Still (Sadly) #1
Outta Here
9,539
Number of physicians who opted out of Medicare in 2012, up from 3,700 in 2009. The small but growing number reported by CMS is reflected, too, in data from the American Academy of Family Physicians, which reports that the percentage of members who accepted new Medicare patients fell from 83% in 2010 to 81% in 2012.
Source: Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2013.
7,164,500
Years of life lost due to premature mortality in 2010 from ischemic heart disease. While related annual mortality is down 14.4% since 1990, ischemic heart disease remains the #1 cause of death, killing more people each year than the next 4 causes of death combined (lung cancer, stroke, COPD, and road injury).
Source: Murray CJL, et al. JAMA. 2013 July 10. [Epub ahead of print]
Who, Me?
36%
Percentage of surveyed physicians who say individual practitioners have “major responsibility” for reducing health care costs. In terms of cost control responsibility, physicians put themselves in 7th place, well behind trial lawyers, health insurers, pharma and device manufacturers, hospitals and health systems, patients, and the government.
Source: Tilburt JC, et al. JAMA. 2013;310:380-8.
A-head of CABG
5% vs. 1%
The difference in death rates for coronary artery bypass surgery for unfit versus fit patients. The findings echo results from earlier studies showing that patients with a greater exercise capacity tend to do better after transplant, weight loss, and other surgeries.
Source: Smith JL, et al. Am J Cardiol. 2013 July 10. [Epub ahead of print]
CardioSource.org/CSWN
CardioSource WorldNews
9
CSWN_The_Beat_8'13.indd 9
8/19/13 5:00 PM