The Tumor


Book Description

John Grisham says THE TUMOR is the most important book he has ever written. In this short book, he provides readers with a fictional account of how a real, new medical technology could revolutionize the future of medicine by curing with sound. THE TUMOR follows the present day experience of the fictional patient Paul, an otherwise healthy 35-year-old father who is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Grisham takes readers through a detailed account of Paul’s treatment and his family’s experience that doesn’t end as we would hope. Grisham then explores an alternate future, where Paul is diagnosed with the same brain tumor at the same age, but in the year 2025, when a treatment called focused ultrasound is able to extend his life expectancy. Focused ultrasound has the potential to treat not just brain tumors, but many other disorders, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, hypertension, and prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer. For more information or to order a free hardcopy of the book, please visit The Focused Ultrasound Foundation’s website www.fusfoundation.org. Here you will find a video of Grisham on the TEDx stage with the Foundation’s chairman and a Parkinson’s patient who brings the audience to its feet sharing her incredible story of a focused ultrasound “miracle.” Readers will get a taste of the narrative they expect from Grisham, but this short book will also educate and inspire people to be hopeful about the future of medical innovation.







The Changing Economics of Medical Technology


Book Description

Americans praise medical technology for saving lives and improving health. Yet, new technology is often cited as a key factor in skyrocketing medical costs. This volume, second in the Medical Innovation at the Crossroads series, examines how economic incentives for innovation are changing and what that means for the future of health care. Up-to-date with a wide variety of examples and case studies, this book explores how payment, patent, and regulatory policiesâ€"as well as the involvement of numerous government agenciesâ€"affect the introduction and use of new pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and surgical procedures. The volume also includes detailed comparisons of policies and patterns of technological innovation in Western Europe and Japan. This fact-filled and practical book will be of interest to economists, policymakers, health administrators, health care practitioners, and the concerned public.




Innovation and Invention in Medical Devices


Book Description

The objective of the workshop that is the subject of this summary report was to present the challenges and opportunities for medical devices as perceived by the key stakeholders in the field. The agenda, and hence the summaries of the presentations that were made in the workshop and which are presented in this summary report, was organized to first examine the nature of innovation in the field and the social and economic infrastructure that supports such innovation. The next objective was to identify and discuss the greatest unmet clinical needs, with a futuristic view of technologies that might meet those needs. And finally, consideration was given to the barriers to the application of new technologies to meet clinical needs.




Rare Diseases and Orphan Products


Book Description

Rare diseases collectively affect millions of Americans of all ages, but developing drugs and medical devices to prevent, diagnose, and treat these conditions is challenging. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends implementing an integrated national strategy to promote rare diseases research and product development.




Hospital Reimbursement


Book Description

Due to the countless variables that affect revenue and cost, the hospital reimbursement process is by far the most complex of any industry. Requiring only a basic financial background and a working knowledge of accounting, Hospital Reimbursement: Concepts and Principles supplies a clear understanding of the concepts and principles that drive the revenue cycle within a hospital setting. The book explains the technical aspects of reimbursement in language that is easy to comprehend. It illustrates the complexities of the hospital revenue cycle and explains the Medicare and Medicaid financial models in detail. The text also addresses the Medicaid reimbursement methodology, the formulation of the Medicare blend rate, the computation of both DSH and IME, as well as other third-party payers. It also: Covers the full range of services and procedures for which a hospital can receive reimbursement Explains the difference between a for-profit and not-for-profit hospital Contains chapters devoted to Statements of Operations (Income Statement) and Statements of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) Examines governmental cost reporting—including Worksheets A, A-6, A-8, A-8-2, B-1, B Part 1, C Part 1, D-3, D-5, and E Part A Supplying readers with a foundation in coding principles, the text also includes a model for calculating the financial impact of variations in patient length of stay. It discusses the DRG and APC reimbursement models and details the computation of an outlier payment. In addition, it walks the reader step-by-step through the creation of a mock Medicare cost report for a sample hospital.




China's Healthcare System and Reform


Book Description

This volume provides a comprehensive review of China's healthcare system and policy reforms in the context of the global economy. Following a value-chain framework, the 16 chapters cover the payers, the providers, and the producers (manufacturers) in China's system. It also provides a detailed analysis of the historical development of China's healthcare system, the current state of its broad reforms, and the uneasy balance between China's market-driven approach and governmental regulation. Most importantly, it devotes considerable attention to the major problems confronting China, including chronic illness, public health, and long-term care and economic security for the elderly. Burns and Liu have assembled the latest research from leading health economists and political scientists, as well as senior public health officials and corporate executives, making this book an essential read for industry professionals, policymakers, researchers, and students studying comparative health systems across the world.




Fixing Medical Prices


Book Description

Introduction: The house of medicine and medical prices -- The enduring influence of the house of medicine over prices -- The science of work and payment reform -- How doctors get paid -- Conflicts of interest and problems of evidence -- Complexity, agency capture, and the game of codes -- Fixing medical prices




Medical and Dental Expenses


Book Description




Managing Medical Devices within a Regulatory Framework


Book Description

Managing Medical Devices within a Regulatory Framework helps administrators, designers, manufacturers, clinical engineers, and biomedical support staff to navigate worldwide regulation, carefully consider the parameters for medical equipment patient safety, anticipate problems with equipment, and efficiently manage medical device acquisition budgets throughout the total product life cycle. This contributed book contains perspectives from industry professionals and academics providing a comprehensive look at health technology management (HTM) best practices for medical records management, interoperability between and among devices outside of healthcare, and the dynamics of implementation of new devices. Various chapters advise on how to achieve patient confidentiality compliance for medical devices and their software, discuss legal issues surrounding device use in the hospital environment of care, the impact of device failures on patient safety, methods to advance skillsets for HTM professionals, and resources to assess digital technology. The authors bring forth relevant challenges and demonstrate how management can foster increased clinical and non-clinical collaboration to enhance patient outcomes and the bottom line by translating the regulatory impact on operational requirements. - Covers compliance with FDA and CE regulations, plus EU directives for service and maintenance of medical devices - Provides operational and clinical practice recommendations in regard to regulatory changes for risk management - Discusses best practices for equipment procurement and maintenance - Provides guidance on dealing with the challenge of medical records management and compliance with patient confidentiality using information from medical devices