Steve Berkowitz

The War Against Preventable Medical Errors

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Steve Berkowitz

Preventing Medical Errors: An SOS to Artificial Intelligence It has been almost 25 years since the shocking landmark study from the Institute of Medicine “To Err is Human” (1999). It stated that preventable errors were responsible for up to 100,000 deaths in the USA each year. It was mind-boggling to imagine how much harm our well-intended… Continue Reading >>

Steve Berkowitz

From Health Literacy to Health Accountability

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Steve Berkowitz

A great cause that needs to go further We have seen a great deal of progress in getting the patient more involved with his/her health through the process of health literacy.  As defined by HHS almost ten years ago, health literacy is “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand… Continue Reading >>

Steve Berkowitz

A call to action—We are all patients

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Steve Berkowitz

It has been frustrating to say the least, to watch the political process unfold regarding health care reform.  What was once an “immediate repeal and replace” mandate as campaigned by most Republicans has now disintegrated into multiple diverse factions, and these frustrations are reaching all time levels.  Watching the news, I hear one embarrassing comment… Continue Reading >>

Steve Berkowitz

Beware the Trap of Consensus in Health Care Reform

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Steve Berkowitz

I wrote a blog last January talking about the Consensus Trap and how a seemingly sound and preferred interactional process could yield unexpected and detrimental results.  As I stated, consensus is a political agreement.  It is not necessarily based upon the evidentiary process or scientific facts.  It is simply the result of a group of… Continue Reading >>

Steve Berkowitz

A “Tincture of Time” for Health Care Reform

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Steve Berkowitz

… maybe that’s just what the doctor ordered! How many times during the campaign did we hear the Republicans say “repeal and replace” Obamacare on Day One?  I must admit, in the few weeks since the inauguration, I was fully expecting President Trump to sign some executive order summarily repealing the ACA.  Now we hear… Continue Reading >>

Steve Berkowitz

The Rise in the US Mortality Rate in 2015

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Steve Berkowitz

Blip in the curve or call to action? Last week the CDC released data from the National Vital Statistics System on U.S. mortality rates for 2015.  Surprisingly, there was a slight uptick in mortality compared to 2014.  During this time, the overall mortality rate increased from 724.6 per 100,000 to 733.1 per 100,000.  Similarly, the… Continue Reading >>

Steve Berkowitz

Skyrocketing Health Care Premiums- More Than Just Obamacare

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Steve Berkowitz

The following blog is a continuation of my previous blog, now with reflection of last Tuesday’s election: America got a wake-up call a couple weeks ago.   Health care premiums for 2017 will rise an average of 25%, with people in some states having to pay rate increases of more than 50% or worse yet,… Continue Reading >>