Lynn Payer, author of Medicine & Culture: Varieties of Treatment in the US, England, W. Germany, and France, observes that these four countries have similar life expectancy rates, yet medical treatment differs greatly from country to country. She notes that although congestive heart failure is diagnosed and treated much more frequently in Germany than in […]

A male psychology professor was demonstrating that women and men think and communicate differently. He said, if you ask a man, “That’s a good looking suit. Where did you get it?” you’ll get an answer something like “At Patrick James.” If you ask a woman, she’ll answer, “Do you like it?” If you ask the […]

Cough is the third most common symptom and the most common pulmonary symptom that brings a patient in to see a physician. Breathlessness is not far down the list. Tom Hanks put Seattle in the theaters with “Sleepless in …” All the Seattle city tours take any willing visitor by the “Athenian,” a restaurant in […]

An overseas potentate was troubled by severe peripheral vascular disease (PVD). His local doctors recommended amputation. The desperate prince flew to London to visit Harley Street’s finest specialist. “Doctor, doctor, they say they’ll have to cut my leg off.” The specialist roared with laughter. “That’s ridiculous, my dear chap. Leave it alone for another week […]

“Harry, do you love me?” “Yes Mabel, I love you.” “Harry, would you die for me?” No Mabel, mine is an undying love.” (M. Banks) My wife’s mother was hospitalized recently at University Community Hospital in Tampa. She had known cardiovascular disease with increasing shortness of breath, intractable orthopnea with nocturnal dyspnea. The ER physician, […]

Fred Thompson, actor-turned-senator from Tennessee, was overheard lamenting, “I’ve still got a lot to learn about Washington. Yesterday, I accidentally spent some of my own money.” (TV Guide) Klas of the Cox News Service reports concerning Florida’s suit against cigarette manufacturers. This is a landmark case that will seek at least $1.43 billion from several […]

Congratulations to Sister Bridget McCarthy for being selected by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce as the businesswoman of the year. Sister McCarthy, former CEO of Mercy General Hospital, is president and CEO of Mercy Healthcare Sacramento and was lauded for dedication to community health care through memberships on a variety of boards and committees. […]

Congratulations to our own UCD School of Law with 94% of its graduates passing the state bar the first time, the highest in the state, out performing both Boalt Hall (UCB) and Hastings (UCSF). Chicago, known for its organized crime and its politicians becoming felons, may be reversing the process with five felons running for […]

Congratulations to Mercy Healthcare Sacramento for embarking on Process Redesign. The first of an ambitious series of customer/ vision conferences lasting 24 hours each were held in November. The conference attendees of physicians, nurses, administrators, managers, health care workers, and patients discussed the organization’s history, the current situation, and the kind of organization that’s desirable […]

P. J. O’Rourke, author of Give War a Chance and Parliament of Whores (concerning the US Congress) states, “If you think health care is expensive now, just wait until it’s free.” Congressman Vic Fazio during his election campaign in our Carmichael neighborhood, said that the issue will only be subject to window dressing in 1995. […]