MultiBriefs - Your source for industry specific News Briefs

Human ‘Organs-on-Chips’ as replacements for animal testing

Jessica Taylor Science & Technology

Wyss Institutes Founding Director Donald E. Ingber, M.D., Ph.D., kicked off SLAS2015 by focusing on the engineering of human "Organs-on-Chips" to a filled room of SLAS attendees Feb. 9. Researchers, along with Ingber, have created this innovative technology. Organs-on-a-Chip is a cell culture device — crystal clear with flexible polymers and the size of a computer memory stick — that contains hollow channels lined by living cells and tissues that imitate human cellular response far more effectively and realistically than Petri dish cultures.

CMS plans to shorten meaningful use Stage 2 to 90 days

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services buckled, or so it seems. After much conjecture, gesturing and soapbox shouting from healthcare leaders, it looks like the reporting period for sending data collected in the electronic health record as part of meaningful use Stage 2 will be shortened from 365 days to 90. According to SearchHealthIT, "The time and money required to attest for a 365-day reporting period gave heartburn to many hospitals and physicians."

Flexible work policies could be key to more rested employees

Cait Harrison Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Are your employees getting enough sleep? Likely not. Chances are they’re sleeping less than the seven to nine hours recommended by the National Sleep Foundation — averaging 6.8 hours per night, according to Gallup. But there may be something you can do about it. A new study published in the journal Sleep Health shows that workers will likely get more sleep when their employers play a more active role in ensuring they're better rested — especially when they offer flexible work policies.

What healthcare providers need to know about measles

Joan Spitrey Medical & Allied Healthcare

Many who work in healthcare today are too young to remember the measles epidemics of years past. Therefore, their knowledge and care of this previously eradicated disease is extremely limited and quick identification of infected individuals could be limited. As we learned last year from our Ebola exposures, our lack of knowledge of uncommon, yet highly communicative diseases is our Achilles' heel. As healthcare providers, we owe it to ourselves and our patients to remain informed of such diseases.

The state of consolidation in outpatient PT

Charlotte Bohnett Medical & Allied Healthcare

During PPS 2014 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the industry's heaviest hitters — now backed by private equity dollars — strolled about the trade show floor, introducing themselves to clinic owners and negotiating acquisition deals right then and there. This anecdote provides a mere glimpse into a trend sweeping the healthcare industry: consolidation. Healthcare services have always been in high demand, but with 8,000 baby boomers reaching retirement age every day, the healthcare market has never been more saturated with consumers — and that makes private practice acquisition a highly lucrative investment move for qualified buyers.

How is the measles outbreak affecting the healthcare industry?

Danielle Manley Medical & Allied Healthcare

Douglas Coupland once said, "Adventure without risk is Disneyland." However, he clearly wasn’t considering the health risks of high-volume amusement parks, like Disneyland. But, these places are a breeding ground for disease, as was made apparent by the recent measles outbreak stemming from the theme park. The outbreak began in December and, to date, there are 119 confirmed cases in the country. "As more people opt against vaccinating their children (or themselves), these childhood illnesses will become more prevalent again," Sarah Gaines-Hill, an infection control registered nurse in Anaheim, California, said.

New study echoes dementia dangers of allergy, sleep pills

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Pharmaceutical

The Alzheimer's Association provides information about dementia to caregivers and families. The physicians associated with the group recommend that those with dementia avoid over-the-counter medications that have diphenhydramine as the active ingredient.

Break into niche markets to create new streams of patients

Jarod Carter Medical & Allied Healthcare

Word-of-mouth referrals from your patients are essential to building your business. Another large source of nonphysician referrals comes from establishing a presence in a niche market where people are serious about performance. This is another one of those areas in which my advice applies to all types of practices, not just cash-based ones like mine.

Innovative medical plastic applications breaking into new areas

Don Rosato Engineering

The U.S. market for the medical sector is the largest and most sophisticated in the world. As a rule of thumb, the U.S. medical device market and most of its segments represent about half of the world market (the European market representing 25 percent).

Survey: Patient engagement continues to face challenges

Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied Healthcare

In the true age of patient engagement — a topic much talked about the last two years, but one now seemingly having gained real traction — providers continue to admit that they are having trouble with meeting the mandates established for them by meaningful use stage 2 requirements.

Industries