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What to say when someone dies
Lisa Cole Mental HealthcareFrom the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, early in April, a physician wrote a note I found to be very profound and moving. Right after receiving it, I got a ping asking, "What do you say to someone when their loved one just died?" The same question came the next day and, again, the day after. People were and are flailing in this deluge of death. Here's what I've found to be helpful to say when someone dies.
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US payrolls add 2.5 million jobs amid reopenings; unemployment drops to…
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEmployers added 2.5 million nonfarm jobs in May after April's 20.5 million layoffs, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. May's rate of unemployment dropped to 13.3% versus 14.7% in April. Some economists had spoken of May's unemployment rate reaching 20%, rivaling the depths of the Great Depression. Instead, the labor market improved due to a partial resuming of economic activity after its curtailment in March and April to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some areas of the economy did not rebound in May.
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COVID-19 and national responses, part 1 of 2: Asia and Europe
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareWhen COVID-19 first emerged and the world began to take notice, each country naturally responded in its own way. These responses were based on many factors, including available public health resources, political will, governmental structure, scientific interest and rigor, as well as the expertise of virologists, epidemiologists, and other experts. How have some countries handled the outbreak, and what lessons can we learn from our relative failures, oversights, and successes?
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Heart attack, stroke patients are avoiding the ER due to COVID-19 concerns
Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied HealthcareThe number of heart attack patients treated at U.S. hospital emergency rooms decreased by nearly half during the pandemic. That statistic has health officials worried that people are avoiding care because they are afraid of contracting COVID-19 at a hospital. Kaiser Permanente researchers reviewed heart attack treatments at its Northern California hospitals before and after the first COVID-19 death was reported on March 4. The 4.4 million records showed the number of ER treatments dropped by 48% once pandemic-related deaths started occurring.
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Medical practices are up against it as they struggle to retain patients,…
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareFor some more than others, the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. Still, medical practices remain at the center of battling the virus as they treat patients. They also face personal financial pressures like many of their American counterparts. More than half of clinicians (55%) fear another wave of the virus. They are stressed because of potentially limited access to testing and personal protective equipment, according to a survey of 730 primary care clinicians in 49 states and Washington, D.C.
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Newly discovered immune pathway could help prevent long-term organ rejection
Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied HealthcareUniversity of Pittsburgh and Houston Methodist Hospital researchers have discovered an immune pathway that could cause rejection of transplanted organs. The study, published in the journal Science, says contrary to previous data, the body's "innate" immune system may impact organ transplants over the long term. "The rate of acute rejection within one year after a transplant has decreased significantly, but many people who get an organ transplant are likely to need a second one in their lifetime due to chronic rejection," said Dr. Fadi Lakkis, the study’s senior author.
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Some hospitals, surgery centers still aren’t performing cosmetic…
Dr. Jonathan Kaplan Medical & Allied HealthcareHere in San Francisco, the city and health department issued a directive on May 15 allowing elective surgery. In the directive, it was very clear elective surgery, including cosmetic surgery and dental procedures, could move forward. For this reason, we began performing cosmetic surgery in our in-office AAAASF-accredited operating room the following Monday, May 18. Based on previously scheduled cases and newly booked procedures, we'll be operating at full capacity for the foreseeable future. While we have the luxury of performing cosmetic surgery in our own facility, not all facilities are proceeding with cosmetic surgery. Why not?
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As telehealth grows, returning Medicare programs to their original form…
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareIn another spot of telehealth news, it appears that even seniors are taking a shine to the technology. As many as half of them say they are comfortable using telehealth to get the care they desire. According to a new poll by Morning Consult, those who are using it say it’s been a pleasing experience. The survey of more than 1,000 seniors shows that a majority (52%) are enjoying the services provided through the remote-based technology. Only 30% said they're uncomfortable with the technology.
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Finnish researchers create pendant necklace can detect abnormal heart rhythms
Tammy Hinojos Medical & Allied HealthcareIt’s not uncommon to see health-related devices and detectors housed in accessories that can be worn. From wearable insulin pumps to balance bracelets, the convenience of a wearable health aid is a great idea. But a necklace that can spot atrial fibrillation (AFib) in under 30 seconds? That's something new. A team of Finnish researchers has developed a necklace outfitted with a pendant that patients can easily and discreetly use to screen themselves for signs of an abnormal heart rhythm.
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Survey: As expected, patients fearful of in-person visits are turning to…
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareCOVID-19 has touched almost every area of our lives; healthcare is obviously no different. According to a new survey of U.S. healthcare consumers, 72% of consumers say they have changed their use of traditional healthcare services dramatically because of the pandemic. The survey was conducted and released by the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) and the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). According to researchers, these numbers highlight a bigger issue of how providers are going to face an uphill battle convincing their patients to return for in-person care.
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