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Your nursing career New Year plan

Keith Carlson Medical & Allied Healthcare

The start of the year is an auspicious time to evaluate the state of your nursing career, examine your motivations and feelings, and formulate a plan for the year to come. We all need to periodically take stock of our career, distill the meaning of where we are, what we've accomplished and where we think we're going. By assessing and planning for the next iteration of your nursing career, you can take inspired action, seize the moment and not allow your career to simply happen to you.

Study shows decline in rate of Alzheimer’s dementia

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied Healthcare

There are now fewer adults being diagnosed with the dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This dip in numbers is attributed to probable changes in lifestyle.

Coverage expansion, utilization increases lead to health spending growth

Christina Thielst Healthcare Administration

A new analysis from the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates that 2015 healthcare spending in the United States grew at a rate of 5.8 percent and reached $3.2 trillion. In comparison, 2014 spending increased 5.3 percent, following five consecutive years of historically low growth from 2009 to 2013.

Holiday season heart attacks spike in women

Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied Healthcare

Studies show that heart attacks increase during the holiday season. Aside from the risk factors for coronary artery disease — smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, age and lack of exercise — certain other triggers such as time of year can play a role in holiday heart attacks.

Soda company sponsorships impede obesity epidemic cures

Dr. Diane Carson Food & Beverage

The American Journal of Preventive Medicine recently published a troubling article regarding the sponsorship of national health organizations by two major soda companies. According to the article, many health organizations — including ones run by the federal government — accepted sponsorship money from the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo or both between 2011 and 2015.

Marijuana laws increase chance of dangerous mold in homes

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

Homes are not designed to be used as grow operations for any plants. The result of growing an excess amount of vegetation inside private homes is damage to the walls and other structures with the potential for unhealthy mold.

Competition on the way for EpiPen

Dr. Abimbola Farinde Pharmaceutical

Epipen, a life-saving auto-injector used by many Americans to address severe allergies, has suddenly experienced significant price increases in recent years. This has sparked both immense concern and outrage among consumers as well as lawmakers. But help may be on the way from an old friend.

Telehealth will continue to steal headlines in 2017

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

As we get ready to close out 2016, it's a pretty safe bet that telehealth is going to be an even bigger headline grab in 2017 than it has been this year. Let's take a look at why. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a bill called the 21st Century Cures Act. The bill — which is awaiting Senate approval — is actually intended to make the FDA drug review process more efficient, but it also includes parts dedicated to the use of telehealth services.

Study weighs benefits of preserving organs at body temperature

Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied Healthcare

For decades, donated organs have been submerged in a cold solution simply called "UW liquid" — because it was developed at the University of Wisconsin — while en route to a recipient. It's been the gold standard for organ transportation for years. Now, a new method of preserving organs is being studied, and an organ recipient recently became the first in the country to receive a liver preserved at body temperature instead of cold storage. Coincidentally, the procedure was conducted at the UW Hospital in Madison.

No rest for the weary nurses

Joan Spitrey Healthcare Administration

With the busy holiday season is upon us, many will be enjoying time off from work so they can visit with family. However, while holiday cheer is spreading, nurses and healthcare providers will continue to march along caring for those who are sick and in need of care. While many enjoy ham dinners with apple pie, there will be nurses working through breaks to provide care to those vulnerable patients in need. Although the idea of skipping a meal break is unheard of in most professions, it sadly is more the norm than not in nursing.

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