The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently released its 2011 State Snapshots, which provide state-level performance overviews on treating cancer, diabetes, maternal and child disorders, heart disease and other diagnoses. According to the data, North Carolina performs well in areas like preventative care and acute care. Quality of hospital care also remains on [...]

I recently was interviewed by the People’s Pharmacy about the state of health care in our country. We discussed American medical myths and ways health care access and delivery could potentially be improved. You can listen to the interview here.

Raleigh, NC Yesterday evening, I spoke at the North Carolina Leadership Dinner as part of the 2011 Emerging Issues Forum, presented by the Institute for Emerging Issues at North Carolina State University. Each year, the Forum brings together leading thinkers and decision makers to foster bigger and better ideas for innovation and improvement of our [...]

This week we have had a disquieting reminder of one of the challenges we face in overhauling health care in America the public are deeply distrustful of experts. The US Preventive Services Task Force an appointed body of leading clinicians and scientists issued a new recommendation of when women ought to have mammograms. Because it [...]

Several people have asked me in the past few days for my perspective on what's happening to health reform in Washington.

For what it's worth, here goes

Today we went to Machu Picchu. It is called one of the seven wonders of the modern world — and now I know why. It was an incredible experience. I am sure it will be the highpoint of our entire trip to Peru. We took a half hour bus ride, a three hour train ride, [...]

I have applauded President Obama's actions in making health care reform a prominent issue, and I was very glad to see that he mentioned health care, and science, repeatedly during his press conference Tuesday night. The purpose for the press conference was to address the economy, and I think this is the context in which [...]

It is clear that the new Obama Administration and the Congress are going to have a serious go at health reform this year.

As someone who has been trying to help accomplish a substantial overhaul of our flawed health care financing and delivery system for decades, this is a really interesting and even exciting time. A lot is at stake, but we have a major opportunity to make major improvements in health and health care in America.

A few days ago, I participated in a panel discussion at Biotech 2009, a conference in Raleigh, put on by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development.

I recently discussed my thoughts on health policy issues the new president should address with my alma mater, the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine, for its alumni newsletter. I talked about health insurance, budget needs for federal health programs and the possible reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services. To read the Fall 2008 issue, click http://www.uab.edu/images/uabmagazine/uabmedicine/fall2008/uabmedicine_fall2008.pdf here.