The Mayo Clinic, one of the most prestigious names in health care, is planning to open several retail clinics in early 2008. Does this signal the beginning of an upper tier of retail clinic — where Nordstrom- or Neimans-meets-medicine? At this early stage, Mayo’s plans are to locate the branded “Mayo Express Care” centers around [...]

About 15% of employers who provide health care to employees plan to cut benefits in the next 12 months, according to a survey of U.S. CFOs and comptrollers chief financial officers and senior comptrollers conducted by Grant Thornton. On the other hand, there is a large portfolio of cases where employers are creatively addressing employee [...]

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) can reduce health spending, according to two analysts at the Congressional Budget Office. Note that there’s a piece of legislation in Congress to fund EBM research.The very level-headed essay in the November 8th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine explains the positive role that EBM could play in preventing Medicare [...]

Is it the maple syrup, the brilliant fall foliage, or those ever-lovin’ teddy bears? Vermont’s been named the healthiest state in the union, due to a complex interplay of social, political, clinical, and behavioral factors. Vermont may have improved its health profile, but speaking top-line, the overall health of the US declined over the past [...]

Today, election day, is a day to watch the states closely for on-the-ground action on health. In particular, the outcome of the vote in Oregon which would raise the state’s cigarette tax to cover children’s health care could provide impetus to move the vote pro-kid’s health at the Federal level. Oregon has a history of [...]