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Watch, Listen, and Learn – Ablation

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Ablation for WPW, Afl, and SVT

A while back I asked this question in a post:  How much medical information is enough for the underwriter?  When I first pondered this question I thought underwriters needed to know as much as a family care MD/DO.  Having come to a better understanding of what medical students need to know, I’ve changed my tune.  Underwriters don’t have to be doctors.

Underwriters still need to know what kills people.  But we don’t have to know as much as a doctor.  More knowledge is better than less knowledge and experience remains the ultimate teacher.  I’m still working on the answer.

But in the meantime, keep learning.  I love short videos like this one.  Like Yogi says, you can observe a lot by just watching.

Listen and Learn – Drugs and Death in Mexico

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The U.S.-Mexican Border: A Changing Frontier : NPR

Several posts ago I wrote briefly about some of the problems our neighbor to the South is having with the illegal drug trade.  I did extensive work in this area while advising a US based life company on its possible entry into the Latin life markets.  This is a quick audio series that provides a good overview of what’s happening.   If you’re writing business on the border or in Mexico you need to know what’s happening in order to keep your risk assessment brain cells sharp.

I’ve been to Mexico quite a few times.  Bogota is safer now.

Guess Which Country Has the Highest Murder Rate?

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BBC NEWS | Americas | Latin America tops murder tables

If your company is doing mortality risk business in Central and South America read this article.  The time I spent working in the offshore mortality market was some of the most interesting work I’ve done.  Death is death but some of us get there in different ways.  A couple of years ago my #1 son’s high school senior trip was Mexico.  Because of the drug violence in that country I refused to fund that trip.  There have been too many disappearances.

And for a great story I’ll share some details of my trip to Bogota…

Watchful Waiting for Breast Cancer?

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Study Suggests Some Cancers May Go Away – NYTimes.com

This is an interesting article on spontaneous remission.  While I do not doubt the existence of spontaneous remission in human cancers, I just can’t wait for the brokerage community to advance the idea that since the cancer is just being watched (and not specifically treated) then how bad can it be?  Standard.

Preferred?

I think not.

One Hell of a Deal (if you like Tandoori Chicken)

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Insurer Offers Option for Surgery in India – NYTimes.com

My orthopedic surgeon says I have the worst knees he has ever seen.  I countered that statement by asserting he had not seen enough severely arthritic knees to make that judgment. Then the good doctor showed me the pictures.

I’ve had arthroscopic procedures bilaterally.  There is a strong probability I’ll need a TKR.

It’s a good thing I like Indian food.

Another One Bites the Dust

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Protective Life to buy bank, seeking bailout cash – Business News from The Birmingham News – al.com

According to the Birmingham Business Journal:

Protective Life Corp. reported third quarter 2008 net losses of $100 million as its investments plunged by $203 million.

The Birmingham-based insurance firm reported pre-tax stock losses of $92.4 million in Lehman Bros., $45.3 million in Washington Mutual, $7.1 million in Freddie Mac and $21.9 million in Fannie Mae.

Protective Life’s net losses for the quarter ended Sept. 30 follow three previous quarters in which it posted a combined $135 million in net income.

Protective Life reported net income of $73 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2007.

And the Madness continues…

The Power of New Media

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I am hardly the expert on the varied forms of communications technology conveniently described as the New Media.  But managing technology operations for two companies has taught me the simple rule of paying attention.  Examples of paying attention (and not paying attention) abound.  I happened to notice the number of text messages delivered by cell phone companies exceeded the number of phone calls for the first time a couple of months ago.  My personal phone bill last month included nearly 5400 text messages on my son’s line.

And that’s a light month compared to the 8000+ month he had earlier this year.

The point I’m making is also simple.  Pay attention to the new methods of communication and the communities that are being created.  These communities are powerful.  They can and will change your business in ways we have yet to imagine.  For an illustration of my point, read this article.

Moms and Motrin – Motherlode Blog – NYTimes.com