On Reducing Cancer Care Costs by Resetting Expectations, and Hope

Today we should move forward on the list published in the NEJM on Bending the Cost Curve in Cancer Care. We’re up to point 7 in our discussion, what’s 2nd in the authors’ proposed changes in attitudes and practice: “Both doctors and patients need to have more realistic expectations.” This point follows closely from the […]

Posted in Books, cancer treatment, health care costs, Medical Ethics, Oncology (cancer)Tagged , , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments on On Reducing Cancer Care Costs by Resetting Expectations, and Hope

Reducing Cancer Care Costs: Oncologists Need to Get a Grip on Reality, and Talk about Dying

We’ve reached the second half of our discussion on Bending the Cost Curve in Cancer Care. The authors of the NEJM paper, Drs. T. Smith and B. Hillner, go on to consider how doctors’ behavior influences costs in Changing Attitudes and Practice. Today’s point on the list: “Oncologists need to recognize that the costs of care are […]

Posted in cancer treatment, health care costs, Life as a Doctor, Oncology (cancer)Tagged , , , , , , 2 Comments on Reducing Cancer Care Costs: Oncologists Need to Get a Grip on Reality, and Talk about Dying

Lowering Cancer Care Costs by Limiting Chemotherapy in Patients Who Aren’t Responding

This is the sixth post on Bending the Cost Curve in Cancer Care, based on the 10 suggestions put forth by Drs. Smith and Hillner in the May 26 NEJM.  We’re up to number 5 on the list for changing oncologists’ behavior: by limiting further chemotherapy to clinical trial drugs in patients who are not […]

Posted in cancer treatment, clinical trials, health care costs, Oncology (cancer), Palliative CareTagged , , , , , , 2 Comments on Lowering Cancer Care Costs by Limiting Chemotherapy in Patients Who Aren’t Responding
newsletter software