A look at doctors’ fitness and medicinal habits

Most doctors exercise regularly, drink moderately, and have better cholesterol levels. They also visit fast food restaurants.

PA medical schools hope they can turn around predicted doctor shortage

Medical school growth is at its fastest since the 1970s.

Be careful relying on the internet to search for a doctor, warns the Post-Gazette

“Two years ago, WellPointe, a huge insurance company with health-care providers all over the country — teamed with survey maven Zagat to establish online physician ratings,” reports the newspaper. “In short, many doctors who ordered fewer tests for patients received higher recommendations from the insurers’ websites.”

Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10069/1041397-114.stm#ixzz0hmhNFvBn

As demand for healthcare reform increases, so does demand for primary care doctors

Medical experts say that when more people have health coverage, there will be an increased demand for physicians, and there might not be enough of them to go around.

PA physicians’ group says we must invest in primary care

“Increasing preventive care means investing in primary care, but the result is healthier patients living longer lives and a health care system that pays wisely for the checkups and tune-ups and follow-up care to prevent expensive breakdowns that cost so much more,” says John S. Jordan, Executive Vice President for the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians,

Advocacy groups say PA’s budget is going to hurt physician retention

By cutting funding to the Health Care Provider and Retention Account (HCPRA) and the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Errors (Mcare) fund, PA is discouraging doctors to practice here, say the groups.

Wall Street Journal examines “tangible and unseen” healthcare costs

The WSJ says that spending by doctors extends beyond insurance as many take steps to protect themselves; patients’ wishes push up bills, too.

Doctors who choose to see less patients, in exchange for offering more personalized care

The latest report on “concierge” practices.

Did you know…

…that a family was recently charged $6,000 for a doctor to put three stitches in a child’s mouth?

Phila. Trial Lawyers Assoc. says malpractice payments have fallen dramatically

The association says that tort reform is unnecessary, and that reducing preventable medical errors should be the priority.