Spencer D. Dorn

1 month ago | forbes.com | Spencer D. Dorn

Physicians dominated 20th-century American medicine, but not from the start. In his landmark book, Paul Starr explained how a ragtag, "weak traditional profession of minor economic importance" transformed into a sovereign profession controlling healthcare delivery. By the end of the century, fearing a surplus, doctors successfully lobbied to prevent growth in medical schools and residency programs. Consequently, as the US population expanded, the number of physicians stagnated.

2 months ago | forbes.com | Spencer D. Dorn

Imagine a 1990s endocrinologist seeing a new patient in her clinic. First, she reviews the referral letter the PCP faxed over and glances at the patient's intake form. She then enters the exam room, interviews and examines the patient, and develops a plan. After leaving the room, she scribbles a few sentences on lined looseleaf paper and then checks a few boxes on the order and billing forms.

Jan 17, 2025 | flipboard.com | Spencer D. Dorn

NowInstabase, a company that creates software for extracting processing unstructured data from myriad document types, has raised $100 million in a Series D round of funding. The announcement comes as companies struggle under a deluge of data — data that can unlock key business insights. Indeed, most of …

Jan 17, 2025 | forbes.com | Spencer D. Dorn

"Trust me, I'm a doctor." This refrain was typically enough to satisfy payers, administrators, and patients throughout the so-called "golden age of medicine" (1950-1980s), when physicians worked in small practices they owned, set their payment rates, and were highly regarded and rarely scrutinized. Times have changed. Over the past several decades, various forces have eroded physician autonomy, leaving many dissatisfied and burned out. Artificial intelligence will likely further this trend.

Dec 13, 2024 | forbes.com | Spencer D. Dorn

Imagine a 1950s doctor treating a patient with a perplexing constellation of symptoms. He first turns to his pocket handbook, the Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics. Next, he consults Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, the lengthy reference text he keeps in his office. Still uncertain, he discusses the case with a colleague before searching for a relevant journal article in his hospital's medical library.