Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Memoir Explores Black Doctor, Black Patient Experience
PBS NewsHour: A Doctor’s Memoir Shows Race Matters In The Hospital Room
In medical school, Dr. Damon Tweedy says he learned about health problems being more common in the black community, but he didn’t hear the reasons why. In “Black Man in a White Coat,” Tweedy examines racial disparities in medicine, for both patients and medical professionals. (9/15)
CQ Healthbeat: Doctor Training Overhaul Threatened By Squabbles
A House panel is expected to reignite debate on the federally-subsidized system for training doctors once they graduate from medical school, though consensus may be elusive due to tight budgets and disagreements among physicians groups and hospitals over how to update residency programs. The Ways and Means Health Subcommittee plans a hearing to explore the issue after it finishes a still-developing legislative package to revamp the way Medicare pays hospitals. Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, wants to include in the package a plan (HR 3292) that would overhaul payments covering the indirect costs associated with training medical residents, such as the expanded use of tests. Major teaching hospitals fear the bill could cut their payments. After considering that measure, Brady plans to go further. (Attias, 9/15)
Kaiser Health News: The Gender Gap Persists In Academic Medicine, Studies Find
Academic medicine is still a man’s world, according to two studies and an accompanying editorial published Tuesday in the journal JAMA. Despite growing numbers of women doctors and researchers, the top echelon at U.S. academic medical facilities is still heavily skewed to favor men, the studies suggest. (Luthra, 9/15)
Kaiser Health News: Under Pressure, Hospitals Push Physicians To Improve Their Bedside Manners
A doctor’s training hasn’t historically focused on sensitivity. And too often while juggling heavy workloads and high stress, they can be viewed as brusque, condescending or inconsiderate. A 2011 study, for instance, found barely more than half of recently hospitalized patients said they experienced compassion when getting health care, despite widespread agreement among doctors and patients that kindness is valuable and important. (Luthra, 9/16)
