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My prescription for better health care for ALL Americans. Part 1/3: Top 5 factors raising premiums

11/7/2016

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Introduction
​Those of you who follow my blog know the foundation of my leadership philosophy. Empower your team with tools and resources they need to solve problems creatively; ultimately bringing success to the entire group. First step in solving any complex issue is to first understand the problem. And so, we start by looking at the problem in the economics of delivering care by understanding the cause for rising insurance premiums. I hope to raise your awareness in this 3 part series to illustrate the real issues with the Affordable Care Act and propose a solution which I think will propel us to being the most innovative and efficient health care system in the world. 

If you are like most Americans, the open enrollment season is confusing, nerve-wrecking, frustrating, and quite honestly, an overwhelming time. How do you choose which insurance is right for you? All the language and terminology is so confusing that making sense of a single plan is a daunting task. Insurance brokers are there to help, but the industry is changing for individuals at least as the insurance companies are not paying these brokers commission for selling their product; leading to less brokers out there helping individuals and families.

Naturally, we wonder why the premiums are so high and why they keep rising? Here are the top reasons why insurance premiums are rising and will continue to rise until we finally agree to privatize primary care and other outpatient services; keeping health insurance out of these basic services. 

Top 5 factors 

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  1. Increased use of specialty care (hospital care, specialists, ​other advanced services)
  2. Rise in chronic illnesses 
  3. Growth of administrators and staffing which raise fees
  4. ​Consolidation of insurance carriers leading to decrease in networks
  5. Rising cost of prescription medications
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​How has the rise in insurance premiums compared to median household income or earnings? 
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So, to put this in perspective, workers are not earning enough to keep pace with rising insurance premiums. This leads to either the employer spending more on health care coverage, letting go of some employees in order to provide coverage for others, downsize the business, or stay less than 50 employees to prevent having to require health insurance. This de-incentivizes economic growth. How does this make any economic sense? 

Higher premiums mean less out of pocket? Wrong! 

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Your analysis is correct: rising premiums and deductibles are outpacing inflation. This is why earnings are not keeping pace with premiums or deductibles, causing Americans to hold onto their wallets even tighter. 

​Rising Chronic Illness leading to higher costs of care 
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This is the reason why investing in primary care is so critical to keep costs down. More chronic illnesses does not necessarily mean more specialty care. Primary care is built, conditioned, and positioned to be fully capable of managing these illnesses at a low cost. The problem arises when the system does not allow primary care to do what it is capable of offering. Instead, the system encourages more specialty care. 

Even with value based purchasing and the movement towards rewarding value rather than volume, the cost of doing business in health care favors larger health systems instead of small private practices. Ultimately, making no progress in making the delivery of health less complicated, more personal, accessible, and affordable.  


Will the demand be met with a supply of primary care physicians?
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The current health care market is ripe for future primary care physicians. Many may look at the current state of primary care and run away. But the informed and astute medical student will understand the industry and market trends illustrated in this blog and realize this is the best time to be a primary care physician. It is also a wonderful opportunity for investors and innovators to assimilate modern technology with quality primary care. No, not telemedicine by itself. The human touch and relationship must never be obliterated. Imagine the patient experience with modern technology and medicine that focuses on building strong, long lasting, relationships. 

That is the future of primary care. That is the future of the United States Health Care System. 

If you are a investor, innovator, or someone in the community who wants to support my vision, please support our growing practice. Health care will be much different and more efficient for the next generation.

​Dr. Ahmed 
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Paying for health insurance and monthly membership SAVES you money

10/6/2016

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Full disclosure: This topic has been discussed many times and the best article I have read on this question by far is by our fellow direct primary care doctors at CovenantMD. Please feel free to read their full article by clicking the link. 
The most common question of all questions I get is "Why would I pay a monthly membership when I already pay for health insurance premiums?" The first thing I do is remind people that most people with insurance already pay twice for health care. Once for your premiums and then the second time for prescriptions medications, labs, imaging, and anything else outside of the premiums. So, direct primary care aims to decrease the amount you pay the second time you pay for health care, while adding significant value to your investment. 
Most people will save on insurance premiums by selecting a high deductible plan, use the direct primary care practice to save money on 80-90% of medical needs, which includes discounted medications, laboratory, and imaging. They reserve their health insurance for expensive items like surgery or procedures. 

It is difficult to place a quantitative value on medical services that would be prevented with good direct primary care. This is the whole idea behind this model. Be accessible and affordable to prevent catastrophic complications, unnecessary testing, and reduce hospitalizations. The lay public has no idea how a small open wound, a few high blood pressure readings, few high blood sugar readings, ignored leg swelling or other symptoms, can lead to horrible complications if not diagnosed and managed early in its course. 
Regardless of how much I educate and teach about the importance of primary care and prevention, people want to see savings in dollars or don't bother thinking about it until they experience a health crisis. So here it goes:
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These figures are estimates and certainly can fluctuate on a case by case basis. But, overall, the savings increase as we age simply because you might require more office visits, which are FREE in our direct primary care practice. Most in-clinic procedures like breathing treatments, skin biopsy, joint injection, etc are also FREE. These visits are not 10-15 minutes, instead the 30-60 minute visits might allow us to avoid unnecessary testing and specialty consultation. If specialists are involved, then a direct model allows better communication between the specialist and the patient. It truly is rewarding to see patients become more empowered, more enthused about the physiology at play and learn how they can make an impact in their health with a few steps; ultimately, they feel more in control of their health. 
What about those who are very complicated and have a lot of health issues with multiple specialists?

You mean like someone with multi organ failure with a large abscess that needs to be drained, liver failure, kidney failure, malnutrition, high blood pressure, and progressing malnutrition...complicated like that? Yeah, we have that case and in fact we are celebrating his recent hospital discharge and every organ that was injured is now healed. More importantly, his hospital stay on average would have been 7-10 days and we were able to get everything tuned up in 3 days. Direct care allows the primary care doctor to organize an effective team and arrange procedures that have to be done efficiently for that patient. Again, saving 5 days of a hospital stay is very significant, not mentioning the peace of mind of having your leader who you see in the clinic take charge in the hospital as well with smooth communication throughout your stay.  
Did you say massive stomach bleed, severe anemia where all the diagnostic procedures can't find a source of bleeding, or the rash that no specialist would take her case because she has no insurance and ultimately needed a strong medication that at times is used for chemotherapy from our office to treat it....and now the rash has cleared...cases like that? Yup, we take care of them too! 
By all means, the point of all this is not to brag, but to illustrate a very important point. Primary care is extremely effective if there is time, no 3rd party influence dictating care, and the patient and physician have a strong relationship. Primary care is not just treating common colds, joint aches and pains, and other minor issues. Good primary care takes charge of multiple issues and focuses on preventing chaos. The more complicated the case, the more value you get! 
What about Medicare? 
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Our Medicare patients who have additional supplemental insurance will say that the accessibility and leadership of their care is what attracts them to our practice. The cost of care is still cheaper with a direct practice as illustrated above. Specialist visits likely will be reduced and the focus is to reduce the number of hospitalizations by preventing medical illness. House calls are a known benefit which save people time and money. 
Stop by, ask questions, and see how we can help you stay healthy or help manage any health trouble you might be experiencing. Monthly membership too much for you? Then, consider pay per visit rather than monthly membership plan. 

We are here to help and have a model to serve everyone. Cost should not be a barrier to join if one really understands this model of primary care. We will be honored to serve you and help you to live a happy and an enriched quality of life. 

Dr. Ahmed 
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5 Types of People Who Should NOT join a Direct Primary Care practice

9/21/2016

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1. ​People who LOVE TO read all the magazines in the waiting room for hours while waiting for their doctor appointment.


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2. ​People who absolutely LOVE IT when they are greeted by the front desk with “what’s your insurance” rather than your name.


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3. ​People who LOVE to go to several specialists for every organ of their body for minor symptoms. The rising confusion and various opinions is like a soft melody to their ears. 


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4. ​People who think they are invincible and would rather use their body as an experiment in trying various supplements without any clinical research. The mystery of potential interactions and side effects is a high for them that nothing can replace! 


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5. ​People who enjoy playing the game of “can I get in to see my primary care doctor today?” Once they get into the exam room, they LOVE to repeat their concerns over and over and over...and over and over...again!

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4 things to keep in mind about concussions

8/23/2016

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Tis the season for the most popular sport in America, FOOTBALL! But, what is astonishing is that it is not just football where concussions occur. Sports like soccer, wrestling, basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, gymnastics, cheerleading, baseball/softball, and of course skiing and snow boarding.

What is even more interesting is that girls report concussions more than males. Part of this might be the "macho" effect, but there is more to this than under reporting from males. It also tells us that there is more to concussions than the fact that athletes are getting bigger, stronger, and faster. 

​Check out the study published in Clinical Sports Medicine 2011, January issue, volume 1, pages 1-17. Here is the link if you have access to this article CLICK HERE.

It is also no surprise to anyone that athletic participation across genders has increased when we compare 1982-1983 to 2007-2008. But, it will blow your mind at how drastic this increase has been. 

Those of us who follow athletics know about the growing participation, competition, and support of high school athletics. High school athletes are also getting bigger, stronger, and faster with aspirations for professional athletics. Therefore, it is not surprising when researchers and doctors see a rise in concussions and other serious injuries in high school athletes. 
Understand the terminology:

Concussion is a mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). It is a trauma-induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness.

​TBI happens with head injury due to contact with acceleration/deceleration forces.

Check this out:
  • Approximately 1.7 million Americans sustain Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) every year
  • About 75-95% are mild
  • About 10% are due to recreational accident
  • Majority, about 20-45% are from motor vehicle accidents
1. Seek medical attention if either the parent or athlete notice these signs or symptoms:
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2. Treatment?
Rest from physical and mental activities. This means that television, computers, and music should be limited. That is right, NO VIDEO GAMES! These activities might make symptoms worse. Eating  well balanced meals with adequate hydration are key to recovery. 

3. Prevention?
Play by the rules and practice good form when it comes to tackling, wrestling, etc. Identify if there are any trouble spots on the field that may increase risk for an abnormal fall. Make sure you are using the right sports equipment.

Bottom line: practice good technique and focus on strengthening and conditioning. This is most important.

Too many athletes focus on getting "big" or "ripped". But a good looking physique does not guarantee prevention of injury. Workout with purpose and intention. Think about the muscles your are working out. Know your anatomy. This is what makes working out fun. Take your time and take your workouts and nutrition seriously. Surround yourself with people who care about your health instead of pushing products. Being in private practice and becoming involved in my community, I meet a lot of people and small businesses. I must say, there are products out there,  exercises, diets, and ideas that are just NOT SAFE. Please consult with your doctor before doing or taking anything. 

4. Never ignore a head injury. When in doubt, sit the athlete out. 
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The Truth About Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic

7/26/2016

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Have you ever wondered how this prescription drug abuse epidemic spiraled out of control? How did we let this happen? Who are the major stackholders? These powerful drugs were developed with a real noble purpose, but soon cycled out of control. Was it our own doing? Similar to cigarette companies, pharmaceutical executives have become significantly rich at the expense of bringing incredible harm to all of us. This is our terrible reality across all industries - greed always results in harming everyone involved. Physicians have been screaming about the dangers of these medications, but lawmakers continued to ignore them   Why do we do this? Ignore the scientific community for the mighty dollar. Whether it be the approaching epidemic, rise of harmful medications or technologies, or gun control - the concern for financial profits always win. 

The commercial manufacturer of morphine started out in Germany in 1827. In fact, morphine was the painkiller of choice during the American Civil War. Interestingly, the doctor who invented Coca Cola formula had developed a morphine addiction during the Civil War and in their attempts to solve this issue, cocaine was sought. The new drink had cocaine mixed into it and sold to a pharmacy in Atlanta. During that time, this was perfectly legal. 

Heroin was created by Bayer Company in Germany in 1898. It's sole purpose was to be a remedy to the morphine addiction. Legislation, like The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and Harrison Narcotic Tax Act in 1914, brought these addictive substances under the control of physicians; preventing casual distribution of these products. 

The current problem:
  • An estimated between 26.4 million and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide 
  • An estimated 2.1 million Americans suffer from substance use disorders related to prescription drugs 
  • Since 1999, number of unintentional overdose deaths more than quadrupled 
  • The United States is the largest buyer of opioids in the world
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Factors that contributed to such growth:
  1. Poor access to primary care with shorter office visits - promoting writing prescriptions over creative solutions
  2. Decreasing revenues to medical practices incentivizing shorter office visits
  3. Increase in the number of prescriptions written and dispensed 
  4. Rise of urgent care centers and retail clinics which leads to more prescribing without creating patient relationships
  5. Aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies
  6. Greater social acceptability for using these medications 

The number of prescriptions has increased from 76 million in 1991 to nearly 207 million in 2013. The United States is the biggest consumer globally. 

What does it mean for the pharmaceutical companies?
It means more than $35 billion in sales since releasing medications like OxyContin. Annual revenues are about $3 billion for pharmaceutical companies selling prescription drugs. 

So, what does all this mean?
Well, let's see...

A medication or family of medications whose sole purpose was to help the soldiers during war starts to be sold unregulated to people around the world. Then as addiction starts to develop and people take notice, regulations are made to help control its spread, but either inadvertently or not, products like cocaine and heroin are used to "remedy" the situation. This leads to more addiction.

Crap! 

Meanwhile, the US health system was undergoing major changes. In attempts to control costs in the 1960s-1990s major developments in public and private health plans were developed. Not too surprisingly, as the managed care organizations were attempting to control costs, US health expenditures started to rise, while reimbursement started to fall. Pharmaceutical companies started to market heavily and capitalized on a health care system that was reducing clinic visit times to an average 7-10 minutes, which led to more written prescriptions. 

Sound familiar? Our country has a HUGE antibiotic resistance problem where antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily. The American public doesn't see the "super bugs" which claim many American lives where these bugs are resistant to ALL available antibiotics. 

Pharmaceutical companies do not invest in making more antibiotics as there is more money to be made in drugs that are taken for a long time, instead of the 5-7 days regimens that are usually prescribed for antibiotics. 

But, we digress. 

So what does the US government do to fight this epidemic? Spend more money where it doesn't matter! The President signed legislation that authorizes $181 million a year for new programs to train emergency personnel in administering drugs to reverse opiod overdoses and help communities purchase those drugs, as well as develop treatment and overdose programs. 

This means that pharmaceutical companies have more buyers for medications like Narcan and other products. Which leads to more profits! These treatment centers will be overwhelmed with the large demand as the public now has available "quick reversal" agents. This sends the wrong message and does NOT get to the root of the problem. Those of us who have taken care of overdose patients know that the problem does not cost so much money, development of more "reversal" agents, nor does it require capital investment to create "treatment facilities." The solution is simple: Establish a human connection involving time to talk, engage, motivate, build strong relationships, and bring people together. 

What does this solution look like more specifically?
All physicians, including specialists, are demanding better primary care. Longer visits allow for conversation and developing a plan that may include various pain control options outside of prescription medications. 

​The primary care setting is the place where opioid management should take place. Why not? The primary care physician is the leader of their care; the quarterback who is most likely or should be managing multiple health issues. They are the ones who spend time with the family, loved ones, might even have done a few house calls, knows what barriers exist to better health, and is the one making referrals or partnerships to bring more solutions to their delivery of care.


This is what true primary care looks like. Not a place to get a referral to a pain specialist or some methadone clinic. Why do we accept such nonsense? Let the primary care doctor to what they are trained to do. The health system must support and allow this interaction to happen because this small investment will prevent huge costs in the future. Psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists, social work, and others might need to be involved. More importantly, there cannot be a delay in seeing each of these specialists and there needs to be total - 24/7 - contact between physician and patient to prevent "loss to follow up." 

​This solution is cheaper, preserves human dignity, and most importantly it gets to the root of the issue - whether it be economic stress, poor family interactions or challenges, depression or other mental illness, or poor medical management of pain.

I am optimistic that the American people will speak out and share their personal experiences with a direct primary care practice. Soon, the current momentum that is already motivating public and private insurance companies offering "total health " plans that has a direct care flavor or large health systems offering more ways for patients to connect with them, will lead to national support for direct care. The challenge will be for physicians to prevent corporate greed getting in the way of our patient care. 

To a healthier America, 

Dr. Ahmed ​
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My last words were "we have failed you."

7/4/2016

1 Comment

 
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February 1, 2015 was the day I broke free from the insurance run health care system. After several years of being a staff physician at a large health system, medical directorship, running research studies, writing articles, being a pharmaceutical consultant for 2 large companies, I realized I cannot change this system from within. Corporate greed was too great for a young physician to fight. 

Each year I practiced medicine, I met another hard working American who waived his/her plastic insurance card, yet could not receive accessible or affordable primary care. I have met many other hard working Americans who couldn't get coverage regardless of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

The final story I could tolerate came when I met a 35 year old female who suffered a massive stroke and had to have her skull drilled to relieve the growing pressure from a massive brain hemorrhage.

I took over her care after she had been moved from the ICU to the floor. My job was to figure out why she had the stroke, prevent the next stroke, and aggressively pursue rehab. I had triaged her as one of my last patients to see as she was reportedly stable.

I knocked on the door and found a young brown haired caucasian female laying  quietly in a dark room, alone. Her hair was disheveled as she had staples on one side of her scalp with part of her head shaved, allowing exposure to her staples. She looked exhausted. Unlike the other rooms, there were no flowers, no cards, no "Get Well" balloons. It was just her, a beeping IV pump, and a computer next to her bed. The guest couch and chairs sat empty in the corner of the room. The 42 inch TV was turned off. The large window provided some light as it penetrated the dark window and the window shade.  Upon my entrance, she turned to look at me with sad eyes and managed to smile half way. 

I pulled up a chair next to her bed to listen to her story as I did with every patient. She readjusted herself, which was challenging as her entire right side was still weak. 

You see, she was a young 35 year old single mom who was working 3 part-time jobs, because her employers did not want to offer a full time job as that would require them to offer her health insurance under the current laws. So, she did not have insurance because of this. Her story began with a visit to an urgent care center where she was told she had high blood pressure and she was given a medication to help control her blood pressure. She didn't understand what high blood pressure would mean if it is not controlled. After taking the medication for a few days, she simply stopped taking it because to her it was all numbers and certainly didn't make her feel any "better." Besides, she was a young 35 year old and so how bad could it be?

In reviewing her records, it seems she had presented to the ER with a blood pressure of 220/120. Likely, her blood pressure was the reason for her stroke and head bleed. The medication she was on for high blood pressure is $4. Needless to say, I can get this medication for my patients now for $0.87 for a month supply. 

As her story continued to unravel, I started to stoop lower and lower in my chair. My mind started to race with anger. How can she be so abandoned? Why did no one tell her about the importance of blood pressure? Where was the follow up visit? How is this fair? She is a contributing American citizen to our economy, yet we abandon her? 

To put all this in perspective, here she is as an uninsured patient with an ICU stay of 5 days, surgical drainage of blood, multiple imaging studies and labs, she couldn't move her entire right side and so will need 6-8 weeks of rehab. One of her jobs was being a waitress. There is no way she could return to this line of work. In essence, we have effectively bankrupted a young, sweet, innocent, 35 year old single mom. 

After she had completed her story, teary eyed, and by now I was almost laying in my chair, I straightened myself and leaned forward towards her. I said,"ma'am, I am so sorry for all this. We have failed you. I as a representative of the American health care system have failed you. For that, I am sorry." 

I went on to explain how important blood pressure is to control and how we can prevent another stroke. I left that room with only one thought in mind...NEVER AGAIN. 

Never again would I allow myself to be in that chair hearing a story like that from any of my patients. My mind was made up to offer the best primary care I can, regardless of insurance status. 

Many people do not hear the stories that we as physicians hear. Yes, you pay for insurance premiums, but for primary care, that insurance card likely is not getting you the best care. Think about it. Some pay $25 to over $100 in copay per visit for what? A 10-15 minute visit that feels rushed or is not comprehensive. Or be sent to a specialist, procedure, imaging study, or be prescribed pills when in reality you probably didn't need it. These decisions are made simply because there is no time to get to the root of the problem. 

The follow up is the most important component of primary care. Start a gameplan and then you need to follow up maybe in a week or 2 weeks. But eliminate the copays that people have to pay to make the follow up more feasible. This is where direct care makes sense and saves money. 

The young and healthy individuals also save money and gain value in a direct care model. Simply put, casting, medications, EKG, suturing is FREE or at a minimal cost in a direct care practice. Time and money is saved. But, think about the value.  That young and healthy individual is probably going through some emotional roller coasters. What are their aspirations? How strong is their social network and who are they? Who do they spend time with and how are they dealing with any stressors they may have? Are they exercising and eating healthy? If they do exercise, then are they doing it safely? Do they practice safe sex? Where are they planning to travel? Are they overweight? Do they have family history of diabetes or heart disease that predisposes them to these conditions? 

These questions are so important that essentially a life can be saved by simply talking to them. These young adults are connected to their physician by a simple text or video chat under a direct care model. How neat is that? 

This is the value of direct care with or without health insurance. Take the time to understand what you are paying for when purchasing a health insurance plan. Our patients with Medicare and supplement insurance will say the value of access, coordination of care, and availability overwhelms the minimal monthly cost. 

Health insurance and direct care together make a phenomenal resource for all Americans to live well. Quality of life will be enhanced. Our health expenditures will go down. Taxes will be reduced and employers will be able to retain their talented workforce. Increase in direct care practices will solve the primary care shortage, lead to more young physicians embracing private practice to revive the practice of medicine, technology will be used to bring accessible health care into the home, and the American people will be empowered to navigate the health care system with more confidence. Together, we will achieve a healthier America. 

Give a direct primary care practice some consideration. Visit iwantdirectcare.com to learn where the nearest direct care practice is for you. 

Welcome to the new US Health Care System!

Dr. Ahmed 



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How does adolescent scoliosis affect you in adulthood?

6/13/2016

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Scoliosis, as many of you know, means lateral curvature of the spine. It is a structural alteration that can progress as the person grows, leading to significant deformity. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is typically defined as curvature greater than 10 degrees. Curvatures that are less than 10 degrees have no long term clinical significance. 

The 3 subcategories include:
- Infantile (0-3 years)
- Juvenile (4-9 years)
- Adolescent (>10 years)

So how common is AIS?
The prevalence of AIS is approximately 3% and only 10% of those adolescents require treatment. Males and females are affected equally. However, the risk for curve progression is 10 times higher in females than males. The degree of curvature is measured by Cobb angle. When considering prevalence, think about this:
  • Cobb Angle > 10 = 2-3% 
  • Cobb Angle >20 = 0.3-0.5%
  • Cobb Angle >30 = 0.1-0.3%
  • Cobb Angle > 40 = <0.1%

So if a family member or friend has scoliosis, first appreciate their strength and uniqueness, and then ask about their angle if they wish to share. Knowing that piece, one can greatly appreciate the prevalence of their condition. 

It may surprise you, but your primary care doctor can screen for scoliosis, diagnose, order the X-ray, and even start brace treatment if needed. If surgery is indicated, your primary care doctor can coordinate efficiently with an orthopedist. Point is, don't run to an orthopedist the minute you hear about scoliosis. This diagnosis, like any other diagnosis, requires a conversation.

What does having scoliosis mean? Do I have to have surgery? What are the post surgical challenges I may encounter as I am recovering? Even after treatment, what should I worry about? What about pregnancy? What about sports or even contact sports? Is this genetically linked that I need to have my kids screened? What about working out - any precautions I should take?  

So, what does all this mean in adulthood?
Regardless of getting treatment or not, there definitely are clinically significant concerns one may face as they enter adulthood. Even when the spine is corrected to midline with surgery, individuals must be cautious when weight training, aerobic activity, and may have chronic back pain. The muscles that support the spine have to adjust and may be prone to strain. Rotation is largely limited in the surgically treated spine, so one may not be able to participate in some activities. 

Mental health studies have yielded conflicting results based on surveys. My opinion is that this only reminds us that diagnoses are perceived differently by each one of us. I argue that your perception of your diagnosis, whatever it may be, is facilitated by your team of doctors. As physicians, we have a duty to treat illness, but also to be a coach, a friend, and most importantly a partner in any journey that requires chronic management. Positive thinking and supportive behavior has shown study after study to improve outcomes - that is the job of the physician. Be a true advocate and partner. 

After surgical correction, pulmonary function improves, but skeletal alignment may still have long lasting joint pains. 

In those patients where surgical correction is not done, the curvature can progress and cause more pain with pulmonary issues. As our bones get weaker with age, the spine may slump even more leading to alteration of your gait. 

Surgical correction at times requires repeat operations, scar healing, and hospitalizations can be prolonged. Thus, the sooner we can screen and treat, the better outcomes we get. Self-image might be an issue in adolescents. Wearing a brace or having visible scars after surgery may leave keloids that challenge an adolescents self image. 

Scoliosis is a condition that must be identified early, have a management plan, and must be included in long term management. This is not, like any other diagnosis, something that is "repaired" and forgotten. 

Build a relationship with your primary care physician to be at your side as you enjoy the many blessings life has given you. Nothing is impossible. We just have to make some adjustments with the challenges that are thrown our way. 

Please help me raise awareness about scoliosis and I hope I taught you something new about this condition that you may not have known before. 

To your health and our community, 
Dr Ahmed 



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Memorial Day Reminds Us of 5 Medical Innovations

5/29/2016

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Memorial Day was originally established to celebrate Civil War heroes in a single unified day, instead of separate days celebrated by the Union and Confederate states. Around the 19th century, Memorial Day expanded to celebrate all veterans who fought as American forces. 

As physicians, we learn from one another and are united in our thirst for knowledge to better serve humanity . War, in all its ugliness and chaos, demands innovation in science and technology. Thus, it is not surprising that modern medicine seems to have strong roots during times of war. The ancient philosophers and scientists created a foundation for physicians during the Civil War to innovate to meet the demands of its wounded soldiers, but also to create standards of care that we practice even today. Here are 5 innovations that were developed during the Civil War:

1. LIFE SAVING AMPUTATION 
- The old practice of saving limbs with wound cleaning using rats and maggots was replaced with cutting off infected limbs to prevent the spread of infection. In fact, Union soldiers were known for amputations, had less mortality from their procedures, and took no more than 6 minutes to perform. The technique not to cut through joints and to cut far away from the heart as possible became the standard of care. 

2. THE ANESTHESIA INHALER 
- Stonewall Jackson's surgeon recommended the removal of his left arm after it was injured during friendly fire. When a chloroform-soaked cloth was placed over his nose, General Jackson muttered, "What an infinite blessing," before going limp.  The cloth was inefficient as the liquid evaporated quickly, so Dr. Julian John Chisolm invented a 2.5 inch inhaler. Chloroform was dripped through a perforated circle on the side onto a sponge in the interior - the patient inhaled through tubes and the vapors mixed with air. This new method required less liquid; thus, allowing the physicians to treat more soldiers and using less supplies. 

3. CLOSING CHEST WOUNDS
- Benjamin Howard, an assistant surgeon, was told to do busy work while his superiors performed the surgeries. He started to experiment and realized that if he closed the chest with staples and linen, the lungs did not collapse as they did when the chest cavity is opened from negative pressure; thus, there was no suffocation. Survival rates quadrupled with this new technique. This technique became the standard treatment. 

4. FASCIAL RECONSTRUCTION 
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Dr. Gurdon Buck, father of modern plastic surgery, looked onto a young 20 year old private named Carleton Burgan of Maryland. This private had battled pneumonia and now the mercury pills had led to gangrene that was moving from his mouth to his eyes. His right cheekbone had to be removed and the young man was willing to try anything  to stop the infection. Dr. Buck was the first to photograph his progress of his repairs and use tiny sutures to minimize scarring. 

5. THE AMBULANCE-TO-ER SYSTEM
- The Union went into the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861 not expecting a true battle. As approximately 1,011 Union soldiers lay wounded, the ambulances remained empty, leading to high numbers of mortality. The civilian drivers at the time were, according to some, described as "cowards" or "drunkards." 

Jonathon Letterman, the medical director of the Army of the Potomac, created a model of triage that we all know today. He established caravans of 50 ambulances, each with a driver and 2 stretcher bearers. He hired private wagons to carry medical supplies. The ambulances had spring suspensions and a lock box to prevent soldiers from stealing protein, bedsacks, and morphine that was reserved for the injured. 

Every war brings innovation and the medical community must not forget the sacrifices made by soldiers, scientists, physicians, and several other professionals who made modern day medicine what it is today. 

In this reflection, we must ask the question, have we been effective in preserving that fundamental drive that our predecessors had to innovate to help a large number of people without regard to creating any complex systems that may interfere in allowing the injured to access the innovation?

Memorial Day should make all of us pause and reflect on the many lessons learned across  all professions during our times of war.  What is even more fascinating is that those lessons continue to teach us today; regardless of how advanced we think we are as a society.

In loving memory of all fallen soldiers, 
Dr. Ahmed   

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Toyota KATA principles and health care: The missing ingredient

5/6/2016

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Many of you might have read the book Toyota Kata, or heard of lean management. Furthermore, many may have heard about lean health care. As the principles of lean management take over organizations across many industries, we find that the most successful organizations are those who achieve integration and implementation of these principles. But, it is not these principles alone that make an organization successful. It is the organizational culture of commitment, leadership development, empowerment, and employee investment that makes the difference. 

Health care has become an industry that is one giant green monster that is zapped from many stakeholders, like the government, private corporations, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies, all trying to get this monster under their control. But who is really out there protecting the people? 

As I mature as a physician in this circus, also known as United States health care system, I am starting to realize a few things. When I was a medical director at a large health system, I saw how decisions in health care are largely led by thinking of margins before patient care. My department was not a revenue generator compared to others, but a cost savings one. But, as I continued to grow my team and expand our services, I realized that no matter how hard I tried the decisions I would make were always under the scrutiny of corporate leadership. How is this different than the practice of medicine?

The decisions that physicians make "out in the field" - in clinics, hospitals, etc - are largely guided by insurance companies, government insurance, hospital policies, and pharmaceutical companies. We often hear, "that costs too much" or "my insurance does not cover that" or "they are not in my network" or when a hospital finds out a patient is not in network, the move to a different hospital happens at lightening speed! 

Kata, in Japanese, means a way of doing something, a pattern, or a standard form of movement. So as leaders, the challenge is to get team members implementing a routine without requiring constant input from administration. The idea is to have a routine that nurtures continuous improvement and adaptation. More importantly, decisions are pushed to those who are closest to the issue. So, when Toyota stops the line when a part is not put in correctly, the lights go off, the line stops, managers come over to help repair the part, others assist as needed, and the line resumes once corrections are made. This process is more efficient, has a team approach, allows everyone to adapt and improve the process immediately by correcting a routine to make it more efficient. 

Health care today, uses cost benefit analysis (CBA) to the max! The problem is that the budget is a dependent variable, not independent. 

Instead of CBA, health care providers and leaders must think in terms of target conditions to move towards their vision. More importantly, not only do organizational leaders must think this way, but physicians must practice this with their patients; thus, developing their patients as leaders of their health care! 

Here is an example of how this works, especially in primary care. If I have a overweight type 2 diabetic, my first visit might be discussing the importance of blood sugar control, diet, and how their current medications will help them prevent further organ damage. 

1st step: Understand the current situation. What is their current blood sugar control and where do they want to be in terms of their diabetes control? What does the future look like? What is their overall prognosis today if their current situation does not change? 

This visit is truly about goal setting. As Charles Duhigg says in Smarter, Faster, Better, goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timeline). 

2nd Step: Set SMART goals or target conditions to achieve the vision of - coming off insulin, achieving BMI less than 25, having an A1c< 6.5%, etc. Put a timeline together. Discuss potential barriers with possible solutions the patient can use when they might come across these barriers. 

3rd Step: Meet frequently. I recommend every 1-2 weeks the first month. Reflect on barriers, solutions, and give feedback of how to improve to stay on tract to achieve the goal set for that month. This is the  value of direct primary care, instead of the insurance model. 

4th Step: Provide ongoing support and always keep focus of the patients vision. When the vision is realized, celebrate! Get feedback from the patient and provide them with your feedback so that they can lead others. 

In my young career, I have held a few leadership positions and have been mentored by great leaders. My Master's program was fantastic and had created a good foundation to build my experiences. All my experiences and positions in health care form my current vision for my fellow Americans: Patient leaders who then lead others in achieving their quality of life. 

Imagine a United States health care system that truly implemented Kata principles and SMART goals. Naturally, in this type of system, primary care becomes the most crucial aspect. It is the place where patient empowerment begins and grows. Patients as leaders of their health care must be the mindset of future health care entrepreneurs.

In my company, this is how we achieve success - develop everyone around us as leaders. Whether it be patients, partners, or staff, our focus is to develop leaders. Empowered health care consumers should not be just a term we throw around. It is time we implement this belief  and it is the missing ingredient our health care needs. Otherwise, we remain broken. 

To better health for all, 

​Dr. Ahmed


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Physicians take aim at climate change

4/20/2016

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Climate change, according to the EPA, means that the Earth is warming. In fact, the average temperature has risen 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit over the past century. It is expected to rise another 0.5 to 8.6 degrees Fahrenheit over the next hundred years. Why should we care and as a physician, what does this mean to our health?

This is an important topic. So important, in fact, that the American College of Physicians (ACP) has written a position paper on this matter. The rising temperatures have led to changes in weather and climate. This means more floods, droughts, intense rain, and more frequent and severe heat waves. 

Oceans are heating up and becoming more acidic and with glaciers melting, sea levels are rising. Many bacteria, insects, and other disease causing organisms thrive in these environments. You see, insects are effective carriers and vehicles for spreading disease to large populations. The Zika virus, Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, Ehrlichiosis, and the list goes on. 

In addition, water is at risk of becoming contaminated and the air is becoming more polluted and full of allergens, which lead to significant health hazards from infectious disease to cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. 

The health effects are already being felt by all of us, especially physicians. The number of emphysema exacerbations, sinusitis, allergies, asthma flares, and respiratory failure from these pathologies is increasing in frequency and severity. The number of strokes and heart attacks in young and healthy individuals are increasing - in fact, I tweeted a NY Times article a few months ago that raised this concern. 

I was in the doctors lounge last weekend and talking with a critical care friend of mine. As we sat there talking about our day, I asked him "how has the flu season been?" To this he responded, "we had worse years, but still lost a few." To us, the stories of healthy 18 year olds going on ECMO - life saving bypass machines- are not extraordinary. Unfortunately, it is all too common. In our experience, we have seen and heard of many young healthy folks pass away from things like the flu or an asthma flare triggered by allergies. Cases of infectious disease from contaminated water or food poisoning are also common. Ultimately, cases that come from contaminated food and water that should have been "ancient" are present and claim many lives today. 

It is hard to convince the general public about the importance of climate change and it's effect on all of us. Thus, we write position papers, use TV, radio, and journals to get the word out. But like any other health issue, as much as physicians long for conversations like this to take place before any crisis happens, it almost always ends up being at the bedside surrounded by concerned family members. 

The issue of climate change transcends countries, race, nationalities, or gender. This is a human issue. It's a international issue that must be taken seriously by each of us. Like many health challenges and pathologies, there are solutions and steps we can take today to prevent the development of global disease and fatalities.  Please read the ACP position paper published yesterday and also visit www.epa.gov to learn more about how you can help. 
ACP position paper
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