Joanne Kenen: All Publications, Events and Press

The New Specialty In Cancer Care

Ron Tang — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:50:00 -0400

On November 11, 2000, Mark Quasius, then 37, learned that the strange sensation in his right ear was caused by a rare carcinoma in his upper sinuses.

After a variety of treatments, including multiple surgeries on his head, lungs, pancreas, and hip bones, the prognosis for his advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma is pretty good. After consultation with Andrew Putnam, MD, a palliative care specialist at Lombardi Cancer Center and Georgetown University Hospital, his life is pretty good too. Dr. Putnam brought Quasius’s unrelenting pain from the tumor behind his right eye under control after surgeons concluded that, for now, the risk… more

Health Care Reporting Guide for Journalists

Health Policy — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:08:00 -0500

For reporters new to the health beat -- or for political or business reporters who need to delve into health policy now and then -- the topic can be daunting. Luckily, there are many, many resources on the web, useful whether you are in Washington or around the country... If you find yourself drowning in jargon and acronyms, it helps to take a breath and remember that health care is about people, and that it affects every one of us, and everyone we care about.

This issue brief discusses three common health care concepts:

Universal coverage v. Universal access More care ≠ Better… more