Category: health care

  • Rounding@Iowa Podcast: “Advances in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer”

    Rounding@Iowa Podcast: “Advances in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer”

    This episode of Rounding@Iowa is about important medical advances in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. As you listen to Dr. Clancy interview Dr. Joseph Cullen about what’s new, you’ll hear a lot about high-dose intravenous Vitamin C. This can enhance treatment and improve response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Dr. Cullen’s most recent study about…

  • The Zamboni Effect

    The Zamboni Effect

    I was walking around the mall today doing ordinary old guy things: watching the Zamboni machine resurface the ice rink, which I’ve never seen before, by the way. The surface was pretty dull before the Zamboni team started. There were two kids in the seat, one young lady driving and the other young man pointing…

  • Iowa Bills to Ban Vaccines and Require Vaccine Manufacturers to Waive Immunity Die

    Iowa Bills to Ban Vaccines and Require Vaccine Manufacturers to Waive Immunity Die

    This week was what the Iowa Legislature calls funnel week. Today determined what bills stay alive and which one die. The bills opposing vaccines died for this legislative session: “mRNA vaccines: Senate File 360 proposed a ban on health care providers administering gene-based vaccines, like the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. Under the proposal, health care…

  • What Does “Design Defect” of a Vaccine Mean In the Iowa Bill to Require Vaccine Manufacturers to Waive Immunity from Lawsuits?

    What Does “Design Defect” of a Vaccine Mean In the Iowa Bill to Require Vaccine Manufacturers to Waive Immunity from Lawsuits?

    Beats me. Sorry, just kidding. I’m just a little bleary from looking at the web sites about the definition of “design defect” related to vaccines as it applies to the Iowa bill to make vaccine manufacturers waive their immunity from lawsuits about vaccine related injuries. I am sympathetic to anyone who in fact has suffered…

  • New Wrinkle on Iowa Bill to Oppose mRNA Vaccines in Iowa

    New Wrinkle on Iowa Bill to Oppose mRNA Vaccines in Iowa

    This is a follow up to yesterday’s post about the Iowa legislature’s proposition of a new law that would essentially ban mRNA vaccines in Iowa. I don’t understand the numbers and codes on the new sections, but the new one proposes that manufacturers of vaccines would have to waive immunity from lawsuits arising from “a…

  • Proposed Bill Would Ban mRNA Vaccines in Iowa

    Proposed Bill Would Ban mRNA Vaccines in Iowa

    Sena just alerted me to a bill in the Iowa legislature right now that proposes mRNA vaccines (like the Covid vaccine for example) be banned in Iowa. Part of it says that any person who provides or administers such a vaccine would be guilty of a simple misdemeanor and subject to a $500 fine. I…

  • The Connection Between Vitamin A and Measles Is Not Just About Carrots

    The Connection Between Vitamin A and Measles Is Not Just About Carrots

    The measles outbreak is big in the news and the issue of the role of Vitamin A in measles reminded me of something I saw back in the 1970s. I was working as a drafter and survey crew assistant for WHKS & Co (consulting engineers in Mason City, Iowa) at the time. As I was…

  • More on the Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Psychiatry

    More on the Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Psychiatry

    This post just provides further information (in addition to what was in yesterday’s post) on the evolution of the Focused Practice Designation (FPD) for consultation-liaison psychiatrists who might be interested in certifying to work in emergency departments. I use the word “certifying” because it seems clear that the FPD pathway has been intended to follow…

  • New Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Behavioral Certification in Emergency Rooms

    New Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Behavioral Certification in Emergency Rooms

    I just found out about the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) announcement of a new addition to the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry subspecialty: Focused Practice Designation. It looks like it’s going to be administered by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), possibly in collaboration with the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (ABPN). I’m unsure…

  • FDA Announces Clozapine REMS Program Eliminated

    FDA Announces Clozapine REMS Program Eliminated

    As of February 24, 2025, the FDA has eliminated the Clozapine Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. See the FDA link for details. Below is the announcement. “Latest Update February 24, 2025 – Beginning today, FDA does not expect prescribers, pharmacies, and patients to participate in the risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) program for…