Cap Will Help Determine What's Going On Inside Well

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While engineers test the pressure of the cap fitted to stop the hemorrhaging of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, questions still linger about what will happen next. Host Guy Raz speaks with NPR's Richard Harris about possible next steps.

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GUY RAZ, host:

This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Guy Raz.

It's been nearly three months since the oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank into the Gulf of Mexico. And since then, thousands of barrels of oil have been pouring into the ocean every day.

Engineers have now managed to stop the leak this past week. They placed a cap over the well to test the pressure, and so far officials from BP are optimistic.

Today, the government said tests will continue for another 24 hours. After that, the well may be hooked up once again to ships on the surface to contain the oil. That means oil could once again leak into the Gulf of Mexico.

NPR's Richard Harris is following the story and is with me now.

Hi, Richard.

RICHARD HARRIS: Hi, Guy.

RAZ: There are a lot of questions and a lot of misunderstandings about that cap that was placed on the well. Let's start with the good news. BP engineers have stopped the leak, right? The pressure is rising. What does that tell us?

HARRIS: What that tells us is obviously, the first bit of good news in more than 12 weeks, which is that the oil is not flowing into the Gulf of Mexico at the moment.

The cap is also doing a test, which is to understand what is going on deep beneath the seafloor inside this well, because they're letting the pressure build up in that well and they're trying to figure out if it's in good shape or not.

RAZ: So far so good, though, right?

HARRIS: As far as they can tell, there are no leaks anywhere else. They have a bunch of robotic submarines running around the bottom looking for things. They have sonar. They've got a variety of ways that they're testing for that. And we don't see anything.

However, if they do see any signs of trouble down there, one of the first things they'll do is they'll flip the valves open again and oil will immediately start gushing back into the Gulf. So we're not done, done-done right now.

RAZ: Now we heard over the past few months that they were drilling this reservoir, this relief well miles under the ocean to allow the oil to go into it. What's the progress on that? And will the cap remain on the leak right now as they continue to dig that relief well?

HARRIS: Absolutely. The cap will stay there. And the relief well actually is not to draw oil up, but to put cement down. And they're very close. They are less than five feet away from the wild well that they call. They still have to drill maybe 100 feet, a very, very shallow angle to intercept it.

And while they're doing this procedure, actually the cap will help them moderate the flow of oil while they are dumping the cement from the relief well.

RAZ; If this works so well this time, why didn't they try this before?

HARRIS: That's a good question. And in hindsight, we could say, gosh, if they'd done this two months ago, we would have been in better shape.

RAZ: Right.

HARRIS: However, the philosophy that BP has used in collaboration with many federal scientists have logic to it that is sound, which is that don't do the most extreme thing, do things, first of all, that you think are going to be least likely to cause you trouble.

And so, as you recall, first they tried that silly coffer dome thing...

RAZ: Right.

HARRIS: ...that was a complete - another failure. Then they tried to just siphon oil out of the side of the pipe and that also was kind of a joke. But at least they knew that those were not going to cause any harm.

In the meantime, they were planning the top kill, remember? They were going to...

RAZ: Right.

HARRIS: ...dump stuff in from the top?

RAZ: All that mud into there, yeah.

HARRIS: Mud and ball bearings and whatever else. And, again, that was an example of something that was unlikely to cause really big concerns. And clearly, there is more of a risk of putting a cap right on top of the well.

But one thing they did during the top kill was they were able to measure what was going on inside the well better and understand it a little better. And that gave them a little bit more confidence that this cap actually would work and that it would not cause an unprecedented risk.

RAZ: Now what happens if for some reason the relief well doesn't work?

HARRIS: Well, it depends why it doesn't work. If they tried the first time, if they missed the well, because they're trying to hit a well that's only about seven inches wide, they're pretty confident that they're going to hit it, but they won't necessarily hit it on the first try. They can back up and try again. And that's one strategy they can do.

If this whole well, for some reason, fails, they have a second relief well that they can continue to drill and try to kill it with that relief well. There have been some cases where it actually took two relief wells together to kill a well. You're pumping in mud and cement from two sides or even weird compounds that sort of work like epoxy where you have, you know, tube A and tube B. And when they mix together in the well, they actually create something to block things up.

There is a history of doing that as well. So there are all sorts of techniques you can do. I think the biggest concern about the cap on the well, though, is if you start creating a huge number of fractures and new ways for oil to get to the surface, then pouring cement down the bottom of the well may not do it for you.

And so that's what they really want to avoid because they know with pretty high confidence that relief wells will kill wells. They just don't want to be in a position of creating so much mayhem down there that that tried and true technique actually doesn't work.

RAZ: And then, of course, all the fallout from the environmental impact will be learned and discovered.

HARRIS: Right. Let's not forget that even though the oil is not flowing, there is still a huge amount of oil in the environment right now. And that is not going to evaporate just because the well isn't spewing. It's all over the ocean surface. It's underneath the surface. It's in the marshes. There is a huge amount of oil yet to be contended with. So that part of the story is by no means over.

RAZ: And we just don't know how long that will last.

HARRIS: We don't.

RAZ: That's NPR's science correspondent Richard Harris.

Richard, thanks so much for joining us.

HARRIS: My pleasure.

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Oil well capped, but how long?

Add to playlist download text size A A A July 18, 2010

Government officials will continue to monitor the cap on BP ausgefressene well in the Gulf of Mexico.The oil is not more in the golf flow, but it is not clear whether that is good for a good sealed speaks ist.Host Liane Hansen with NPR Richard Harris about the latest developments.

Copyright © 2010 national public radio ®.For only personal, non commercial Gebrauch.finden see "Terms and conditions". for other uses, permission required.

LIANE HANSEN, host:

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR news. In Liane Hansen.

The cap on the BP well in the Gulf of Mexico is still holds in the oil. But mixed messages about how long the CAP remain are in.BP says it hopes to keep there until you well dauerhaft.Aber connected which yesterday, the Government announced that eventually it would say the test to stop and BP to open the valves on the CAP. This will at least temporarily gushing oil into the sea send, but it is also the risk of an undersea blowout deep into the well.

NPR Richard Harris is in the Studio with the latest. Richard, BP closed the CAP as part of the test, what that good design in deep under the ocean floor.Tell us-the latest what you know now.

HARRIS: Well, BP gave us a morning update this morning.And you said that good good looks.The pressure keeps. Surveying sea bed with cameras and sonar and they're not see oil come they're. That is to gut.Theyre with deep penetrating surveys too deep under the Earth and they're not seeing something disturbing it either to suchen.So sees the good.

You can see some small bubbles of a pipe in the vicinity of the wellhead comes.And theres a ROV down there this morning, one this remotely operated vehicles, robots-u boats, sampling. It looked like you I think Taten.Und get well you some more information for me, die.Aber BP expresses you say so far, can his only biological material that suspect down in the mud and gas from 13,000 foot rot.

HANSEN: Help now, US's contradictory instructions between BP and the Government about whether that again be healthy until to understand.

HARRIS: Well, ill do what I on that immediately return me kann.Lassen using the yesterday statement issued wurde.Er said Thad Allen of national incident commander, quote, stopping this test finally we concluded after encapsulation, quote. Encapsulation means now, the oil and it capture ships to pipelines on the surface. But also is might be longer, the oil into the Gulf at least three days, spills, because you just cant go from where you are the vessels without spilling anything.

Now BPs take on this is only delayed while well fine and there can no sign of trouble, let it lock in.

And this morning, BP executive Doug Suttles nobody said, including the Federal Government more oil into the Gulf will spill.

Mr DOUG SUTTLES (Chief Operating Officer, exploration and production, BP America, Inc.): we are confident that if the encouraging signs, we are able, still the integrity test up to the point that we get good killed.So right now, it is set a target, the well reopen to flow but it stays characters a way, when we saw during the test require us.

HARRIS: Well, its actually a little hard to say, if there is truly a great debate between BP and the Government over what to do is, or that the Government didn't his words select all who carefully clear last night freizugeben.Aber in his press as said Mr Suttles, when it signs of trouble, all agreed open wells.

Spill HANSEN: If you open the good, but how much oil is before you headed can get it up on ships?

HARRIS: Well the oil well under way too much pressure is only to put it in pipes, already erwähnt.So how I first would it directly into the ocean to vent.Mr Suttles said would about three days the spill to do, take, because as you gradually up collection ramp.And, that collect around 50,000 barrels per day, which would have the ships on page get the ability of handling.However possible that theres more oil as and when it Theyd have to bring in more ships and it takes a few weeks.So a few weeks it could spill of oil, comes depending on how much oil out of the well.

HANSEN: Yes, question thats an important how much oil comes from the well.Have you any idea how much oil in the Gulf of now has already gone?

HARRIS: Well, the Government estimate is 35 to 60 000 barrels, a day out of the well come already has, based on video reviews and other methods, which currently directly measure the flow.Its interesting, but if you can oil at the end of piping up to the surface, finally a flow once to enter it on the ship for always, Endgültig.Das would have changed so well sein.Obwohl, which also true it Couldve modified could flow rate over the years so that tells us what it is now it doesnt necessarily tell us how it was 80 days ago.

HANSEN: Or what is it in the future.

HARRIS: we hope Right.Nun, there will be nothing in the future.

HANSEN: Science Correspondent Richard Harris, thanks a lot for you are NPR today.

HARRIS: My pleasure as always.

Copyright © 2010 national public radio ® .all rights vorbehalten.Keine can quotes from the materials contained herein in any any medium without attribution, national public radio used werden.Dieses Protocol is for personal, noncommercial use only, in accordance with our terms and conditions bereitgestellt.Jede other use required of the prior consent of NPR.Besuchen our site with permissions for more Informationen.NPR transcripts are created on a rush period by a contractor for NPR and accuracy and availability may variieren.Dieser text in its final form and can be updated or revised in the Zukunft.Bitte consider that the authoritative record of NPR programming of audio ist.Ist e-Mail share comments print Facebook stumble upon reddit Twitter Digg what the? share more around the nation podcast

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Natural Pain Relievers

Es gibt wenige Dinge im Leben, die schwieriger als in ständigen Schmerzen sind oder jemand sehen Sie lieben in der gleichen Situation. Chronischer Schmerzen im Zusammenhang mit Bedingungen notorisch schwer zu langfristig zu verwalten, ohne eine begleitende Nebenwirkungen von Behandlungen selbst sind. Aber was kann man? Entweder Sie Leben mit dem Schmerz und konventionelle Therapien zu verzichten, oder Sie nehmen die besten pharmakologische und chirurgische Gutachten, die ihre Ärzte zu bieten haben. Letzteres ist was die meisten Leute an zu begleichen, und es ist völlig verständlich. Es gibt jedoch auch natürliche schmerzlindernde verfügbaren Optionen. Mein gesundes Montag-Tipp ist, dass Patienten und Ärzten prüfen, indem alternative und ergänzende Techniken auf Ihrer Liste der lebensfähigen Interventionen.

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Chilled Roasted Pepper Soup Recipe

Als ich ein kleiner Junge war, gab es ein bestimmtes Lebensmittel, das ich einfach nicht ertragen konnte. Ich denke, die meisten Kinder haben mindestens eine gastronomische Nemesis. Die ungerade Sache über mir war, dass es der Zutaten gemacht wurde, die ich wirklich in andere Gerichte genossen. Zum Beispiel, liebte ich, Lasagne, marinara Pasta und Pizza. Und Ketchup? Fuggedaboutit. Ich habe es auf so ziemlich alles. Aber Tomatensuppe war eine ganz andere Geschichte. Ich könnte sitzen am Tisch für Stunden nach Stunden mit Tränen in den Augen und noch nie fertig eine Schüssel geben.

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Dr. Richard Feinman interview part one

If a frequent visitor to my site, you know that I have a high value on the presentation responsible information that place evidence-based. You will find much in the way of hyperbolic health claims or tabloid style rhetoric here. This type of coverage is not productive and rare about meaningful change brings. The same applies higher education and medical research in the fields. I believe that Dr. Richard Feinman is exemplary for the kind of philosophy and attitude that eventually will revolutionize the world of Biochemistry and nutrition. I am proud to announce that in the next few weeks I some of the findings on the role that carbohydrate present diet can play to transform modern health care.

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Brain Detoxification

Niemand will, Zeit oder Geld für Quacksalberei zu verschwenden. Auf der anderen Seite, haben wir alle Anekdoten über Menschen gehört, die dramatische Recoveries unter der Obhut von holistic Heiler gemacht haben. Die Frage ist dann: wie genau man navigieren Sie durch diese unsicher Gelände? Der erste Schritt ist, eine Überweisung von jemand zu erhalten, Sie zu respektieren. Aber sogar mit Qualitätssicherung, noch dass Sie um etwas ich nenne "Neugierige Optimismus" zu üben. Dies erfordert, Aufrechterhaltung eine hoffnungsvolle Haltung und gleichzeitig die Fragen viele Fragen.

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Saffron Research

Lebensmittel und natürliche Heilmittel werden häufig nach ihrer prominentesten Features klassifiziert. Echinacea-Blüten und Wurzeln sind im Allgemeinen als Immun-Booster betrachtet. Ginkgo Biloba Blätter gelten weithin als Speicher-Enhancer. Und Safran Narben sind die tiefen roten Farbe, die Sie unzählige Eurasian Gerichte vermitteln zugeordnet. Der drei Beispiele ist Safran wahrscheinlich die wenigsten vertraut hinsichtlich des medizinischen Potenzials. Allerdings dürfte, die dank der jüngsten Studien zu ändern, die beginnen, neue Talente für das antike Gewürz zu offenbaren.

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Aroma therapy news

The key to feeling more energetic and quiet may directly to your face. Before you go crazy trying to figure it out - deep breath. Deeply breathe part which is solution. Combining now derived this action with essential oils of flowers and fruit-Peel and they have a powerful natural remedy, known as aroma therapy. My healthy Monday tip of the week is to inhale your way to a better state of mind.

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Lemon Blueberry Muffin Recipe

Frühstück ist wohl die wichtigste Mahlzeit des Tages. Es direkt folgt eine Zeit des Fastens und legt die ernährungsphysiologische Grundlage für die wachen Stunden zu kommen. Das schwierige Teil ist, wie man das beste Frühstück während immer noch praktische Erwägungen wie immer zur Schule oder zur Arbeit auf Zeit bewusst zu machen. Nach meiner Erfahrung ist der Schlüssel zur Überwindung dieser häufig zitierte Hürde auf Essen vorbereiten. Aber kein Essen wirst tun. Eine strategische Mischung aus Makronährstoffe ist, was Ihr Körper für dürstet erste am Morgen. Heutige Rezept liefert genau das und eine ganze Menge mehr.

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Hot flashes, influenza and weight loss update

It is a large discrepancy between what we know and don't know in the field of alternative and complementary medicine. Many questions remain unanswered, simply because it is not enough funding and resources in a scientific manner to test. This is, why it is extremely important to use every last study which was carried out. Important information that will help bridge the knowledge gap because even the slightest of experiments can result.

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Natural health resources

What is the one thing that attracts and encounters, people and situations in your life? I think it is, how to look at the world. It is essential to understand how you really feel about the important questions of life. But from this point make decisions become even more interesting. Choose to surround yourself with people and places, the voice with your Outlook? Or will you ask, in other respects your philosophical ideas challenge? In my view, the latter and difficult of the two options is probably the better way to go. Maybe that why I like is so much Twitter.

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Acai Controversy

Viel von das Potenzial und die Risiken im Zusammenhang mit der natürlichen Gesundheit-Industrie umfasst die Frage der Verantwortung. Wer ist verantwortlich für die Gewährleistung der Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit der natürliche Heilmittel? Hinsichtlich der Aufsicht müssen die Verbraucher auf Wachhunde innerhalb der natürlichen Gesundheit-Industrie selbst und der US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) verlassen. Allerdings fühlen sich viele Menschen durch diese Agentur im Stich. Das ist, warum wir Verbraucher brauchen, um in den Prozess einbezogen. Ich denke, der beste Weg ist, über die tatsächliche Forschung hinter dieser Produkte eher als die glänzende Marketing und oberflächliche informiert zu werden Propaganda gebracht, die von Verleumder und Befürworter gleichermaßen.

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Interview with Farzad Mosashari

By Matthew Holt

7 June 2010 gave an interview to senior consultant at the Office of the National Coordinator, farzad Mosashari, Washington Conference at goes.Dies are his thoughts on the Conference, wise use of the health 2.0 and focus of his duties has to just for the little guy.

July 19, 2010 in conferences, meaningful use patients

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Sermo: Latest from Dan Palestrant

By Matthew Holt

Over the weekend, the I with Dan Palestrant, CEO of Sermo--still the largest US caught up based doctor online community. Sermo decided no to new VC recently (in contrast to say Phreesia and ZocDoc) and actually reduced to raise staff early 2009.Now while 2009 Daniel got his 15 minutes of Fame discuss the likes of Howard Dean on cable news and the site was a haven for many (grumpy) political speech, but while covered have, potentially, Sermo done a huge technology upgrade and redesigned, its users and its client interface hat.Dass re-design went the headlines last week to live, and did Daniel and me about what spoke, what the discussion on the site (think clinical and business, less politics than last year) which clients you work with (think big Pharma) and how you financially and meet do (better than you might have heard).

Here is the apprx. 10 minutes interview: Dan PalestrantJuly 20 2010 in health 2.0, Matthew Holt, physicians

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Failure

Ich ging zu ein patient's Beerdigung dies am vergangenen Wochenende. Ich in der Regel tun, die für Menschen nicht deren Beziehung, die ich in den Prüfungsraum erstellt haben. Es ist eine komplexe Reihe von Emotionen, aber einige Familienmitglied wird unweigerlich beginnen, anderen zu erzählen, was eine schöne Arzt, die ich bin und wie viel die Person hatte mochte mich als Arzt. Es ist ungeschickt immer eine Lobrede (wörtlich: gute Worte) bei jemand 's Beerdigung über mich gesprochen. Dieser Patient hatte ich vor Ihnen immer meine Patienten bekannt, und seiner Frau war sehr nett zu uns gewesen, wenn wir zuerst hier aus nach Norden verschoben.

Aber das ist nicht warum ich dies schreibe. Als ich im Dienst saß, der Gedanke kam mir, dass ein patient's Beerdigung von vielen als sein würde, zu sein ein für einen Arzt.Sicherlich gibt es Zeiten wenn das der Fall ist

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Guidelines for the perplexed

Gave much progress in the understanding of the biology of Alzheimer's disease. The long coveted chemicals detected in the blood and spinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's and knowledge with new brain imaging techniques are

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Interview with David Hale

By Matthew Holt

In this interview recorded in health 2.0 David Hale, project manager at the National Library of medicine and national institutes goes to Washington on 10 June 2010 of health talks about his vision for the future of health IT and their upcoming hackathon mothers.July 21, challenges relating to drugs and at nursing 2010 in focused conferences

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Technology Showcase: Data drives decisions

By Matthew Holt

SUBTEXT: In this technology presentation of the health 2.0 goes Washington Conference on June 7, 2010, presented the participants in the data drives decisions and discussed how data from collection and users can use, to develop health 2.0 co-founder INDU Subaiya, powerful insights into healthcare.Moderated panel marked, Jamie Heywood, PatientsLikeMe, David Hale, national library of medicine and the national institutes of health, Hugo Stephenson, iGuard mark Walinske, boundary medical and Daniel Palestrant, Sermo.

July 21, 2010 in conferences

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Microsoft speaks health plans

IDA electricity Seljeseth

AHIP Conference in Las Vegas in June 2010, Matthew Holt practice sat down with two leaders in Microsoft's health plan: Dennis Schmu country Director US be health plan solutions and Hector Rodriguez, industry technology strategist for health plans.She talked about health plans and the consumer market where health plans are today and the future technological development of Gesundheitspläne.Oh... and how Microsoft can help.

Health 2.0 on Vimeo.

July 21, 2010 in health plans, Microsoft, technology

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Knee injury, again

One of my favorite topics is back in the news. Apparently ACL cannot unnecessary repairs. Here's the WSJ health blog write up about the NEJM study. Two groups of active young people with torn ACLs were divided. Half got immediate ACL repair, half got rehabilitation and subsequent repair if necessary. The second group around 39% required surgery, but when the two groups (Surg vs Surg if rehabilitation not enough) were evaluated there was no difference.

Especially this is a big duh! A simple ACL tear needs correct if you're going, Ski travel, play football, volleyball and other sports that it needs.I had a left knee, the simple ACL tear in my early 1930s had fixed after 6 months to wait & rehab and went back to all these sports.(Although I never seriously in a winding sport before repair tested it).

Then I had a tear of the right knee ACL and a few weeks later several trauma a few years later to my left knee

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Beating up on ONC, usually the unjustified

(apparently as I can not find the transcript), a costume was beating up on the poor people in ONC to reduce the barriers to meaningful use. Here's Jonathan Hare of upstart privacy/identity/network vendor resilient explain that things are not hard enough.
 

 

While Jonathan is a little fun here (and oh by the way, he actually has a solution for the inadequacies of current HIEs that we more about in the world will show health 2.0), some this and other cases which deal with the ONC people lineup was a little hart.Sie got a fair amount of abuse of the Committee.

Of which I agree with some in the spirit:

Republic Wally Herger (R California) argued that

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Interview with Josh summer

IDA electricity Seljeseth

SUBTEXT at the health 2.0 goes to Washington Conference on 10 June 2010 Josh summer, this short interview, he talks about the future, he wants wurden.Josh has in medical research director who gave Chordoma Foundation a deeply personal reason for this improvement as life expectancy for Chordoma patients is less than 10 years.

July 23, 2010

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What is when all Americans at least catastrophic health care coverage had?

 

I really like the term health care reform. I think our system must be changed not reformed. I assume that I am not the only person who thought that is not the final solution for America's health care problems the recent reform of the public health Act. The cost of health care is not really at all, and even if it works better than expected some Americans have coverage even catastrophic health care.

This post is really just my first shot to propose a way I think is the problem of the large number of uninsured people in America, while at the same time leave many choice and personal responsibility which seems to be a part of American Kultur.Ich'm sure useful that I didn't confess all the gritty details thoughtfully, and really not who know talent or having to write legislation but I this basic tenants think point.First might be a starting point my assumptions:

The biggest problem for Americans who are uninsured is the possibility of personal personal choice when selecting a medical plan want financial ruin from a large medical condition.Americans and providers.American are disadvantaged businesses global in having to to pay their plans for expensive health insurance costs for the production of goods and services which were higher than in countries with public health insurance.If American's more responsibility for costs in the health sector, it is likely that you have a greater responsibility for how their dollars on health care are rendered as if you spend other people's money would apply.

Next the basic elements of a solution:

The Federal Government every American with a catastrophic coverage provides medical plan. This would very high deductible plan to cover expenditure on a selected amount, say $ 5000. / Family per year. (This number might be different according to actuarial and legislative input.) This would choose paid by a national tax of whatsoever, perhaps a combination of one corporate payroll tax and health cover value added tax, or other individual tax.Individuals and employers could purchase additional plan for themselves or their employers about these catastrophic coverage.Most Americans at least access to a PPO type of network would want reduced fees negotiated between providers of services and insurance plans, similar to how PPO fees now access to purchase. You could also choose, an HSA account to save / pay towards which had deductible or complementary plan to cover some or most of deductible expenses contribute. it be covered no responsible services in these supplementary plans.Individuals choose what services can have assured you want to.This would allow that insurance companies to offer plans that the wishes and needs of the individual, not the current any willing provider tailored, cover everything for everyone, many current mandates to diktieren.Wenn we for really big change are ready, this could be for all Americans and our less wealthy elderly and our poor could have some kind of support in purchasing additional insurance to replace Medicare and Medicaid.

That's pretty much es.Jeder would prevent most Americans facing the risk of financial ruin from an accident, injury or illness catastrophic national health insurance.We could all choose, what to meet other cover our needs on an open market without regulated mandatory reporting than buy all services we could choose not to buy.

I am hoping to this topic, an ongoing forum for discussion on haben.Kommentare, better ideas I missed suggestions for major problems, address, and the expected outrage that this idea is a step towards socialism, fascism or some other ISM is willkommen.Machen comments and join the dialogue.

Ed Pullen, MD, is a board certified family physician practicing in Puyallup, WA.Dr.Pullen shares his views on medical news and politics from a medical care physician perspective his blog at DrPullen.com.

July 23, 2010 in Ed Pullen, health care reform

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Health of 2.0's role in a world of "Data liberation"

IDA electricity Seljeseth
 

SUBTEXTThis is the full panel discussion on the role of "data liberation" of the health 2.0 goes to Washington 10 June 2010.Panel selected Todd Park from the US Department of health and human services, Kenneth Bütow by the national cancer health and Josh's Institute & founder of CaBIG, Patrick soon Shiong of Abraxis summer of Chordoma Stiftung.Es about 40 minutes and was rated one of the best records in health 2.0 - we are sure that you really enjoy it.

July 23, 2010

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Panel discussion: The role of consumers in health 2.0

By Matthew Holt

The health 2.0 goes to Washington Conference June 7, 2010 was an excellent panel discussion about the role of consumers in health 2.0.It was Jane B. son-Kahn from health services THINK moderiert.Diskussionsteilnehmer were Linda Harris of US health and Human Services Office of prevention and health promotion (ODPHP), Carol diamond of the Markle Foundation, Gordon Norman international and patient advocate Trisha Torrey, guide to patient empowerment at about.com performs.
July 23, 2010 in conferences, consumers, Jane B. son Kahn

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The original individual-mandate, circa 1792

Regardless of one's opinion on the patient protection and affordable care Act's constitutionality, the most Kommentatoren-and no less an authority than the Congressional Budget Office)-voice (or foul, may be the case) that Congress has never required Americans purchase a good or a repair from a private entity as a prerequisite for European citizenship.  But importantly, you are wrong. The ongoing debate on the mandate of constitutionality has revealed a unlikely precedent to the PPACA of individual mandate to have health insurance. Initial individual mandate in an article I wrote recently about this see

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The insurer's dilemma

This is a very difficult period for insurance companies in Massachusetts. Regardless, not profit, being you see much control over the reserve margins and profitability. Much of this is unfair, but I think this is just a sign of the times. Hospitals face a similar problem to. Doctors are certainly next line.

But Massachusetts insurers have an additional problem.As we have discussed were mainly participants in creating a very large differences in which payment is based prices between hospitals, rate differentials on provider Marktmacht.Sie are now under pressure to limit increases in the hospitals, but those who have extended will have received those are not necessarily the higher prices.

However, insurers are those who are renewing say you expect no rate increase far below the inflation rate should increase at all or at best medical costs. These hospitals by definition are those without market power.If the insurers to changes keep low rate, is the disparity between the have's and the have not's wachsen.Dies increases the market power of their competitors, so that doctors in their networks to poach and win more market power. This increases the percentage of patients are suppliers of high-rate, the total health care costs aggravating.

So far I haven't seen any effort by insurance companies, this Gordian Knoten.Ein company promotes capitation or global payments in response to the problem.But capitation based on embedded refund patterns doesn't solve the problem of rate Differentiale.In of fact perpetuates the problem.

Transparency with regard to the prices could create a moral imperative that would help guide that would move things in the right direction, a shift in the negotiations.I either individually or collectively, ask any progress on the part of payors to publish prices to existing State.

Transparency with regard to the quality and safety could contribute to a marketplace for insurance products, that see based on results rather than Marktmacht.Ich not step on the part of the insurance carrier, either individually or collectively, asking the State, useful data on this front-publish or use your own commercial agency to such publication as part of their contracts with providers require.

Properly constructed and implemented administrative rate setting could also help, disparities in the course of time to beheben.Ich see no step on the part of the insurance carrier, either individually or collectively, to the State engage in rate setting to questions.

So while I'm unfair attacks on insurers who are part of the political environment of sympathy for that, I'm to links Fragen.Was it is to you in favor of are uncontroverted resolve, worsened a problem that even the very situation relating to the insurance industry?

July 23, 2010

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How about "Meaningful exchange"?

!

Oy.

I understand, how we could haben.Ich put myself in the shoes of Government decision makers at every step of the way and see me the same thing to do.

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Non scalability by charisma

Many social movements are a charismatic leader and attention, creating a burning platform from the outset and inspire people to act. You know when the movement has made it when no longer such a leader needed for fuel.

The safety and quality have picked up huge steam movements over the last decade, but you have not yet taken that week was itself carrying Wendepunkt.Letzte it two things that this reminds me: the announcement of a new leader of the Institute for healthcare improvement (IHI) and a sad JAMA essay by Peter Pronovost.

Were trained during the circus, the Don Berwick's recess appointment which was to lead centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), all eyes inside the Beltway.But 440 km North, in Cambridge, MA, probably the most important organization of quality and safety Galaxy needed to on their business.July 8 IHI announced his choice of Maureen Bisognano of its new CEO to werden.Maureen is a nurse and former Hospital EXEC, IHI the last 15 years spent as Don's consigliere hat.Sie is a great person with boundless energy and great organizational skills

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PPACA: The individual mandate

is required to pay it or a fine of $ 695 or 2.5 per cent of income.

The reason is simple: without a mandate, many people would wait until you do care before buying insurance, the premiums for those with ongoing coverage and potentially create required

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Wellcare, Yes, there are more even without(?) Regi

July 12, 2010Wellcare, Yes, there is more even without(?) RegiBy Matthew Holt

A few weeks we welcomed back John Goodman as contributor at THCB. His first column was more than a bit critical of me on the ethics of Harvard Business School Professor Regina Herzlinger impugning.Herzlinger, remember maybe a boatload money out of their position on the Board of Directors of Wellcare gemacht.Wellcare was a Medicaid and Medicare HMO in Florida, operation while in fact, that not to sacred trust as an excuse to trick the taxpayer.

Due to the demands of reality mein cutting into my job step bad behavior analysis of Wellcare's has diminished somewhat, but instead I recommend the consistently great work of Roy poses on health care renewal.Earlier this month Roy took a look at the latest chapter in the shabby Geschichte.Ich encourage you to read his article for the full story, but also despite the settlement of criminal and civil charges for theft of around 46 million $, there is a whole new set of fees from the same time - this time theft is supposedly of up to $ 600 million.This new series of allegations were collected from (FBI informant & Wellcare financial analyst) Sean Hellein wore a wire for over a year and is likely to make a package in the qui tam suit.

And not that I continued the reputation of Prof. Herzlinger, but the time period all this happened would spot while she was still on the Board, and none of these received it me your explicit reasons for the verlassen.Dann, noticed is Regi in to qui tam suit? that would be the way to serious money from your insiders know.

July 12, 2010 in health plans, Matthew Holt

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Op-ed: Dr. No. CMS run

Let's do a thought experiment. Adopted were a US Senator and presidential nominees candidate for head CMS confirmation appeared at his hearing: wear a T-shirt Che Guevera, sporting the image of a psychopath, apparently people killed or lovingly clutching enjoyed a copy of's offerings Chairman Mao, killing more people than another person in the history of the world written by a man, the Chairman of the genocide.

When I was at Columbia University, mean fact fellow students these sorts of things. Soon I learned they were not evil.Could simply not clear moral issues relating to collectivism denken.Ich see Don Berwick in much the same way.

President Obama used a short congressional recess him to run of Medicare and Medicaid without even a hearing on ernennen.Obwohl the President the Republicans were guilt, even some Democrats dissatisfied with his snubbing normal Senate prerogatives

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Jamie Heywood challenges health 2.0

By Matthew Holt
 

SUBTEXT: Jamie Heywood, founder and Chairman of PatientsLikeMe, spoke at the recent health 2.0 DC Conference. While on stage, Heywood issued a challenge to the Federal agencies "change what we pay."

SEE ALSO: Heywood is among the leaders of health emerging data rights Bewegung.Er speaks about his op-ed THCB issues involved "Right to Share".

July 12, 2010

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What could do?

What is the most important Don Berwick could do as head of the CMS to improve the quality and reduce health care costs?  Lets face it as head of a humongous Agency, it is difficult to make changes.  You've got to choose your battles carefully, for every cause has a constituency and an opponent.  Gridlock is a fact of life in Washington, D.C.: the system is designed for this result.

We simply, but adopt that you had a chance, an innovative regulation or proposal where even opponents would get little moral ground on traction, say.

  Here's mine:

Announce that to create a site where every hospital is invited you enter two or three real-time metrics in terms of reducing schäden.beginnen with central line infections.There is a common definition of the CDC bereitgestellt.Viele hospitals pursue their rate of infection.

Specify a password-protected template and quarterly Figurefor to senden.einrichten Web page so the cumulative sequence numbers in a trend line, you can see the world in his or her your hospital is translated to each hospital CEO (Yes, CEO!), so someone a givenhospital's can observe progress over time.

"Why CEO? well, like in a recent Washington Post story stated:"

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Useful and cats and dogs

July 13, 2010Meaningful usage, and cats & DogsBy Matthew Holt

More than a year or so of disputes (kind of) over and HHS announced its criteria for the first phase of meaningful Verwendung.Im essentially today 25 criteria for granting

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Interview: useful use Blumenthal talks

Absolutely hot off the recorder, here is my interview with David Blumenthal, Obama administration National Coordinator for health it.

David and I discuss patient communication why the percentages of certain criteria have been reduced and how you two Regina on Oprah.Well, he did not many ideas!...

David Blumenthal use meaningful, 13 July 2010July 13, 2010 in electronic medical records, HHS, HIT, host, Holt Matthew, technology

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Josh summer - a patient find a world of "data liberation"

By Matthew Holt

In this part of the panel debate on the role in a world of "data liberation" summer tells the story about data sharing between different researchers help how he was diagnosed with Chordoma and how it works finanziert.Josh Chordoma Foundation with his mother in response to the lack of treatments at the coordinate founder of Chordoma Foundation Josh.

July 13, 2010

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New and improved meaningful use

The long-awaited final rule to use revealed yesterday with much pomp and circumstance in a rather unusual ceremony marked Interestingly also the first public appearance of Dr. Berwick as CMS administrator. Final rule is contained in a 846 page document. Join that is CMS judgment 228 pages final EHR certification rule at the same time issued by ONC. Luckily for all of us scrambling to figure out what has changed, Dr. Blumenthal a summary published in NEJM (recommended). Already many articles and dissertations published and undoubtedly many, many more are written in the coming days and weeks analyze each change and each nuance of the new and now authentic, meaningful use. For those who prefer a image larger and low resolution Don ' t care much about nuances, here are the main changes to the old version use meaningful.

The good
Was far from the largest relaxation to divide into two groups original 25 measures (23 hospitals)

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Patrick soon - Shiong - role in a world of "data liberation"

By Matthew Holt

Subtext: In the DC panel debate on the role of "Data liberation" Executive Chairman of Abraxis commented health, Patrick soon Shiong, coordination and exchange of health data health improve and have a direct impact on individuals can he spoke also about how his "realization of the American dream" helps him this by the non-profit organization allowed the transformation Health Institute.

July 14, 2010 in conferences

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API for health 2.0 Developer Challenge opened KEA!

The fifth challenge for health 2.0 Developer challenge has just been announced. KEA, health and wellness data-driven platform has its API and development environment, who a "social care plan." Author wants to have opened in a fun games teams on a "challenge, a challenge to design," access to tools and a robust engine new ideas to test, the social motivation in health and behavior to integrate change through the exchange of health data and health results.

The winning team gets to your work over dinner with Web 2.0 pioneer CEO Adam Bosworth, US $ 3,000 - cash - price and whether the award-winning app at the health 2.0 Conference in October feature more to diskutieren.Erfahren and register to compete, you see the KEA ' challenge here.

July 14, 2010 in announcements

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My EMR reality

Inmy approach to computers in the exam room and many I seem Havemy head in the clouds; I seem to be out of touch with reality.  Comments of Beenthus have to make in response I have written about this topic:

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Christmas in July: as consumers meaningful use a gift

and it did. But few of us expected use would contain a genuine consumer gift: the requirement that it provide themselves at EMRs doctors help recipes to each patient. This addition is a game changer for promoting the role of the patient in a patient-centered health care system.

Page 225 of rules includes this stage I measure for the detection of

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Fantastic job: HHS ONC subject matter expert on e health

By Matthew Holt

Josh Seidman has written from ONC, tell us about a fantastic job opportunity. Get to work with the brilliant people ONC on fun stuff regarding consumer e-health.What does this mean? from the deployment.

Forge alliances with consumer organisations, technology and care delivery innovators and consumer protection consumer e-health agenda.Develop consumer oriented strategies through the Office of the National Coordinator for health information technology (ONC) .Serve as project manager project management control for contracts, including design, to promote development and coordination of the project management plans for political initiatives in conjunction with the Division Director and the Office of policy and planning Director.

We were very impressed by everything, communication - seen on ONC's commitment to patients not least the "sneak in" requirements meaningful use in phase 1 of the patient education materials (Don Kemper Christmas in July called) I can think of a fascinating job for someone, who cares about online health.

If you are interested, here the link is to be considered.

July 15, 2010 in Joshua Seidman, Matthew Holt, use meaningful

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How: health care ration

Suppose you were in a triage situation and had the choice between two patients decide who lives and who dies. Is there any principles which could rely to make your choice?

Alex Tabarrok had an interesting post recently at marginal revolution, asked where he could imagine readers behind Rawlsian veil of ignorance.This is a thought experiment, where you are born in a world in the process, but you don't know to which person in this world (for example, could born are smart, stupid; Empire, arm; black, white; etc..).Can decide the rules for the world that are in the process in must be born but you your choice

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So I'm crappy coverage on television, unfortunately in play

July 16, 2010So I'm on TV, unfortunately in play crappy ReportingBy Matthew Holt

So last month the nice folks at KTVU (the local Fox affiliate in SF) came to me and last night interview it aired. She was on Web based EMR vendor practice fusion and had found out about EMRs. Then came to me interviewing.I should probably get the note if I am not exactly shown reporter John Fowler on me behalten.Ich spent 20 minutes which is a balanced nuanced view of the benefits and problems of the introduction of medical records by the 6 second soundbite, asking about privacy concerns.

Unfortunately

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One response to the Cato Institute

This week, Cato Institute published a 52-page report on health care reform entitled: bad medicine: A Guide to the real costs and consequences of the new health care law.

The wing was written by Michael Tanner, senior fellow at the Institute, and it is located on the thesis that the patient protection and affordable care Act is (ACA) for unfair. both Unaffordable Perforce, Tanner's allegations about affordability are shaky; in fact no one can project, how much reform costs more than ten years

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Introduction to ONC initiatives

By Matthew Holt

SUBTEXT: the beginning of the welcomed Matthew Holt health 2.0 goes to Washington Conference and INDU Subaiya of all Konferenzteilnehmer.Wil Yu, Director of innovation at the Office of the National Coordinator for health IT (ONC), gave the opening remarks and talked about health innovators and initiatives.

July 16, 2010

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Open access to plan at the doctor's Office

Today I am quoted in Boston Globe (a new practice: see the doctor today) to plan for open access. (I'm at the bottom at the end of the article.)

Open access is one of my favorite innovations and quality because it improves customer service. How we add that the system provides patients, open access a way to maintain or improve access to the Arzt.Es is better - I believe - as other solutions, for example.Other mid-level practitioners and try increasing the total number of doctors.

Open access means see today's patients today instead you into a slot far in the future to force or attempts to squeeze in a crammed schedule.Example in the globe article is a more extreme version than what I normally am not sure that such a radical shift to open access would best be best ist.Es bin.Ich, obtaining a lower percentage of slots for same-day access, would prefer people to today rather than force them, wait a bit!

What is required to open-access-work to make?

Overtime chip away at the existing backlog (otherwise there is to offer no free time until) variable number of hours per day to accommodate fluctuating DemandHaving right size patients Panel - something that is somewhat hard to in advance, to assess because the true demand is unknown (offices usually only know how far out, are planning)

Why does it work?

There is a high rate of no-show appointments, weeks or months in advance July 16, 2010

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Kenneth Bütow and caBIG

By Matthew Holt

SUBTEXTAt health 2.0 goes 7 Institute and founder of CaBIG to Washington on June, 2010, Kenneth Bütow, Associate Director of the national cancer bioinformatics, talked about launching a large scale called effort cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (CaBIG).

July 17, 2010

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Late start time at school benefits teens

Previous post next post a delay in the school start time is allocated according to a new study improvements in adolescent vigilance, mood and health. This is at least partly by the onset of puberty at the beginning, to develop young people as much as a two hour sleep-wake phase Verzögerung--later onset sleep and wake up calculation of real time-relative to the sleep wake cycles of the Middle childhood.Researchers analyzes more than 200 students of in grades 9 to 12. For the purposes of the study of class 30 minutes from 8: 00 A.m. to 8: 30 start time was delayed a.m.According at the times of India:

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Your neck size is better than BMI predict your body fat

Previous post next post BMI (body mass index), the weight relative to height measuring body fat-exactly calculate it tends not to say that people are overweight and body fat underestimated in the elderly. But it is inexpensive and easy, so that it still beats the standard for the evaluation for obesity.A, the new study to another simple, direct measurement be used could tools-neck size to add.  A wide neck range is associated with obesity conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension.According to CNN:

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When is a drug too risky to remain on the market?

Was previous post next post the Painkiller Vioxx from the market, but menopause hormones withdrawn are still sold, although both with heart were connected risks. A multiple sclerosis medicine was considered and on.As calls Mount for Avandia diabetes pill withdrawn later allowed back, it has become increasingly clear that the U.S. has food and drug administration, no fixed rules for such Fälle--a cloudy guideline of decision "If the risks exceed the benefits."USA today reports:

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Mind-body therapy shows promise for fibromyalgia

Previous post next post a form of therapy which can be focused on the role of emotions in physical pain offer relief, people with fibromyalgia.  A study of 45 women with fibromyalgia found that those, a technique called "affective self-confidence" were learned more likely, a significant reduction in their pain. 46 percent of women experience a reduction of 30 percent or more serious pain in their had. Study participants assigned to a waiting list for the therapy showed a similar decrease in pain.According Reuters:

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Most powerful non nuclear battery ever created

Post previous post next Xenon and fluoride, combined under pressure, which were similar to those in the middle of the Earth to create a ultra battery used location more condensed storage energy than any other battery ever used the battery material built.The is Xenon difluoride (XeF2), a white Crystal which is placed in a diamond anvil cell. The cell used two tiny diamond anvils to incredibly high pressures in tiny, to create contained spaces. io9 reports:

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