META ANALYSIS: In Medicine

Posted on May 25, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

DEFINITION

By Staff Reporters

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Meta-analysis is a quantitative, formal, epidemiological study design used to systematically assess previous research studies to derive conclusions about that body of research. Outcomes from a meta-analysis may include a more precise estimate of the effect of treatment or risk factor for disease, or other outcomes, than any individual study contributing to the pooled analysis. The examination of variability or heterogeneity in study results is also a critical outcome.

Statistics: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/03/14/statistics-physicians-beware/

The benefits of meta-analysis include a consolidated and quantitative review of a large, and often complex, sometimes apparently conflicting, body of literature. The specification of the outcome and hypotheses that are tested is critical to the conduct of meta-analyses, as is a sensitive literature search. A failure to identify the majority of existing studies can lead to erroneous conclusions; however, there are methods of examining data to identify the potential for studies to be missing; for example, by the use of funnel plots.

Evidence Based Medicine: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2016/05/18/an-fa-hayekian-defense-of-evidence-based-medicine/

Rigorously conducted meta-analyses are useful tools in evidence-based medicine. The need to integrate findings from many studies ensures that meta-analytic research is desirable and the large body of research now generated makes the conduct of this research feasible.

Evidence Based Dentistry: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2009/03/23/reflections-on-evidence-based-dentistry/

Meta Analysis in Medical Research: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3049418/

EDUCATION: Books

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A DENTAL INDUSTRY SECRET: No One Wants to Share!

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Darrell Pruitt DDS

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Ransomware is getting worse, not better.

One doesn’t see this in dental literature, but ransomware is not going away. It is getting worse. “Ransomware Victim Count Increased by 75% in 2023” By Steve Alder for The HIPAA Journal, Jun 4, 2024. https://www.hipaajournal.com/ransomware-victim-count-increased-by-75-in-2023/

A new report from the Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant suggests several reasons for the increase in attacks. “First, there has been a resetting of the cybe rcriminal ecosystem after a tumultuous year in 2022, an influx of new actors conducting attacks, new partnerships between existing groups, and members of disrupted, prolific ransomware groups such as Conti starting up their own RaaS operations. While the attacks in 2023 largely followed the same patterns as the previous year, there were some notable changes with several groups trialing new tactics, techniques, and procedures.

For example, to increase the pressure on victims to pay, attacks on healthcare providers saw extortion demands issued to patients whose data were stolen, threatening to publish their medical data if they did not personally pay a ransom. The ALPHV group created a searchable database to make stolen data more accessible, and threats were issued to report attacks on publicly traded companies to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).”

Imagine how ransomware would affect your practice if the extortion scheme bypassed you to directly threaten your patients – and blamed you for not paying the “reasonable” ransom demand.

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Paper is Immune to Ransomware

Posted on March 17, 2024 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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By Darrell Pruitt DDS

“A major cyberattack has caused a Pittsfield medical practice to run out of money. Staff are continuing to treat patients”

The extortionists are getting closer and closer to us, Doc. I’m surprised it has taken them this long.

READ: https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/cyberattack-change-healthcare-united-ransomware-medical-insurance-payments-berkshire-allergy-care/article_a5547ef2-e302-11ee-9162-2b0ff10b145f.html

(Do you miss paper records yet? Give it a little more time.)

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DENTAL DATA BREACH: Paper is Safer – It Always has Been!

Posted on June 3, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Darrell K. Pruitt DDS

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PAPER IS SAFER – IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN!

“9M dental patient records published following LockBit ransomware attack”

–By Duncan Riley for Silicone Angle, May 30th, 2023
READ: https://siliconangle.com/2023/05/30/9m-dental-patient-records-published-following-lockbit-ransomware-attack/

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We knew digital dental records were never safe, even though our trusting patients had no idea. I started warning dentists about sudden public rejection of electronic dental records over a decade ago. In fact, that is why the Texas Dental Association suspended my membership.

It’s the start of the predictable end of digital records in most dental offices. The TDA and the ADA were repeatedly warned, but chose to say nothing about the comparative security of paper to dues-paying members. In fact, the American Dental Association marketed its own digital dental record system until a few years ago when over 500 dental practices using their system were hacked. Then the ADA quietly sold it.

“The records of nearly 9 million people have been published online following a LockBit ransomware attack on Managed Care of North America. The company, also known as MCNA Dental, is a leading provider of dental plans in the U.S., serving private employers, individuals and families through a range of Medicare, long-term and commercial plans. MCNA is also the largest dental insurer for government-sponsored Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, programs.”

The question is, what will this news do to huge, multi-location dental franchises such as Aspen Dental, Monarch, Medicare and other discount dentistry centers. Dentists have proven they can run successful, large practices using pegboards, ledger cards and bulky, loud metal filing cabinets without risking their patients’ privacy.

By the way, my practice is accepting new patients. Oh yea: TDA, you still owe me $200 in prorated dues for the remainder of the year you kicked me out. Idiots!

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EDRs: Still think going paperless was the right decision, Doc?

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

(ARE YOU PISSED, YET?)

By Darrell K. Pruitt DDS

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Still think going paperless was the right decision, Doc? (Are you pissed yet?) If you haven’t adopted digital records, now is NOT the time to do so. 

“Just last quarter, U.S. cyber insurance prices increased 79% from a year earlier, according to Marsh’s Global Insurance Market Index…. IBM determined the average ransomware attack cost $4.54 million last year, not including the cost of the ransom, and that 83% of the organizations have had more than one data breach.” (There goes your retirement stash). From “Amid Surge in Ransomware Attacks, More Organizations Are Being Rejected for Cyber Insurance — What Can Leaders Do?”

By Raj Dodhiawala for CPO Magazine, November 28, 2022

LINK: https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/amid-surge-in-ransomware-attacks-more-organizations-are-being-rejected-for-cyber-insurance-what-can-leaders-do/

QUESTION: So, now that the American Dental Association no longer sells its for-profit digital records system to intentionally uninformed dues-paying members, is the not-for-profit organization still encouraging dentists to go paperless?

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Information-Technology-Security/dp/0826149952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413315&sr=1-5

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My Conversation with an Anonymous Cigna Representative

Posted on July 21, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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Cigna, do you even have a clue that dentists don’t like you?

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By Darrell K. Pruitt DDS

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Hi Dr. Pruitt,

I’m truly sorry for any negative experience you’ve encountered with us. Is there a claim, benefit, or authorization concern I can help with? Please email me at LetUsHelpU@cigna.com. I’d like an opportunity to assist.

At a time when interest rates are surging, and just when I request an increase, CIGNA REDUCED MY REIMBURSEMENTS! Never again will I do business with you, and will discourage other dentists from falling into your trap …. And that is why dentists don’t like #TeamCigna. 

What is your name, anyway. You know mine. Perhaps Linkedin’s transparency makes it a poor choice for marketing Cigna.

As if things could get no worse between Cigna and dentists, you censored my response!

NOTE: Cigna representatives prefer to remain anonymous for reasons of accountability.

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BUSINESS MEDICINE: https://www.amazon.com/Business-Medical-Practice-Transformational-Doctors/dp/0826105750/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1448163039&sr=8-9&keywords=david+marcinko

Health Insurance: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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