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How your hospital’s radiology department can be a key line of defense…
Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied HealthcareAs a healthcare professional, your goal has been to blunt the impact of COVID-19 as well as you can. Yet, you may have never considered how one specific part of your hospital could be a most effective containment area. Your radiology department can serve as an essential point of protection for all your patients and staff, according to fascinating, fresh research. The study, published in the journal Radiology, contains many important recommendations every hospital should implement.
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A look at the possible link between COVID-19 and pregnancy
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareAlthough there are no current data proving that COVID-19 affects pregnant women more than non-pregnant women, those who are pregnant are at a greater risk of contracting respiratory viruses, including pneumonia, which is a concern because lung capacity is already diminished during pregnancy. Some pregnant women have become ill and some have died during the pandemic. In a cohort study, researchers at the University of Oxford collected data, using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System, from 427 pregnant women with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals in the United Kingdom.
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Public restrooms are reopening but may cause more challenges than can be…
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsAs the world awakens from its COVID-19-forced economic slumber, one vital and essential service offering remains largely at large. Across the U.S., from California and Iowa to Florida, there is a confusing topic of conversation: To open restrooms, leave them closed, and how to clean them among the clatter of how best to reopen businesses across the country. The chaos of the typical American public restroom could change forever, Fast Company reports.
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Digital natives, digital immigrants, and healthcare technology
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareTwenty-first-century healthcare is replete with the unstoppable exponential growth of technology and innovation. From EMRs and medication-dispensing robots to digitally networked bedside devices and the inevitable emergence of medical augmented reality, the ability to adapt to new technologies is crucial for any individual seeking a sustainable career in medicine, nursing, and the broader healthcare spectrum. Will certain groups of healthcare workers fall by the wayside? When some individuals adapt and others fall behind, will healthcare technology Darwinism be at work?
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Study: Healthcare insurers are missing significant communication opportunities…
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareDespite the continual conversations and protests from payers and some health systems claiming their patients can't understand transparency with insurance plans and pricing, health plans have a member communication problem, a new study says. The J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study shows that this communication challenge is growing worse in light of COVID-19. While communication issues may not be mutually exclusive to pricing transparency, it seems there's a much bigger cultural issue.
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Sunshine: Nature’s free medicine for body, mind and spirit
Victoria Fann Medical & Allied HealthcareOver the years, sunshine has gotten a bad rap. The fear of ultraviolet rays leading to skin cancer has often resulted in people not getting enough exposure to the sun. This is unfortunate, because sunlight is one’s of nature’s greatest and most abundant gifts. Research has shown there are proven emotional, cognitive and overall health benefits linked to catching some rays. Because of this, many doctors are now adopting the viewpoint that the advantages of regular sun exposure (without sunscreen) may balance out and even outweigh the risks.
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Infographic: The psychology of isolation fatigue
Brian Wallace Mental HealthcareAmidst the COVID-19 pandemic, 2 in 3 Americans have felt anxious, depressed, lonely, or hopeless at least once a week. Panic buying was just the first step in dealing with the psychologically overwhelming nature of the pandemic. This infographic outlines the psychology to help us deal with these trying times as well as healthier ways to cope.
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Coronavirus restrictions are easing, but cautionary measures should not
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementPeople are eager to get back to their normal routines. Businesses are preparing for post-pandemic travel. Governments have begun easing coronavirus restrictions. Do you see the light at the end of the tunnel already? Possibly, but the pandemic is not over yet. So, please remain cautious even as stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.
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What we say in healthcare matters
Lisa Cole Medical & Allied HealthcareThe next time I teach a group of healthcare professionals, I think I'm going to sprinkle glitter on them. You know how hard it is to limit its reach — glitter ends up everywhere! This exercise would not be a lesson in germ transmission (although it sure could be). The purpose would be a visible reminder that our impact as providers spreads far and wide. I'd hone in on communication, that what we say matters. To ourselves, our colleagues and in our personal lives.
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Infighting continues over healthcare pricing transparency rule
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareThe healthcare price transparency argument continues. The latest battlefront came with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adding a new element to its policy, saying it plans to collect data on hospital median payer-specific negotiated rates. That information could be used to set Medicare payment rates. Hospitals immediately returned the volley. It’s not a new development that health systems and some payers loathe the idea of making their pricing models and negotiated rates public.
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