Wal-Mart Stores will open health clinics at as many as 400 of its U.S. stores in the next three years, and as many as 2,000 in the next five to seven years, the company announced on Tuesday, Bloomberg/Boston Globe reports ( Bloomberg/Boston Globe, 4/25). more»

In our society, we value choice very highly. Sometimes, however, choice is not a universal good. A tip of the hat to Joe Paduda at Managed Care Matters for linking to the California Health Care Foundation report on consumer choice in health care (both benefits side and services side), which concludes that the clutter of information and the dizzying array of choices are more harmful than helpful to consumers. more»

Many people –not just proponents of consumer directed health care– liken the shift toward employee responsibility for health care costs to the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution retirement plans. I heard several times this week at the World Health Care Congress that if they’re given the tools to do so, consumers will take responsibility for their health care as they’ve taken responsibility for their retirement savings. We were reminded of how companies like Fidelity and Vanguard have prospered by offering compelling products, information and customer service. more»

The Washington Convention Center was abuzz as nearly 2,000 health industry and policy wonks gathered for the 4th annual World Health Care Congress. The standard policy topics of cost, quality, and coverage were up for debate, along with competition, effectiveness, transparency, and, of course, reform. For comprehensive blogging on the event, check out the official World Health Care blog. Here are a few “snapshots” from yesterday’s speakers: more»

Even in healthcare, the battle for the hearts and minds of fickle American consumers is shaping up to be an epic struggle of convenience vs. privacy - though the scales currently seem heavily weighted toward the latter. more»

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to open up to 400 in-store health clinics over the next two to three years, building on a pilot program begun in 2005, in an aim to implement customer solutions to America's health-care crisis, the company's chief executive said Tuesday. more»

Millions of people - most of them children - die each year in developing countries from diseases that are preventable and treatable. Tragically, little research is done to prevent or cure some of the world’s biggest killers, such as malaria and tuberculosis. more»

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to open up to 400 in-store health clinics over the next two to three years, building on a pilot program begun in 2005, in an aim to implement customer solutions to America's health-care crisis, the company's chief executive said Tuesday. more»

U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda M. Springer yesterday addressed more than 1,600 government officials, CEO’s, and senior executives of the health care industry at the 4th Annual World Health Care Congress. Springer spoke of the many improvements to the health care system for Federal employees. more»

As employers, the federal government and providers grapple with how they should approach health IT adoption, it has become clear that the technology has different implications for everyone. However, the overall goal remains the same -- improving care through more efficient processes and reducing costs. more»

Bloggers had a field day this week at the 4th Annual World Health Care Congress, co-sponsored by The Wall Street Journal, in Washington. Blogs described, critiqued, and commented on speakers and topics. I dipped into the blogs and the conference, wondering what all the hoopla was about. more»

Even as the country makes slow but measurable progress toward interoperable exchange of health information, at least one state governor is getting frustrated with the rhetoric surrounding IT’s potential in reforming U.S. healthcare. more»

U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda M. Springer yesterday addressed more than 1,600 government officials, CEO’s, and senior executives of the health care industry at the 4th Annual World Health Care Congress. Springer spoke of the many improvements to the health care system for Federal employees. more»

Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you this afternoon. This is the largest gathering of health care providers, thinkers and experts anywhere in the world. And I am glad that you all have hung in here until the very end. It means a lot to our company that you are interested in what we are saying, thinking and, above all, doing in health care. more»

Bloggers had a field day this week at the 4th Annual World Health Care Congress, co-sponsored by The Wall Street Journal, in Washington. Blogs described, critiqued, and commented on speakers and topics. I dipped into the blogs and the conference, wondering what all the hoopla was about. more»

Google’s been making noises for a while about getting into the health-information business. Last year, Google vice president Adam Bosworth wrote a long post on the company’s corporate blog about what his mother’s cancer treatments taught him about the health-care system, and how Internet companies could improve health-care. more»

As co-chair of the State Alliance for e-Health, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen has been heavily involved in the health IT policy debate. He's also frustrated with the slow progress of technology adoption that's holding back gains in quality and efficiency (read "cost savings" from a governor's perspective). And Monday at the World Health Care Congress, he was not afraid to share his thoughts, as this short audio clip demonstrates. more»

I am delighted to tell you all about a brand new conference that THCB is putting on with Etude Scientific , in conjunction with the World Health Care Congress. more»

The Washington Convention Center was abuzz as nearly 2,000 health industry and policy wonks gathered for the 4th annual World Health Care Congress. The standard policy topics of cost, quality, and coverage were up for debate, along with competition, effectiveness, transparency, and, of course, reform. For comprehensive blogging on the event, check out the official World Health Care blog. Here are a few “snapshots” from yesterday’s speakers: more»