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What are copay accumulator programs?

Jason Poquette Pharmaceutical

Retail pharmacists and specialty pharmacists working in the trenches may have heard whispers about something called "copay accumulator programs." But with long lines at the register, phones ringing off the hook, 30 more flu shots to give and a jammed printer…I can understand why you haven’t had time to read up on them. I’m a front-line pharmacist myself, and I understand your dilemma. Let me take a moment to explain this issue.

5 ways to find stellar staff, automate their training and fill their schedules…

Jarod Carter Sports & Fitness

If you’re doing it right, the entire hiring process actually starts long before you need to hire someone. But let’s say you are ready to hire right now. How do you find and choose the best candidate, get them trained in the most efficient way, and fill their treatment schedule as quickly as possible?

OTC pain relievers proven to be more effective than opioids in treating…

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

With opioid misuse and abuse on the rise across the nation, it’s not surprising physicians and dentists are occupying prime seats at the table in the quest to find a viable solution for the best way to treat patients with chronic pain. A recent study conducted at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland asserts that ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone or in combination with acetaminophen are actually better at easing dental pain than opioids. These findings are supported by new research conducted with the university's School of Dental Medicine.

New Ebola outbreak spreads to large urban area in DRC

Joan Spitrey Healthcare Administration

On May 8, the Ministry of Health and Population of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced a new Ebola outbreak had begun after two cases were confirmed by laboratory test. By May 13, there were already 41 cases, including 20 deaths and three healthcare workers affected. Despite earlier identification and attempts at containment, one new case of Ebola has been confirmed in Wangata, one of the three health zones of Mbandaka, a city of nearly 1.2 million people on a major river.

How to retain the indefatigable nurse

Keith Carlson Healthcare Administration

When we use the word "indefatigable" in conjunction with the word "nurse," it is an almost perfect pairing of noun and adjective. Indefatigable can be defined as industrious, tireless or unflagging, and that is a powerfully accurate description of the majority of hard-working nurses who serve as the very mitochondria of healthcare. If healthcare employers want these nurse mitochondria to be their most effective, they need to double down on their nurses and put some skin in the game when it comes to retention.

Shootings propel new look at an old objective: Preparing youth for the…

Bill Becken Education

The decades-long rise of gun-related violence in U.S. schools reached a zenith of sorts with the shooting at the high school in Parkland, Florida. Seemingly, they have also led to a new interest in educating students about death as a part of life. And why shouldn’t death be proactively prepared for? After all, it comes for everyone, including for one’s friends and loved ones; for great leaders and scholars; for everyone and anyone, all of the time.

Large-scale study shows link between allergies and depression

Dorothy L. Tengler Mental Healthcare

Allergies are a major health issue, the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, with an annual cost more than $18 billion. More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. Historically, there is not a direct link between the mechanism of allergic disorders and depression or anxiety. However, a new, large-scale study surprisingly links eczema, hay fever and asthma to an increased risk of developing mental illnesses.

Physicians want integrated EHR data for better patient care

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

The seemingly never-ending debate about the benefits of electronic health records and their use in practice is heating up again after a new report suggested that more than half of 300 recently interviewed U.S. physicians are "very or extremely satisfied" with their access to patient information. Per the Surescripts’ Physician Perspectives on Access to Patient Data report, physicians said they feel the best part of EHR use is accessibility.

Ketamine could unlock a new frontier for depression treatment

Dr. Abimbola Farinde Pharmaceutical

Depression is one of the most commonly encountered psychiatric disorders and one of the leading causes of illness in the world. Globally, depression affects more than 350 million people for all ages, which is a reason the announcement of the use of ketamine as potential treatment is providing some promise for individuals who suffer from chronic depression. Ketamine is typically recognized as a surgical anesthetic or party drug.

How to reassure your patients about practice cleanliness

Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare Administration

Patients are becoming more and more informed about the important issue of cleanliness when they visit the doctor's office. This is a good thing, because your patients' concern about germs in the treatment environment should be your concern, and your staff's responsibility. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a surprising 48 percent of healthcare workers don't wash their hands between patients.

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