While reading a Ben Franklin biography (”The First American,” by H. W. Brands), I was struck by a list of 13 virtues he wrote while in his mid-20s to guide his life:

1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.
2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order. Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e., Waste nothing.
6. Industry. Lose no time. Be always employ’d in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice. Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation. Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

The thesis of the book is that Franklin was the first person to fully embody what it meant to be an American - as opposed to a Colonist. So, reading this list, and constantly hearing perspectives about the upcoming Democratic Presidential Primary in Pennsylvania, led me to wonder - since Franklin spent most of his adult life in Philadelphia - “who would Ben Franklin support?” My tally came out at 6-4 with 3 ties.

What do you think?

Sorry to have not posted anything recently, but I’ve been having some technical difficulties. I hope to have these resolved in a day or two, and will be posting more about evidence-based medicine ASAP. Thanks for your patience.

Addendum (3/6/08 - 5:00 pm Eastern time) - Many thanks to Chris Carlson for fixing things…. As promised you are a wordpress “genius.” THANKS!!!!

The February 16th issue of National Journal has its biennial salary report (2006 data) for national advocacy and trade associations. Since most of my posts have been too long I’ll keep this one short with two (OK - actually three) interesting points:

First, in addition to salary information, National Journal reports on lobbying spending of various organizations. It’s not surprising that 3 of the top 10 trade associations [501(c)(6) organizations] in lobbying dollars are from the health industry: PhRMA, AMA, Am. Hosp. Assoc. But what is interesting, is that all of the top 5 non-profits [501(c)(3) organizations] in lobbying spending are health related organizations: Am. Cancer Soc., Am. Heart Assoc., Am. Red Cross, Am. College of Physicians, Am. Diabetes, Assoc. [FYI - it’s also interesting to note that the non-profit which spent the most on lobbying spent less than the #7 trade association: $13.9 million by the Am. Cancer Soc. v. $15.0 million by the AHA.]

Second - and what I think is more interesting - is that in the listing of salaries for the heads of 125 health trade association, the bottom five (all with salaries less than $90,000 - not including other benefits) in alphabetical order were:

• AIDS Action Foundation
• American Association for Homecare
• American Society for Clinical Nutrition
• Association of State and Territorial Health Officers (a.k.a ASTHO)
• Council for Affordable Health Insurance

I think this is quite an interesting snapshot - statement about healthcare priorities in the US.

And to put a broader perspective on health as part of our national priorities, the three labor unions with the highest paid heads were:

1. National Football League Players Association ($1.86M compensation w/o benefits)
2. Major League Baseball Players Association ($1.0M)
3. Screen Actors Guild ($774,000)

What do you think of these interesting numbers and comparisons?

Welcome to HealthPolCom Blog’s first posting. This blog was started to provide stakeholders of all types, (such as patients, clinicians, administrators, payers, researchers, regulators, legislators, etc.) a forum for discussing healthcare policy issues. The focus of these discussions will be about how the development and use of innovations can effect clinical and economic outcomes.

HealthPolCom Blog is an outgrowth of HealthPolCom Consulting which I started in 2000 to help engage and educate stakeholders about improving the US healthcare system with the development and adoption of innovations. This blog was launched in January 2008, and will likely evolve in substance and look. I also expect to include postings related to the book I am currently working on finishing, titled “Fixing the US Healthcare System.” Stay tuned for more about that.

Please let me know your suggestions for topics, content and appearance. Thanks.

p.s. Just to share a quick picture with a small striped bass from 2007: