GLG News by General and Acute Care Hospital Economic Experts

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

Roche adds to anti-MRSA arsenal in Europe

April 8, 2009

Analysis of:Roche introduces new LightCycler MRSA advanced test in EU | www.roche.com

European healthcare organizations have always been more aggressive in identifying MRSA infections. Europe popularized the "search and destroy" protocol of MRSA containment. This new method by Roche is a valuable addition in this arsenal. I expect the LightCycler MRSA Test by Roche to be popular and very lucrative for Roche.

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

Boomers numbers and demands point to increased demand for medical real estate

July 1, 2008

Analysis of:Aging Baby Boomers Will Drive Demand for Healthcare Properties Over Next Decade, Grubb & Ellis Report Reveals | www.bio-medicine.org

Baby boomers are rapidly aging. According to Census Bureau by 2010 there will be 77 million people aged 55 and older; a number which will grow to a whopping 98 million by 2020. This aging population, living longer with chronic illnesses and more demanding of cafeteria-type service will drive the demand for medical services and more medical real estate into the forseeable future.

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

Screening babies for cholesterol has no scientific basis

October 5, 2007

Analysis of:Screening: Testing Early for Cholesterol | www.nytimes.com

 Hypercholesterolemia has an established link with a risk of cardiac events and there has been a push to screen high risk population for early intervention in an effort to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes, for example. However to suggest any benefit from screening babies is to misunderstand the science and is immediately suspect in my view. Such a measure if adopted would increase healthcare costs and cause undue worry for parents, with no corresponding ability to mitigate the risk they are now told exists.

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

Nursing Homes Owned by Private Equity Firms Worse in Quality?

October 5, 2007

Analysis of:Senators seek private equity nursing home probe | www.reuters.com

Recently there has been a rash of takeover of publicly owned nursing homes by private equity firms flush with cash. There is a concomitant suspicion now that quality is being compromised systematically in these institutions in order to maximize profits. It's important to ascertain if this is so. If it is, there could be a whole new rash of regulations geared towards acquisitions and/or the nursing home industry.

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

SCHIP legislation vetoed by President Bush

October 4, 2007

Analysis of:Bush vetoes bill on children's health care | www.reuters.com

Many lower income families depend on the SCHIP program administered by individual states to pay for healthcare. Republicans see this as just another entitlement program while Democrats see it as an essential way of making sure children have access to the basics in healthcare. This veto might be based more on political than financial (and certainly medical) grounds.

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

Bariatric surgery may be a legitimate way to address diabetes

September 28, 2007

Analysis of:Bariatric surgery - possible treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus | www.news-medical.net

Diabetes continues to be a global problem with hefty costs in dollars, death and disability.  Over the years treatment has not varied much-exercise, diet and use of insulin- and the problem continues to grow. If bariatric surgery shows amelioration of diabetes (if "cure" is too strong a worrd),  then surgery should  be considered a legitimate option in some cases.

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

Concierge medicine raises many questions

August 31, 2007

Analysis of:MDs offer new services, for $3,600 yearly fee | www.boston.com

It is important to look closely at the new niche called Concierge Medicine. It is obviously created out of  a special need and will prove lucrative for physicians who choose to go that route. But there are larger questions of access and ethics of exclusivity/ One has to consider whether this provides better care, better service, or simply convenience.  All who provide and use healthcare ought to be interested in this trend and be prepared to weigh in as more physicians  pursue this model

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

Changes in Long Term Care Leadership Significant

August 31, 2007

Analysis of:Earl Reed Steps Down as LifeCare CEO; William Hamburg Named Interim CEO | www.carlyle.com

The recent changes in leadership in the LTAC space is significant and suggests a tightening of operations. It is important to monitor the overall long term space as well as follow who goes where.  The changes are not insignificant, but may not be as ominous as they appear on the surface. Investors might want to monitor the sector performance closely for the next year or so.

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

Medicare should NOT pay for errors-but what are "errors"

August 16, 2007

Analysis of:By 2008, Medicare won't pay for hospital errors | www.fiercehealthcare.com

- Some studies show that medical errors continue to increase despite an intense focus on this issue over the last recent years. This decision by CMS should bring even more attention to this whole area of patient safety and error prevention - There will need to be increased documentation to "prove" that an infection, for example, was present at admission or was not preventible or forseeable. This might increase the cost of delivering care. - The debate will continue  as to what is preventible - MCOs and other payers might well jump on the bandwagon and start parsing what is considered "allowable"  

Glen McDanielPresident and Chief Executive OfficerGM Global

Fight over Medicare cuts ignore patients-as usual!

August 9, 2007

Analysis of:HMOs to start ad blitz against Medicare cuts | news.yahoo.com

Congress is looking at making cuts to Medicare especially the privately administered Medicare Advantage plans. America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) the advocacy group is concerned solely with preserving the healthy margins enjoyed by its members, while Congress is interested in reducing Medicare spending at all costs. Where is the patient in all this?

Page : 123456Next1 to 10 of 59