anactualmd

"The bottom line is: if your doctor isn't giving you an electronic copy of your record — and in 2014, in the format of your choice — they're breaking the law." This is demonstrably false. Meaningful use is not at this time a mandate. It is an incentive program. The incentive will likely turn from a carrot to a stick in the future, but as of 2014 there is no mandate on US physicians to comply with meaningful use stage anything. http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRI...

I would strongly encourage my patients to stay a mile away from this enterprise. Any outfit that can say "Health is inherently social" does not have the right attitude towards PHI, in my opinion. Any association with Facebook only enhances this opinion, due to their history of "privacy creep." To be clear, I think patients should be informed and access their records if they choose. But be very careful about any social media exposure. Once it's out there, it's out there.

My understanding is that Cobra becomes available after termination. Therefore, she's already unemployed.

See mention of CME upthread. The choice is really:

1. Attend CME meeting, often at nice resort locale, usually unpaid, but deductible. Acquire at least 25 hours of such attendance per year.

2. Lose medical license. Pump gas, if you can find a full-service station.

There's a tremendous body of evidence showing improved cardiovascular outcomes -- ie, reduced heart attacks and strokes; even, in some studies, improved survival -- with statin use. Aside from lowering LDL, they appear to have direct anti-inflammatory effects within the vessels. I've heard anecdotal mention of memory problems with statin use, but have never been convinced I've seen it in any of my patients.

A representative example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_Simvastatin_Surviv...