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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.

As hospital profits fall, outpatient pharmacies should help

Jason Poquette Pharmaceutical

The Wall Street Journal recently published a somber-sounding article sure to send shivers down the spines of hospital investors. It reported a margin decline to 8.1 percent last year, from 9.5 percent the year before. This is grim news for health systems which are already struggling to maintain their market share amid growing competition from clinics and outpatient services. Since this week is National Hospital Week, and I care deeply about the services and financial stability of the hospital systems in our country, I wanted to share some thoughts from the perspective of a pharmacist.

Is California’s healthcare system broken?

Michael Monasky Healthcare Administration

In a series of seminars April 26 in Sacramento, politicos, industry lobbyists and state bureaucrats weighed in on two factors beleaguering the current healthcare system in California; cost and access. The tone of the event ranged from apologia to outright hand-wringing, with insiders even confusing themselves about the 2015 Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act federal health funding bill and cheat sheet workarounds for its subprograms.

In an FDA first, cannabinoid drug wins preliminary approval

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Pharmaceutical

A medication containing cannabidiol, which is derived from marijuana plants, recently received preliminary approval from the Federal Drug Administration. The approval for the product, Epidiolex, was given for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older. This is the first drug that is derived from the cannabis plant to have received preliminary approval by the FDA. Cannabidiol is not psychoactive and does not induce the high that those consuming plant marijuana products strive for.

Fentanyl deaths rise as narcotics shortage continues

Joan Spitrey Medical & Allied Healthcare

As healthcare facilities continue to experience shortages with injectable narcotics, researchers report that synthetic opioid deaths have now outpaced prescription drug overdoses. It seems counter-intuitive — how can facilities be short, but deaths in the community continue to rise? As with much of the opioid crisis, the problem is complicated.

Research explores arm injuries in young pitchers

Sheilamary Koch Sports & Fitness

Pitchers accounted for 58.59 percent, or $420 million, of the salary on the MLB disabled list in 2015, as reported in a Forbes article. Elbow injuries led at 21 percent and shoulder injuries followed at 17 percent. For young players, injury statistics can match or even surpass those of the major leagues. Consider a well-publicized report from 2015 showing that players between 15 and 19 years of age accounted for close to 57 percent of the total number of ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction procedures (UCLR) or Tommy John surgeries covered by private-payer insurance between 2007 and 2011. The ramifications for young players may not include such a shocking price tag but are equally serious.

More data breaches discovered as healthcare stays in the crosshairs

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

It seems as though this song and dance never gets old; the same tune just keeps playing and playing. The chorus, in healthcare, continues to say the same thing — hackers are after health information and the number of incidents is increasing. According to a new analysis by Symantec, almost 40 percent of the hacker group Orangeworm's victims are organizations operating in healthcare. Of those, 17 percent of victims are based in the U.S., which is fairly significant.

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