-
Blood pressure: Go low to improve memory
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalPharmacists are in a unique position to promote patient adherence to blood pressure medication and to encourage self-monitoring of blood pressure, and now they have more reasons than ever. For years we have known that lowering blood pressure helps prevent heart disease. In 2017, new guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) recommended treatment to begin for any patient with systolic blood pressure over 130 or diastolic over 80. But a new study suggests that even lower numbers might be appropriate if we also want to lower the risk of mental decline.
-
Do gender disparities in healthcare now include surviving a heart attack?
Joan Spitrey Medical & Allied HealthcareThe conversation of gender disparities is not a new one in healthcare. Since Dr. Bernadine Healy talked about the Yentl Syndrome in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1991, the gender disparity conversation has continued. Dr. Healy discussed how women were far less likely to be treated for a heart attack than males, however, once the heart attack was discovered, they were then treated mostly as equals. Therefore, it gave rise to the concept of the Yentl Syndrome, where a woman had to prove they were "just like a man" before receiving attention.
-
Ride-sharing programs may reduce patient no-show appointments
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationLyft and tech company Hitch Health recently released the findings of a yearlong, nonemergency medical transportation pilot that took place in Minneapolis at the Hennepin Healthcare internal medicine clinic. The result of the pilot seems to show a great deal of promise, as the outcomes of the survey showed that "targeted patients who have missed appointments in the past" reduced no-shows by 27 percent. Missed appointments cost the healthcare industry an estimated $150 billion a year.
-
Study: Female reproductive history linked to dementia risk
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied HealthcareThe issues related to gender and Alzheimer’s disease were a primary topic at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference held in Chicago in July. Research discussing a woman’s reproductive history that showed an association to the risk of dementia was presented. Another study along the same lines discussed a relationship between the total months of pregnancy and having Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Study: Doctors interrupt their patients after just 11 seconds
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied Healthcare"Nah, nah, nah (fingers in ears, shaking their head) … I can’t hear you!" It seems like a scene from the movie "Office Space" or some ‘80s flick in which the teacher tunes out the more verbose taped-glasses student. This is a fanciful and, perhaps, overly simplified version of the truth, but a new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine finds that doctors only spend 11 seconds on average listening to patients before interrupting them.
-
Wellness trends in the workplace: Do they stack up?
Ana Reisdorf Medical & Allied HealthcareAccording to the recent Workplace Wellness 2017 Survey Report conducted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, up to 75 percent of employers offer some type of wellness program to employees. The primary goal of these programs is not only to help maintain a healthy workforce, but also to reduce healthcare costs, boost attendance, and increase productivity. The survey revealed that common wellness trends for 2017 include coverage for chiropractic services, sponsoring wellness events and competitions, providing standing desks and fitness trackers, as well as offering healthier food in cafeterias and vending machines.
-
Vaccine research continues as newest Ebola outbreak hits DRC
Anne Casey Medical & Allied HealthcareA recent outbreak of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was declared to be over on July 24 by the World Health Organization (WHO) — but then a new outbreak started on Aug. 1 in the country’s Kivu province. Vaccine research in several countries soldiers on amid the newest occurrence of the virus. As the new outbreak unfortunately begins, scientists in Spain and the United States continue to develop their own, promising vaccines.
-
NIH study sheds new light on bacteria therapy for eczema
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareNot only do the embarrassing patches of rough, reddened eczema erode self-esteem, the intense itching often leads to infection that requires treatment with antibiotics. Eczema is a disease group that encompasses a few forms of dermatitis, both endogenous (atopic dermatitis) and exogenous (irritant and allergic contact dermatitis). While the cause of atopic dermatitis is unknown, studies suggest that the skin microbiome plays a key role, and scientists have known that people with atopic dermatitis tend to have large populations of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria on their skin.
-
The link between diabetes and cancer in women
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareNearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) by about four times in women but only about two times in men, and women have worse outcomes after a heart attack. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that people with diabetes are at significantly higher risk for many forms of cancer. In fact, diabetes and cancer often coexist in the same individuals.
-
New ways actors can benefit your doctors-in-training
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationYou're no doubt familiar with "standardized patients" — professional actors who role-play with medical students and residents to simulate real-life patient interactions. Often, these interactive experiences teach doctors-in-training how to handle basic communication situations, such as how to prescribe medication or explain a diagnosis. New research initiatives, however, are greatly expanding the knowledge medical students and residents can glean from working with actors, leading to more emotional insight when they work with real patients, as well as better effectiveness at sharing medical information with those real patients.
All Healthcare Administration Articles