Whatcom: Chronic & Acute

  February 2019

Northwest Healthcare Reformers Cornered

Whatcom Watch

by Robert A. Duke ©2018 Editor’s Note: We’re sorry to announce this is the last columnwritten by Robert A. Duke, who wrote his first Whatcom: Chronic & Acute column for Whatcom Watch in August 2014, and continued writing more than 25 articles, … Continue reading →

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  January 2019

A Lawyer Looks at Health Insurance

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by Robert A. Duke I think we all understand that insurance is protection against the threat of unaffordable loss. That’s all insurance, including healthcare insurance. But, Tom (not his actual name), Professor Emeritus of Law, and check-writing patient, sees health … Continue reading →

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  December 2018

Shopping for Anesthesia? I Did

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by Robert A. Duke Author’s Note: We are grateful to the physicians who contributed to this article under the condition of anonymity and the understanding that they “… obviously do not speak for PeaceHealth or their profession, but have the … Continue reading →

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  October-November 2018

Is It Really You Your Doctor Is Treating? Or Is It a Surrogate?

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by Robert A. Duke Is it the biologically unique you your doctor is treating and counseling during an office visit? Yes, to the extent your history, gender and age matter. Mainly, though, she is providing preventive care recommended by the … Continue reading →

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  September 2018

Confounding Health Care

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by Robert A. Duke Humor Man goes into Doctor’s office. “Doc, I have pain in my right shoulder.” Doc consults, examines and orders ultrasound and X-rays. Man gives X-ray order to imaging Reception and follows Tech to X-ray machine. “Why … Continue reading →

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  August 2018

Back Door Open to Guided Health Care System Tour

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by Robert A. Duke Enter and Look Around — Free and Easy The front entrance to the doctor’s office is typically a patients’-only view of the health care system, but Whatcom offers a back door with a welcome mat inviting … Continue reading →

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  July 2018

When Preparation to Die Is Too Good to Be True

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by Robert A. Duke Whatcom County, WA vs. La Crosse County, WI Because 96 percent of people who die in La Crosse, WI. are claimed to have an advance directive (AD), Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement (WAHA) publicized La Crosse’s … Continue reading →

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  June 2018

Ten Tips For Device Surgery

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by Robert A. Duke 1. Learn the name or brand of the device to be implanted so you can search for its success rate and its recall history. I discovered devices similar to my fusion spacers were available from Taiwan … Continue reading →

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  June 2018

Ask Questions Before Device Or Implant Surgery

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by Robert A. Duke Don’t expect to be told everything you need to know when electing surgery. Despite the length and thoroughness of pre-surgery preparations, you’ll discover most information is for the surgeon, not the patient. First, the surgeon is … Continue reading →

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  May 2018

Who Will Be There For You When You’re Dying?

by Robert A Duke

When I heard specialist physicians, titled hospitalists, were hired to care for hospital inpatients, I asked the hospital for a job description so I might judge their impact on patients, especially at the end of life. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical … Continue reading →

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