No price too high?

Article Abstract:

The outrageously high cost of alglucerase raises difficult questions about access to health care and medical innovations. Alglucerase is an enzyme used to treat patients with Gaucher's disease, a fat-storage disease. Treatment with alglucerase can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars the first two years and tens of thousands of dollars every year after that. Few patients can afford this, and even for those with insurance the cost may exceed the limits on benefits imposed by most insurance companies. The development of alglucerase, which was encouraged by Congress's Orphan Drug Act and by physicians, represents a significant accomplishment in medical technology. Yet if the cost is prohibitive, the patients and even the pharmaceutical companies will not benefit. The challenge facing the health care system is how to improve both treatment and access to it while keeping costs down.

Editorial, Drugs, Economic aspects, Drug therapy, Gaucher's disease

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Simulation Technology for Health Care Professional Skills Training and Assessment

Article Abstract:

Simulation technology can be very helpful in medical education. Simulation technology is used in place of a patient to teach medical students and doctors. An example of simulation technology is the dummy used to teach people cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Surgeons can use simulation technology to learn laparoscopy, which is a type of minimally invasive surgery. A cardiovascular disease simulator can be used to simulate cardiac conditions. There are also multimedia computer systems include patient-centered, case-based programs for teaching cardiology. Anesthesia simulators can mimic the patient's response under certain scenarios.

Analysis, Innovations, Simulation methods, Simulation, Medical education

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