty members. In a letter addressed to the Board of Visitors Thursday, the…