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ONC outlines plans for health IT during the 2020s
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationFederal health IT officials have, for the first time, released a draft strategic plan that outlines their priorities for the first half of the 2020s. The focus appears to be on moving to a more patient-focused form of healthcare, with health data accessible through smartphone apps and application programming interfaces (APIs). Additionally, the plan is designed to help patients manage their health and shop for care, according to the Office for the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
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The return of whooping cough
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcarePertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. During the 1940s, before a vaccine was introduced, more than 200,000 cases of pertussis were reported annually. As a result of the pertussis vaccine, used since 2000, incidence has decreased more than 80%. The vaccine targets three antigens in the bacteria. However, despite vaccination, pertussis bacteria are becoming smarter at colonizing and feeding off unsuspecting hosts. Now, whooping cough is emerging as a superbug.
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FDA issues public safety notification after exosome treatment sickens patients…
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareLast month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public safety notification regarding exosome products following multiple reports of serious adverse effects experienced by patients in Nebraska who received treatment with unapproved products derived from placentas. Derived from endosomes and present in all body fluids, exosomes are a form of extracellular vesicle. Clinics administer exosome therapies through intravenous injection, inhalation, or injection into joints or soft tissue.
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A new study could lead doctors to use a common diabetes drug to treat many…
Lisa Mulcahy PharmaceuticalA brand-new study from the Salk Institute may change the way doctors treat their patients. A team of researchers looked at the second-most prescribed diabetes drug, metformin, to see the exact ways it controls blood sugar levels — information that has eluded doctors previously. As a result, the researchers think metformin could be used to target new cellular processes; therefore, a great number of patients dealing with other medical issues may benefit.
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Investigational HBOT indications: Inflammatory bowel disease
Eugene R. Worth Medical & Allied HealthcareIt is time for the third installment of diseases that are considered "off-label" for hyperbaric oxygen...yet, these diseases have some evidence supporting effectivity and plausible pathophysiology for HBOT use. This blog installment will cover inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Like our cardiac pre-conditioning blog, there will be a number of papers to consider. We are in luck because there are several "review articles" that have taken the literature to that point and reviewed or attempted to classify the research by effectivity.
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Study: Private hospital payment rates much higher than Medicare, Medicaid
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationRising healthcare costs be damned; the industry and federal regulators continue to attempt to reign in outlandish prices. But, according to a new study published in the journal Health Affairs, hospital payment rates to private insurance have grown much faster than to Medicare and Medicaid. Researchers reviewed payments for inpatient hospital stays, emergency department visits, and outpatient care from 1996 to 2016, finding private charges rose as much as five times the rate of Medicare during that period.
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New rules to aim to improve kidney disease care, increase number of organ…
Lynn Hetzler Healthcare AdministrationMore 113,000 Americans are on the waitlist for organs; about 20 die each day. The federal government recently proposed new rules to increase the availability of organs for those waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. The new rules focus on increasing use of organs donated after cardiac death (DCD) and on making it easier for the living to donate. The proposed rule change would also increase the number of kidney donations and revamp kidney care.
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Podcast: A multiclinic, multiemployee cash-based practice in record time
Jarod Carter Sports & FitnessBrenda Heinecke knew she wanted to be a physical therapist since high school. She envisioned a peds focus for her career, but once she landed her first job after PT school, she knew it wasn’t a good fit. While looking for another job, she started doing some in-home therapy — and continued that even after she took a full-time job. In this interview, she candidly shares the details of how she made her dream of owning a cash-based practice into a reality.
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FDA approves first Ebola vaccine for use in the US
Lynn Hetzler PharmaceuticalIn December, the Food & Drug Administration announced its approval of the first Ebola vaccine for use in the United States. Made by Merck, Ervebo (pronounced er-VEE-boh) is for the prevention of disease caused by infection with Zaire ebolavirus in people 18 years of age and older. The single-dose, live-attenuated vaccine, Ervebo does not protect against other species of Ebolavirus or Marburgvirus. The duration of protection conferred is unknown, as is the effectiveness of the vaccine when administered concurrently with blood or plasma transfusions, immune globulin (IG), and/or antiviral medications.
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Infographic: The surprising effects of business vs. leisure travel on your…
Kristen Klepac Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementWhether it's for business or leisure, travel is something of a status symbol regardless if it’s for work or play. Exploring new places, learning about new cultures and tasting new foods are all part of the fun. However, differences abound when we look at business vs. leisure travel, particularly in regard to personal health and well-being. 75% of business travelers report heightened levels of stress. On the contrary, a four-day vacation can actually negate the effects of perceived stress for up to 30 days.
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