A patient once told me, “I sit on the side of the road asking for change. People look right through me like I’m invisible. Food stamps aren’t enough. I can’t afford to exist and I want to die.” A man is dying of poverty — this is an emergency, bu…
Category: Policy
3 ways health plans can help providers
Just as providers have reimagined their clinical and business models in light of the pandemic, there is an opportunity to reimagine their relationship with health plans. Particularly in the context of evolving value-based contracts, there are a variety…
The trap of Black excellence in medical education
“To become successful, you need to be excellent and likable,” said a local Black physician giving advice to young underrepresented students facing the usual challenges of medical school. “Black excellence is the only way forward. The system and the ins…
How The Biden Administration Can Win The War Against Covid-19
Biden promised as he took office that his Administration would deliver 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days.
The promise and challenge of integrating primary care into community-based mental health centers
There is ample evidence that patients with severe mental illness are at high risk for significant medical comorbidities. A complex combination of factors contributes to this excess risk and consequential poor outcomes. Socioeconomic factors, side effec…
The pandemic exposes critical gaps in Canada’s health workforce planning
Health workers in Canada experience endemic levels of burnout directly related to understaffing and work overload. Leaves of absence from work for mental health and stress-related issues are 1.5 times higher among health workers than the rest of the po…
How do we talk about race, racism, and white supremacy without screaming at each other?
In the recent impeachment trial, many Americans, alongside U.S. Representatives and Senators, are reliving the Capitol riot’s chaos and confusion. For us, that infamous day showcased a unifying emotion: anger. We can see the anger in the aggressi…
Single Shot Of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine Is 85% Effective, Study Finds
The researchers said the findings support policies delaying the second shot in efforts to stretch supplies and speed up immunizations.
President Biden, It’s Time To Admit Obamacare’s Flaws
The coverage on Obamacare’s exchanges is too costly and of poor quality. Opening the exchanges for three more months won’t bring premiums down, reduce deductibles, or make the plans’ provider networks more robust.
Why teachers aren’t going back to school: a physician’s take
All across the United States, elementary and secondary school teachers are refusing to go back to school. Before you join the growing lynch mob that’s going after these teachers, you may want to consider why they’re staying home. For starters, many sch…
