Volume 1
Introduction to “Money in Medicine”
The First Installment of NextGen’s “Money in Medicine” Series
No matter where one looks – from the political debate about healthcare policy, to the institutions that fund medical research, to the time that doctors spend on bills or grant proposals – the influence of money in medicine is undeniable. In this introduction, the Next Generation seeks to explore just some of the ways that money and medicine interact. In future installments, we will explore different facets of this relationship in more detail.
Narrative Medicine: Bringing Your Talents to Medicine
A Perspective with Rita Charon, MD, Ph.D. (English), Columbia University
Rita Charon, the founder of the Narrative Medicine Program at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, discusses her path to medicine and the importance of combining personal passions and interests with the practice of medicine.
Images in Clinical Medicine: The Tale of Phineas Gage, Digitally Remastered – An NEJM Original Article
P. Ratiu and I.F. Talos, NEJM, December 2 2004, Vol 351(23):e21
Two researchers use digital imaging to revisit the injury of construction worker Phineas Gage, one of the most closely-studied cases contributing to the study of neuroscience. Gage survived an explosion in which a 1.25 inch-wide metal rod was thrust through his skull and brain, resulting in a permanent change in his personality. The NEJM presents two digital video clips reconstructing the explosion and the resulting fractured skull.
A Potential Decline in Life Expectancy in the United States in the 21st Century – An NEJM Original Article
Special Report by S.J. Olshansky et al., NEJM, March 17 2005, Vol 352(11)
New considerations of increasingly prevalent conditions such as obesity and diabetes suggest a possible decline of the projected average lifespan in the future of the United States. These changes in projected lifespan may have many public-policy implications.
Overbilling vs. Downcoding: The Battle between Physicians and Insurers – An NEJM Original Article
Perspective Article by A.S. Kesselheim and T.A. Brennan, NEJM, March 3 2005, Vol 352(9)
In September 2004, a federal court case pitted “almost all doctors versus almost all major health maintenance organizations” on the issue of reimbursement for physician services. This case exposes a continuing conflict between physicians and insurers: physicians allege that insurers purposefully delay and reduce resimbursements, and insurers claim that physicians misreport and overcharge for their services.
Hospitalization for Mental Illness Among Parents After the Death of a Child – An NEJM Original Article
Original Article by J. Li et al., NEJM, March 24 2005, Vol 352(12)
When a physician loses a patient, the effects of stress and grief of losing a loved one on family members can sometimes be overlooked. This study reports the risk of clinical psychiatric disorders and hospitalizations among parents who have lost a child.
Unraveling the Cox-2 Debacle
A NextGen Perspective
The recent controversies in the pharmaceuticals industry with regards to Cox-2 inhibitors such as Merck’s Vioxx and Pfizer’s two drugs, Bextra and Celebrex, may indicate some problems with the drug-approval process as a whole. Here, we present the views of one particular author, Dr. Marcia Angell, author of The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It.
Tutorial: An Introduction to Clinical Trials Part II of II: Statistics and Experimental Design
Part II of II: Statistics and Experimental Design
A sound experimental design that minimizes bias and confounding is crucial for a clinical trial to provide valid information regarding the efficacy and safety of a new drug or treatment seeking approval. This second part of a two-part tutorial discusses the principles of randomization and blinding and introduces the statistical methods that interpret trial data into reliable conclusions.
A Day in the Life of Doug Kelling, General Internist
The Third Installment of NextGen’s “A Day in the Life of a Physician” Series
The Next Generation speaks with internist Doug Kelling on his path to internal medicine, practicing privately vs. working as a hospital employee, and his perspectives on contemporary health care.
Becoming a Physician: Audio Interview with Katharine Treadway, MD – An NEJM Original Article
The New England Journal of Medicine has recently started including audio interviews on NEJM Online. In this interview, Dr. Treadway recalls a story she tells every year to her “Patient-Doctor 2″ class of second year medical students.
