Best states to practice medicine; Walgreens closing 1,200 stores; a patient needs a headspin hole like a hole in the head – Morning Medical Update

Author(s):

Richard Payerchin

Key Takeaways

States are ranked for medical practice based on cost of living, physician density, taxes, and malpractice insurance rates.
Walgreens plans to close 1,200 stores over three years to cut costs and improve operations under new leadership.
A dancer developed a skull deformity from headspins, requiring surgical removal and bone reshaping, as reported in a BMJ Case Report.

The top news stories in medicine today.

Best states to practice medicine

Among the 50 states of our nation, some are known for natural beauty, some are known for agricultural production, some are known for bustling cities. Which are the best for practicing medicine? Check out this report that ranks states based on cost of living, physician density, taxes, malpractice insurance rates and more. And the winner is … waiting for you to read in Physicians Practice, a sister publication of Medical Economics.

Walgreens to close 1,200 stores

With drug prices through the roof, you’d think owning a pharmacy would be a like a license to print money, and owning a lot of them would be even better. But retail pharmacy giant Walgreens has announced plans to close at least 1,200 stores over the next three years to cut costs and turn around operations under a new leader. Read more from FOX Business.

It’s enough to make your head spin

A dancer in his early 30s spent more than five years upside down on the floor honing his headspin skills, then ended up with a “breakdance bulge” atop his skull. The bulbous lump of tissue was surgically removed and the thickened bone of his skull was filed down to appropriate size. LiveScience.com has this write-up based on a BMJ Case Report. (Editor’s note: The news article and abstract did not include instructions for dealing with insurance companies to request a prior authorization to treat this condition.)