Citizen Journalism stirs up such wonderful images of citizens spotlighting things and bring them to our attention, in such a way as to provoke meaningful change. In most cases this meets with a certain disdain on the part of the Main Stream Media, and for the most part is justified.
Passion and Objectivity are oxymorons.
However every once in a while somebody comes along and tips over the outhouse and the smell gets picked up. BrandweekNRX is a blog written by Dr. Peter Rost, and kicked over the outhouse over Merck and Schering-Plough’s drugs Vitorin and Zetia. Not only the problems related to how well they work, pricing but also insider trading and the Congressional Inquiry. This is noteworty as it does demonstrate that you can Get Things Done.
The Database from hell.
The folks who invented the FICO credit scoring are working on a database for the health care industry. Yes Virginia, there will be graduated care.
The problem with the current health care debate is the assumption that the Insurance Industry has to be saved. When you are in your doctor’s or dentists waiting room and behind the desk are shelves of color coded files of patient information and next to them are more shelves (occupying more space than patient files)of three ring binders containing procedure and forms for health care plans, there is a seriously fucked up health care system.
Really, the vast majority of doctors trained to treat patients, not to be form fillers.