You’re not imagining it: the business side of healthcare is swallowing the care side.
You’re not imagining it: the business side of healthcare is swallowing the care side. Here’s what that means for you as a patient, and why choosing a small, independently owned practice is often your best move if you want doctors who put health over shareholders. What “consolidation” in healthcare really means for patients: (Think AMAZON.COM vs. Your Local Store) In plain language, consolidation means fewer, bigger players running more and more of healthcare: Large hospital systems buying up local practices Private equity firms (think venture capitalists and hedge funds) buying medical groups and squeezing them for profit Insurance companies not just paying claims, but quietly shaping how, where, and if you get care On paper, this can sound efficient. In real life, it often means: Fewer truly independent doctors in your community Less choice about where you can go, because your plan or network steers you into certain systems Care that is increasingly designed around financial targets, not around you Why so many doctors are leaving private practice Fifteen or twenty years ago, being in private practice was the norm. Many doctors owned their own offices, set their own schedules, and had long-term relationships with families. That world is...
read moreComputer Mousing, Track Pads, and the Musician’s Hands ~ Dr. Lou Jacobs – Portland, Maine
Computer Mousing, Track Pads, and the Musician’s Hands A Small Daily requirement for many, with Big Consequences For many musicians, computer time feels harmless compared to hours spent practicing or performing. Email, notation software, recording edits, social media, booking gigs, and none of it feels physical in the way playing does. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: “Mousing” and track pad use can quietly load the same tissues musicians depend on to play, and often with less variety and recovery than their instrument provides. When computer use stacks on top of repetitive instrumentalism, problems may add up fast. Normal Use vs. High Use: Why the Difference Matters Normal Use Occasional computer work, short sessions with breaks, generally doesn’t cause trouble by itself. The body can adapt when: Sessions are brief Positions change The hand gets rest between tasks High Use Problems arise when musicians spend hours a day: Editing audio or video Teaching online Managing promotion, booking, and admin work Scrolling and replying on phones and laptops High-use mousing often means: Static wrist positions Sustained finger flexion Repetitive clicking Minimal shoulder and elbow movement Neck posture locked forward This creates a low-grade, all-day load that primes the system for injury....
read moreDr. Lou’s 50/50 Raffle For Rescues!
You Didn’t Win Powerball Either? You’ll have much better odds with this 50/50 raffle! All of “Dr. Lou’s Raffles For Rescues” benefit Pittie Posse Rescue & Sanctuary Pittie Posse Rescue & Sanctuary saves animals from overcrowded, high-kill shelters in the south, focusing on Clayton County Animal Shelter in Georgia as well as taking in local owner surrenders, cruelty cases, and criminal seizures of dogs here in Maine. They provide needed fear and force-free training for the dogs in our care to prepare them for their new homes. One of the main reasons adopted dogs are returned is due to lack of training. They also aim to create a positive impact for bully breeds and the dedicated people working tirelessly to save them. Their efforts include educating the public about the breed’s challenges, promoting responsible ownership, and offering training programs, spay and neuter support, and advocacy. RULES: Ticket prices: $5 1 ticket $20 5 tickets $50 15 tickets $100 40 tickets You may purchase as many tickets as you would like. Ticket sales will run until 6pm the night before the drawing. *Tickets may be purchased in person with cash at 138 St. John Street in Portland, Maine. VENMO is...
read moreHoliday Inflammation And The Musician’s Body
Holiday Sugar, Inflammation, and Your Body How Christmas Treats Can Quietly Sabotage Your Playing longevity I know this seems trivial. Stupid even. But if it does, you are probably not suffering enough, or worried enough, to pay close attention to risk factors that are proven instigators of increased inflammation that may contribute to already existing problems. Eating too much at the holidays is not going to magically create arthritis in your fingers. Of course not. But if you have to play on the night after Christmas and your hands already hurt, watching how much you party may be a good idea. If you are worried about your ability to play 20 years from now, you may want to start being attentively proactive. For most musicians, pain and stiffness don’t come from one dramatic injury. They come from layers—practice load, sleep debt, stress, posture, travel, and yes, diet. The foods we eat can either reduce or increase inflammation throughout our bodies. The holidays add a unique layer that many musicians underestimate: a sudden spike in sugar, alcohol, and inflammatory behaviors piled on top of an already stressed nervous system. KABOOM – A heavy load of inflammation could mean an extended...
read moreMusicians and Arthritis: The difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis in the Hands, Fingers, and Neck Dr. Lou Jacobs – Musician Specialist – Portland, Maine What Musicians Need to Understand: Why Waiting Is a Bad Idea If you’re a musician dealing with finger stiffness, joint swelling, reduced range of motion, grip weakness, or neck pain that just doesn’t settle, arthritis is often part of the conversation. There are many types of arthritis. For musicians, confusing one type for another can lead to the wrong expectations, poor management, and unnecessary loss of function. That all translates into expensive pain and suffering. Let’s clarify what’s actually happening, and what you can do about it. Two Very Different Diagnoses: Osteoarthritis vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis Osteoarthritis (OA): Mechanical and Degenerative Osteoarthritis is the most common form seen in musicians’ hands and necks. What it is: Gradual cartilage wear and joint surface changes Often asymmetric (worse on one side) Related to cumulative mechanical stress over time Common in finger joints, thumb base, and cervical spine What musicians notice: Stiffness after playing or in the morning Reduced finger independence Pain in cooler more damp weather Grinding, clicking, or loss of smooth motion Neck stiffness that affects hand coordination OA is not about “aging.” It’s about...
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