-
Universal precautions: They truly are worth it
Christina Thielst Medical & Allied HealthcareWhen a Santa Barbara, California, patient tested positive for Hepatitis C last month, local public health officials investigated the cause. Their analysis included a visit to the patient's physician, where they discovered the medical office was performing injections without following standard/universal precautions to protect themselves and their patients from blood-borne viruses.
-
Researchers regenerate heart cells in mice
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareMyocardial infarction (MI) causes irreversible necrosis of heart muscle secondary to prolonged ischemia. Scar tissue begins to build almost immediately, leading to the loss of contractile myocardium, which is a frequent cause of chronic heart failure. However, a new study suggests there may someday be a way to stimulate the body into regenerating heart cells after MI.
-
Should hospitals compete in the health insurance market?
Dr. Jonathan Kaplan Medical & Allied HealthcareI believe in capitalism, and I believe that a company shouldn't be ashamed of trying to make a profit. After all, staying in business is the name of the game. But when it comes to your healthcare, there is some unwritten rule (or maybe it is written in the form of the Hippocratic Oath) that entities involved in healthcare should care about your well-being in addition to caring about making money.
-
Doctors: We need to delay ICD-10 again
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationThis whole ICD-10 delay thing continues to bear some fruit, and there's still quite a bit of steam behind the effort. With rumors swirling that congressional leaders are finally ready to take action this year, many providers may not be sharing the joy, nor are they looking to celebrate.
-
New technique may help speed up heart attack diagnosis
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareAcute myocardial infarction (MI) is a common cause of death and disability in the United States and around the world. Each year, about 735,000 Americans suffer an MI — 525,000 are a first heart attack and 210,000 are a second MI. Prompt treatment depends on early diagnosis, and both are critical to patient survival.
-
Air Methods making big moves in HEMS industry
Mark Huber Medical & Allied HealthcareI've always liked company executives who make big moves and have a passion and a vision for their business. Air Methods CEO Aaron Todd is one of those guys. Over the last several months, the nation's largest HEMS provider has made two huge moves that amplify the company's safety mantra. The most recent came in March at Heli-Expo when it placed a monster order for 200 new Bell 407GXP helicopters over the next 10 years.
-
How to talk to patients about advanced directives
Joan Spitrey Medical & Allied HealthcareApril 16 has been designated as National Healthcare Decision Day. This movement came out of the passion and frustration of founder Nathan Kottkamp. He was the member of several hospital ethics committees and was repeatedly challenged with trying to interpret healthcare decisions for people who had no advanced directives. Anyone working in a hospital — especially a critical care area — can certainly relate.
-
Is snus a safer form of tobacco? FDA not convinced
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied HealthcareIt's not quite like snuff, not quite like smokeless tobacco and quite different from cigarettes. It's called snus, a pulverized moist form of tobacco containing nicotine that is held under the upper lip. The primary advantage over more common smokeless tobacco forms is that less saliva is generated and thus less need to spit.
-
Clinical trial offers new hope for psoriasis sufferers
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareSignificant progress has been made in understanding the inheritance of psoriasis. A number of genes involved in psoriasis are already known or suspected. In a multifactor disease (involving genes, environment and other factors), variations in one or more genes may produce a greater likelihood of getting the disease. Researchers are continuing to study the genetic aspects of psoriasis, and some studies are looking at the nervous system to determine the genes responsible for the circuitry that causes itching.
-
How telehealth is changing the lives of chronically ill patients
Karen R. Thomas Medical & Allied HealthcareLiving with a chronic disease isn't just physically taxing; it takes an emotional toll as well. Millions of older Americans live with a chronic illness such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes or heart disease, and many suffer through their day-to-day care routines alone.
All Medical & Allied Healthcare Articles