​ cover story One

Blockchain technology: The future of medical innovation

By David R. Brown, MD, FACE; Joey Wilson, MS; Charlie Hu, MSc; and Douglas Corley, BSc

Digital finance is a rapidly evolving, disruptive technology incorporating elements effective for large-scale transactions in a globally integrated economy. The health care arena is particularly conducive to the concepts of “cryptocurrencies” such as bitcoin and the underlying technology of blockchain as an economic, integrative, and data management technology.

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​ cover story two

Social engineering: Is your practice prepared?

By Jeanne Mrozek, MD

The human element is a key factor in cyber and computer network operations, and it is the most unpredictable factor in cybersecurity. Patient records contain a wealth of personal information, and many hackers have learned to trick unsuspecting health care employees into helping them plan and execute their data breaches through “social engineering,”

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​ Health Care Policy

The 2019 Minnesota legislative preview: Deadlock is not an option

By Tom Hanson, JD, and John Reich

Now that all of the votes have been counted following the contentious mid-term elections, it is time to look ahead to the 2019 Minnesota legislative session and the key health care issues that will arise. With the 2018 legislative session ending in deadlock between Gov. Mark Dayton (DFL) and the Republican-controlled House and Senate, many issues were left unresolved when legislators adjourned in May 2018.

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​  Physician-Patient Communication

Surviving a stroke: Lessons learned from being a patient

By Michelle D. Sherman, PhD, LP, ABPP; and LuAnn Kibira, APRN, NP

Each of us heard these words from an emergency room physician earlier this year, coincidentally about a month apart. Shocking? Life-changing? Perspective-offering? Reminding us of the importance of gratitude? Yes. We are friends and coworkers (a clinical psychologist and a nurse practitioner, respectively)

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​ Minnesota Health Care roundtable

Consolidation in Health care: Examining cost and quality issues

Minnesota Physician Publishing’s 50th Minnesota Health Care Roundtable focused on the topic of Consolidation in Health Care: Examining cost and quality issues. Eight panelists and our moderator, Minnesota Physician Publisher Mike Starnes, met on Nov. 1, 2018, to discuss this topic. Consolidation in health care is a necessary part of the evaluation of the industry. Just as with any microeconomic sector, there will be mergers, acquisitions, new partnerships, etc. Just as there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, there is good consolidation and bad consolidation.

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​ Medicine and the Law

Physician employment agreements: Understanding assignment provisions

By Antonio “Tony” Fricano, JD

As legislators debate the politics of the single-payer system (or a version of that), the free market continues down the path of consolidation, oblivious to the political discussion. Health systems and payers are purchasing physician practices, and larger health systems are purchasing smaller health systems.

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​ Professional Update

Heartburn: Individualizing diagnosis and treatment

By Kourtney Kemp, MD, FACS

Patients with heartburn often begin a lengthy journey of diagnosis and treatment before their conditions are accurately identified and their symptoms resolved. A new, comprehensive, personalized approach to diagnosing and managing patients with heartburn is necessary, taking into account the unique needs and issues of each patient.

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