Headlines in the WSJ indicate that the state made a surprise series of raids. No these were not drug dealers, smugglers, rapists, murderers or other felons. These raids were on non-profit and university hospitals. Were they selling organs or body parts? No, they were checking on the hours that the house staff was working. These […]

In the 1970s, there were presentations to the Sacramento Society of Internal Medicine (SSIM) indicating that we as internists and medical specialists were not being fairly rewarded for our cognitive skills. Some of the more “enlightened” members spent a great deal of time and effort in order to come up with a Resourced Based RVS […]

Robert Jaspan, MD, Riverside County Medical Association Bulletin Editor, discusses alternative medicine. He notes that alternative medicine largely ignores biologic mechanisms and relies on ancient practices which are seen as less toxic, yet more potent. He sees this as a reversion to irrational approaches to medical practice, possibly brought on by the sometimes hurried and […]

Dr Brittain was a general surgeon in the Mountain Physician Med Group, a managed care organization. He developed a large clientele of referring physicians. After about two years, Mountain Physician’s gave Dr Brittain an ultimatum–either resign or you will be fired. If we fire you, we will be obligated to report you to the Physician […]

During Career Day in High School, another student and I went to our local family physician to see what medicine was all about. He showed us his office, discussed a few patients, and showed us his books. He charged $1 for an office call. When I went to medical school, he told my parents there […]

San Diego Physician editor, Paul K Raffer, MD, gives the demographics for San Diego. Of the 5700 practicing physicians in the county, 2000 members of the medical society. The majority of nonmembers are staff or group practitioners. Of Kaiser’s 650 doctors, 33 are members; Scripps Clinic has 56 of its 400 staff as members; and […]

Author D Silk, MD, the editor of the Bulletin of the Orange County Medical Society, suggests that we should stop crowing about the evolution of medicine from a cottage industry to big business as if that transition means progress. He says it doesn’t. Like your grandmother’s pies and hand-tailored suits, some services are better done […]

Medicare has hired 400 ex-FBI agents. What could Medicare do with 400 ex-FBI agents, you’re probably wondering. Stage an agent Olympics? Make a James Bond epic? No–Have them chase after doctors! Medicare has placed these agents in all major cities in the United States, has given them $400 million dollars, badges and guns, and given […]

Sixty-nine-year-old-Ruby came in for her annual pulmonary evaluation. Among other complaints, she was putting on weight. Her exam confirmed a 20-pound weight gain since her last evaluation. Ruby stated that the extra pounds were NOT from the food she was eating. “In fact,” she said, “I have to eat 5 or 6 times a day […]

John Greisman, MD, president of the San Diego Medical Society, uses the quiet summer months at society headquarters to write his mother, apologizing that his hospital is not listed in the US News honor roll of hospitals in the United States. He assures her that the 30 hospitals in San Diego do liver transplants, AIDS […]