Devon Herrick – The Goodman Institute Health Blog

Four Year Wait to See a Dermatologist in the UK’s National Health Service

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Devon Herrick

The dermatologist examined my skin and he wrote me a prescription for a steroid cream. My entire visit was only $86. I scheduled minor surgery for a month later, which cost around $560 including a pathology report and a free, post surgery follow-up visit. My dermatologist gives uninsured patients a cash discount similar to the Medicare price. He also throws in free services, like writing a prescription for eczema since I was already in his office.

Contrast my experience seeing a Dallas dermatologist with patients from the United Kingdom. In the UK there is very little cost-sharing or out-of-pocket payments for services covered by the National Health Service (NHS).

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What Patients Want in a Physician

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Devon Herrick

What do patients want in a physician and how do people select their doctors? These are questions that prompt different answers from different people. Answers likely vary depending on the type of health insurance those responding have. The following is from a Health Services Research study that is now 20 years old. It found that consumers were somewhat passive in their choice of physicians.

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Should Hospital Employed Physicians Steer Patients to High-Priced Hospital Labs?

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Devon Herrick

Hospitals are price gougers to be avoided at all costs, especially if you don’t need to be in a hospital. A good rule of thumb is to never get services performed at a hospital unless you are too sick to go anywhere else.

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Is Your Dog the Secret to Longevity?

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Devon Herrick

Hardly a day goes by but what I see an article linking something to better health and longevity. For instance, I just read sleep is correlated with longevity. A recent article claimed a consistent sleep schedule is more important than getting eight hours of sleep per night. Another article I read was similar to the Blue Zones post I earlier wrote about, claiming Seventh Day Adventists in Loma Linda, California live longer than average. Marriage helps you live longer (insert joke about not necessarily living longer but it feels longer). Intermittent fasting boosts longevity in mouse models and is thought to boost longevity in humans as well. Also, positive views about aging helps you live longer. Of course, those in good health probably tend to have more positive views of getting older than those in poor health, so take that with a grain of salt. Purportedly, friends boost your health and longevity. That too could be a self-selecting proxy for better health, since the ability to get together with friends is easier when in good health. Finally the Wall Street Journal writes that dogs help you live longer.

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