A New Therapy for Asthma
I first met Carol* (name and identifying details have been changed) when she came to my clinic after a severe asthma attack had sent her to the Intensive Care Unit. After a few days, she had been extubated and had acquired a new diagnosis, asthma. When she saw me in clinic, she felt better than … Continue reading
What I Learned at the ATP Reunion Conference February 2014
I. Capitation is coming Although Brent was careful to stress that despite this being gospel among those who “have drunk the kool-aid” it is not universally accepted. Still, the alternative narrative is just more of the same – more efficient fee for service – or aspirations for competing as one of a handful of fee-for-service … Continue reading
The State Fair
“I got run over by a golf cart at the State Fair,” my five-year-old cheerfully says to the Emergency Department technician who is checking us in. A utility cart knocked him down – he is a five-year-old running along the grass by the path, and some asshole wasn’t looking as he turned into my kid … Continue reading
Customer Satisfaction
I recently changed my children’s dentist because his office was too nice. As with their doctor, it is impossible for a lay person to have any idea whether their dentist is clinically competent or good. Most of us choose our dentists the same way we choose physicians – by personal recommendations from people we know, … Continue reading
ATP Conference Feb 2013
Dear Friends, I am happy to report that the ATP conference was great, and as usual the highlight was catching up with old friends. I must apologize I didn’t remember to take a picture of the group, and I’ll offer the excuse that we’ll just have to wait until next year when more of our group can … Continue reading
Continuity of Care
“I would want you as my doctor. I just wouldn’t want your life,” I said to the thoracic surgeon. It was after midnight and we were standing in the intensive care unit. I, having urgently intubated a critically ill patient; he, having finished a surgery on a patient we shared. This particular patient had had a lung … Continue reading
What I Learned at the ATP Reunion Conference Feb 2012
Hi all, happy valentine’s day! I hope you’re all doing well. It was fun to meet up with some of our class for the reunion conference. While this conference was not the life-altering event our class was, I still found it useful and thought I’d share some of the things I learned at the conference. … Continue reading
What I learned at the ATP Course Spring 2011
[An email to my fellow classmates at the Advanced Training Program in Healthcare Quality and Delivery run by Brent James, MD at the Intermountain Healthcare Institute for Quality Improvement.] I hope you all arrived home safely. It has been a real privilege taking this course with you. After Tommy’s speech on Wednesday, my husband asked me … Continue reading
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