Massachusetts General Hospital

Psychiatrist solicited funds from drug companies

Anne Zieger — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:56:36 -0500

Usually when we tell you about a conflict of interest case in which a doctor received funds from a pharmaceutical company, the pharmaceutical company offered the doctor the funds. In this case, though, Dr. Joseph Biederman seems to have solicited the funds himself.

Biederman wanted the funds to create a center at Massachusetts General Hospital for children with bipolar disorder, and in order to try to secure the funds he promised that his work would promote the use of anti-psychotic drugs for the children he was treating. Now a multi-state lawsuit is being brought against the drug companies on behalf of more than 2,000 patients who claim to have been injured by the anti-psychotic drugs, some of them children.

While Biederman is not a defendant, the case has brought to light possible conflicts of interest. Massachusetts General has promised to investigate any possible violations of their policies.

To learn more about the case:
- read this Boston Globe piece

Virtual colonoscopies closer to mainstream adoption?

Dan Bowman — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:22:42 -0500

Despite some major concerns, virtual colonoscopies could become the norm if a federal advisory panel, scheduled to meet later this month, decides health plans should be responsible for paying for the procedure. While virtual colonoscopies have proven just as successful, if not more so than the regular test, at identifying potentially-fatal polyps, the effect of radiation remains a big issue. Also at issue: Whether any of the extra pictures taken of the kidney, liver or pancreas could lead to unnecessary testing.

A third concern, this Boston.com article points out, is the accuracy of the test compared with the size of polyps found; the smaller the polyp found, the less accurate the test has proven to be. Dr. David Forcione, of Massachusetts General Hospital, thinks that "the question you can argue over and over again is, are these small polyps significant? Do they need to be taken out?"

Dr. Michael Zalis, also of Massachusetts General, thinks that the latter concern isn't as big a deal, citing that radiologists usually can spot something they would deem worrisome on organs. "If nothing shows up, you're not going to go any further--it can end right there," he said.

For more:
- check out this Boston.com article

Study: Harm from patient handoffs is common

Anne Zieger — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:22:11 -0400

Transferring care of a hospitalized patient from one resident to another frequently causes harm to that patient, including some serious problems, according to new research. The study, which was published in the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, strengthens the conclusions of several previous studies suggesting that handoffs contribute to preventable injuries.

Based on a 2006 survey of 161 medical or surgical residents at Massachusetts General Hospital, the study found that more than half of those surveyed reported at least one incident of handoff-related patient harm during their month-long inpatient rotation. Meanwhile, about 12 percent said handoffs led to major patient harm, including significant worsening of clinical status and prolonged hospitalization. Also telling was that the overall quality of handoffs was rated "fair" or "poor" by one-third of the participants.

Most noted that the handoffs were largely conducted in a loud setting in which they were frequently interrupted. This reduced their ability to give complete and accurate information to patients, family members and colleagues, more than half of respondents said.

To learn more about this study:
- read this HealthDay News piece

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MA rules would limit teaching hospitals' expansion into suburbs

Anne Zieger — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:13:32 -0400

Massachusetts regulators are expected to make it much harder for Boston's big, powerful teaching hospitals to descend into the suburbs and take business from smaller community hospitals. The measure, which would have to be approved by the state's Public Health Council, is aimed at muscular organizations like Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Tufts Medical Center, whose budgets are much larger and are brand names far more visible than those of community hospitals.

Until recently, teaching hospitals have been able to slide into the suburbs by placing outpatient facilities, then adding overnight beds to those facilities--often without complaints from state officials. But the new measure, drafted by the Patrick administration, would force such hospitals to prove that such expansions aren't going to duplicate already-existing services.

One of the issues driving the drafting of the rule is Massachusetts' new universal health measure, under which the state is paying much of the insurance bill for 300,000 newly-insured citizens. Regulators fear that if the teaching hospitals come to dominate suburban healthcare, costs will go up, as they often have higher prices than community hospitals.

To learn more about the proposed regulations:
- read this article from The Boston Globe

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SPOTLIGHT: MD delivers treatments on Second Life

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:59:52 -0500

Can patients go through relaxation therapy online? One researcher would like to find out. Massachusetts General Hospital neurologist Dr. Daniel Hoch wants to know if virtual world Second Life, in particular, can be used to provide relaxation therapy to groups of patients. Dr. Hoch already has rounded up a group of between 20 and 40 Second Lifers to participate, and will measure how well guided meditations work in this medium. Article

Study: Drug, devicemaker ties with academic ctrs common

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:59:57 -0400

A new study suggests that academic medical centers have tight relationships with pharmas and medical-device makers, perhaps tighter than previously thought. The study, which was done by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Policy, found that 67 percent of teaching hospital departments and 60 percent of department heads had a compensated relationship with a drug or device maker. Meanwhile, about 65 percent of medical schools had such relationships.

The relationships between these companies and academic medical centers included consulting relationships, speaking opps, advisory board memberships and intellectual property partnerships--not to mention education program funding and support for residency and fellowship training.

To learn more about the study:
- read this Modern Healthcare article

Related Articles:
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NY bill would require pharmas to report MD gifts. Report
NH ban on prescription data use overturned. Report
Doctors weigh in on pros and cons of accepting drug/device freebies. Letters
States tighten screws on pharma marketers. Report

Hospitals fund $35M lab-to-market venture fund

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 06:59:58 -0400

A group of Boston's Harvard-affiliated hospitals are setting up a $35 million venture capital fund focused on moving inventions more quickly from the lab to the market. Working through corporate parent Partners HealthCare, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital are kicking off the fund with an initial investment of $3 million. The two hope to hit their funding goal over the next 10 years.

The new fund already has made one minor investment, sinking between $200,000 and $500,000 in a removable tattoo ink product. But the two hospitals expect to invest in more substantial drug and device lines shortly. "The main goal is to get the technology to the right place faster and not have early science languishing because you can't find $200,000," said Christopher Colecchi, vice president of research ventures and licensing at Partners.

To learn more about the fund:
- read this piece in The Boston Globe

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