James McCormack may hold one of the keys to educating the public about smart health care: music videos.
McCormack describes himself as pharmacist, professor, medication mythbuster and healthy skeptic at the faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia.
His past YouTube videos on “Bohemian Polypharmacy”…”Some Studies That I Like To Quote”…”Tom Hanks and Type 2 Diabetes: an evidence based discussion I would like to have”…and others…were all terrific.
But his latest, “Choosing Wisely,” may be the best yet.
“It might seem crazy what I’m about to say
Less is more can often be the best way
There are tests, treatments and procedures you don’t really need
While some are very useful, some at best misleadNow we’re choosing wisely
Body scans annual exams can do more harm than good
We’re choosing wisely
Imaging for minor things may not give you the truth
We’re choosing wisely
Antibiotics for a cold will do nothing but make you ill
We’re choosing wisely
A routine screen for many things is often overkillYou tell me you’re worried you’ve got this and that, yeah,
Well, I truly care so don’t hold it back, yeah,
But, from what I can see you’ll be just fine, yeah,
You don’t need that test, let’s not waste our time
Here’s whyWe want to (wisely) keep you – free from harm
That test result (wisely) can – cause alarm
That treatment (wisely) can make you – feel run-down
That drug (wisely) could spin your head – round and round
I said (I want to keep you) (Wisely, wisely, wisely) – free from harm
(Wisely, wisely, wisely)
For that procedure you’ll have to wear a – hospital gown
Doing nothing (wisely) can be your – lucky charm.”
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We’ve written about the hype of liquid biopsies for years (see link in comment below). And now this…. https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/12/medicare-shouldnt-cover-liquid-biopsies-early-cancer-detection/
Case counts still matter. “(There) are stories that may not be told adequately if only hospitalizations and deaths are emphasized.” @garyschwitzer interviewed by @dbauder of @AP. https://apnews.com/article/omicron-changing-news-outlets-covid-data-da9272f7c4c8a109c3bfb56bed9e9c76
My friend Gary @garyschwitzer wrote to his city council representative in a Minnesota town about a Viva Las Vegas event scheduled for January.
The response he got seems to perfectly capture where we are now.
https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2021/12/2021-ends-with-covid-craziness-in-sports-and-politics/
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