SQL stands for Structured Query Language. What does that mean? Better yet, how do you pronounce SQL? Well, originally it was named Structured English Query Language allowing for the acronym SEQUEL. It was later changed to SQL for copyright purposes. What do you use SQL for? It is a language, so as with any language […]
Read more "What is SQL…generally…"The devil is in the details and medical bills are exhaustive. A study by the American Medical Association estimated that in 2013, 7.1 percent of claims had a mistake. A study by NerdWallet in 2014 found errors in 49 percent of Medicare claims. A closer look at medical billing shows the complexity of the billing […]
Read more "How do U.S. healthcare providers bill you?"With the recent University of Washington study revealing that Seattle’s gradual increase in minimum wage has actually resulted in fewer jobs and lower total wages, the minimum wage debate has resurfaced. Should the minimum wage be increased? By how much? How fast? Should the wages be subsidized? Do the people earning minimum wage actually need […]
Read more "How do U.S. minimum wage laws compare?"Hospitals need funds in order to maintain operations and provide healthcare. In 2015, $3.2 trillion was spent on healthcare. This was divided between Medicare (20%), Medicaid (17%), private insurance (33%) and out of pocket (11%). Medicare, the single-payer, national social insurance program that provides provides health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older who have […]
Read more "What is the role of philanthropy in healthcare?"Developing a Model Using Non-Linear Regression Now that we have found a power function through the manual conversion of a linear regression, let’s try to create a non-linear regression that fits the data points most closely. Similar to before we will be solving for a power function. We will start with the formula M = […]
Read more "What is Allometry? continued…"Developing a Model Using Linear Regression The natural world is full of patterns. They are everywhere, from the molecular structure of a drop of water to the lung capacity of a chain-smoking monkey. By using proportionality we are able to develop models that examine and express relationships between things. Biology often creates models to imitate […]
Read more "What is Allometry?"The example of childbirth, which is a very common procedure, can be used as a comparison tool of the different healthcare systems. Truvian Analytics did a study and found that in the U.S. the average cost of a vaginal birth was $30,000 and a caesarean section comes in at $50,000. The average cost to deliver […]
Read more "Why do Americans pay more for healthcare than the English?"