“The number needed to treat” or “NNT” refers to the number of patients who have to receive a given medical intervention, such as a medication or other therapy, for one patient to be helped by that intervention. In 2010, Dr. David Newman of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, along with a fellow doctor, created theNNT.com. The website evaluates different medical interventions based on the NNT concept. Today, the site provides information on about 200 illnesses and their treatments, which is used by doctors and patients alike. Jackie Judd speaks to Dr. Newman about the website and why he has embraced this controversial concept. This report will air on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014 (check local listings).
This report is part of PBS NewsHour’s “Breakthroughs” series. This wide-ranging series showcases the economic and social changes that invention can generate. Each installment captures the passion of inventors, the pathways they have taken, and the changed lives of those who have benefitted from their creations and discoveries. Through its reporting, the NewsHour highlights the difference that invention can make for those living in the United States and the developing world. The NewsHour’s reporting on Breakthroughs is available online at: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/invention/.
PBS NewsHour’s “Breakthroughs” coverage is funded by the Lemelson Foundation.
About the Lemelson Foundation
The Lemelson Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives, by inspiring and enabling the next generation of inventors and invention-based enterprises to promote economic growth in the US, and social and economic progress for the poor in developing countries. Established by prolific US inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife Dorothy in the early 1990’s, and lead by the Lemelson family, to date the Foundation has provided or committed more than $185 million in grants and Program-Related Investments in support of its mission.
About PBS NewsHour
PBS NewsHour, co-anchored by Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff, is seen by over four million weekly viewers and is also available online, via public radio in select markets, and via podcast. PBS NewsHour is a production of NewsHour Productions LLC, a wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary of WETA Washington, D.C., in association with WNET in New York. Major funding for PBS NewsHour is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers. Major corporate funding is provided by BAE Systems, BNSF and Charles Schwab with additional support from Carnegie Corporation of New York, the J. Paul Getty Trust, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Friends of the NewsHour and others. More information on PBS NewsHour is available at www.pbs.org/newshour. On social media, visit www.facebook.com/newshour on Facebook or follow @NewsHour on Twitter.
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