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Transcranial direct current stimulation linked to improved object naming…
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareUsing transcranial direct current stimulation can improve object naming following a stroke, according to the results of a new study. Transcranial direct current stimulation is a type of medical procedure that can stimulate brain activity with low, direct current. More than 795,000 people suffer strokes each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and disability. About one-third of all strokes results in aphasia, according to the National Aphasia Association, which impairs patients’ ability to speak and process language.
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Pharmacies big and small struggle for profit
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalAccounting, legal services, dentists and physician offices are frequently listed as some of the most profitable U.S. businesses. Noticeably absent from any such list is pharmacy. But when it comes to specialty pharmacy, maybe they are the exception to the rule? It doesn’t appear so. Large revenues don’t compensate for incredibly thin margins, and therefore making a profit is challenging for them as well. I guess when it comes to making a profit in pharmacy, size really doesn’t matter at all.
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Healthcare mergers, transactions down by volume, but still very active
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationEven if the stock market seems to be tipping into bear territory, healthcare investors may still be in the full gallop of a bull economy. According to new reporting by PwC, the third quarter of 2018 continued the streak of at least 200 deals each quarter since the end of 2015. Pleasantly, or surprisingly, there have been at least 250 quarterly deals since Q3 of 2017. Despite the glowing report, it’s not all roses in healthcare for investors. The quarter saw the fewest number of deals in a quarter since Q1 2017 and there were declines in value compared to both the previous year and quarter.
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5 free marketing strategies for small physical therapy clinics
Heidi Dawson Sports & FitnessAs a small business owner, you know that money can be tight, especially when just starting out. You have to prioritize where to spend that precious cash. We’ve all heard the phrase "speculate to accumulate" and in many cases that is true. However, I don’t believe that’s the case with marketing your business. As a small therapy business owner, I have seen how little return there is on shelling out for print and online advertising. These are my top five methods of growing your client base without spending a dime.
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Utah public employees cross Mexican border for cheaper drugs
Michelle R. Matisons PharmaceuticalTwo decades ago, Sen. Bernie Sanders crossed the Mexican border to call attention to the plight of American citizens who cannot afford expensive, potentially lifesaving drugs. Since that time, we have seen some progress on the issue — including recent federal Medicare drug legislation and new state laws as well. It’s not unusual to hear about someone having to cross the Canadian or Mexican border to purchase cheaper pharmaceutical drugs. After all, the average prescription drug for a chronic condition costs $13,000 a year, and since 2009, Medicare drug spending has grown by roughly 9.5 percent yearly.
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Simple steps to cut your hospital’s malpractice risk
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationAs an administrator, you know that eliminating as much risk as possible when it comes to malpractice and patient safety is job No. 1. Outside of the complex legal advice and institutional safeguards you already have in place, it's always a good idea to double back and make sure that your staff is implementing more simplistic, yet equally vital, steps during the course of daily patient care duties. Utilize these scientifically backed advice pieces of advice to keep your hospital covered.
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Study: Dialysis modality choice does not affect kidney transplant outcomes
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareDoes the choice of dialysis modality prior to renal transplantation affect transplant outcomes for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD)? Results of a new study suggest it does not. Controversy regarding pre-transplant dialysis modality choice continues, with each side presenting data that supports either peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD) as the preferred modality, especially as it relates to kidney transplantation outcomes. Many people find PD more convenient, but many medical professionals worry that PD will affect the outcomes of kidney transplantation.
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Health systems expect EHR vendors to assist with opioid management
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationElectronic health records have promised health systems a lot of things — efficiency, data collation and improved revenue cycles — and even still the majority of health systems say they expect their EHR vendors to assist them in addressing the ever-deadly opioid crisis. This is according to a new KLAS report. While the firm interviewed just a scant 117 clinical and managerial executives from healthcare organizations of various sizes, the point of the researchers’ conversations was to determine how providers track opioid use among patients and implement safer prescribing practices to avoid deadly overdoses and other issues.
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Acetaminophen may decrease recurrence of febrile seizures in children within…
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareWhen administered soon after the initial seizure, rectal acetaminophen can decrease the rates of second febrile seizure in pediatric patients during the course of the same febrile illness, according to a new study. Febrile seizures are the most common type of seizures seen in children. Many children have multiple convulsions during the course of a single febrile illness. While febrile seizures frequently occur, and multiple seizures within febrile events are common, there is a paucity of data on the prevention of recurrent seizures — especially in the pediatric population.
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Provide the most productive feedback for your healthcare workers
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationEvery medical organization's most important ongoing efforts include thorough evaluation of worker performance. Surprisingly often, though, the most helpful feedback often never gets delivered — because you, as an administrator, aren't aware of the key details your doctors, nurses and residents need to hear to make their work the best it can be. The good news: researchers have analyzed and identified a number of several specific feedback areas you can cover that will allow your healthcare workers to provide better and safer patient care. Here's what you need to know.
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