Apophenia is the urge to find meaning or a pattern in a sequence of numbers, a meaning that is non-existent. News reports say today is an auspicious day for weddings, lottery, etc. I didn’t get married today nor did I buy a lottery ticket, but I found some interesting news about Apophenia in Healthcare that was compiled by The Advisory Board Company, and here it is:
- 1/1/01: Holy Cross Hospital: Dissatisfied nurses petition to remove union
- 2/2/02: HHS releases first installment of bioterrorism preparedness funding
- 3/3/03: After decade of heavy spending, N.Y. looks to slash Medicaid budget
- 4/4/04: Catholic hospitals: Pope’s stance on feeding tubes may impact care
- 5/5/05: Specialty hospital files suit against 11 insurers and hospitals
- 6/6/06: FDA considers test to help determine when to induce labor
- 7/7/07: Hospital aims to reduce noise levels, improve patient satisfaction
- 8/8/08: Most Americans want health care system overhaul, survey finds
- 9/9/09: Five things to watch for in Obama’s address to Congress
- 10/10/10: More marketing campaigns center on ED wait times
The Advisory Board asks if we see a pattern? Do you see any pattern, if not, they think it is this:
“The more the health industry changes, the more its issues remain the same.”