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Podcast: The 7 most dangerous words in healthcare

Keith Carlson Medical & Allied Healthcare

What are the seven most dangerous words in healthcare? In my universe, those seven words are "that’s the way we’ve always done it." Who are the people who resist change? They’re the ones who generally aren’t natural intrapreneurs or leaders. They’re more likely to be the people who just do their work and go home, with little investment in their careers or jobs. Such individuals may also be fearful of technology, which one would think is a stark difference between generations, but that’s not always the case — resistance can come from any nurse from any generation.

Is it time to put ‘senior living’ out to pasture?

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Back in the day, when you reached a certain age and had no one to care for you, you’d be sent to the "old folks’ home" to live out your remaining years. Then, "retirement villages" came along, replacing the stigma of the old folks’ home. Over time, these age-restricted communities have evolved into today’s "senior living" model, offering a wide range of activities, support services, and a continuum of elder care, often in a residential-like setting. Several reports released this year suggest, however, that the concept of "senior living" may have run its course, too.

Controlling hypertension: Do electronic pill bottles and text messaging…

Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied Healthcare

Only half of the 77.9 million adults in the United States with high blood pressure have their condition under control. By 2030, it is estimated that the prevalence of hypertension will increase 7.2% from 2013 estimates. A major factor in uncontrolled hypertension is patients’ failure to consistently take their medications. Researchers from Penn Medicine tested new tactics, including text messaging and remote monitoring via an electronic pill bottle to test adherence.

The blessing and burden of caregiving

Lisa Cole Medical & Allied Healthcare

Beyond the breathless years of raising "typical" children, many of us find ourselves again in caregiving roles. What do we do when those we love won't die, grow up or leave and we must care for them? Some of us see caring for another as a burden; others see it as a blessing. Often, it's both. The attitude one takes may be culturally influenced. Living in Tanzania, I found older people there to be universally revered. The idea of putting a parent in a skilled nursing home was foreign to Tanzanians — there aren't any!

CBD: Beyond the hype

Victoria Fann Retail

Is CBD going mainstream? It sure appears that way. I live in the Western North Carolina mountains near Asheville, and CBD seems to be everywhere. Every time I turn around, I see another store selling some form of the beloved remedy. In the midst of all the buzz and media frenzy, many of us are wondering: Is there really something to CBD? Or is it just the latest health craze that, like lots of fad diets and quick-fix remedies, will come and go?

5 ways to improve your pediatric patients’ hospital experience

Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied Healthcare

As a hospital administrator, you know your pediatric patients have much different emotional and physical needs than their adult counterparts. But even though you think you're working effectively to address those needs, you may miss the mark. It's key to encourage kids and their families to express what they want and need from your staff during a hospital stay — but it's also key to anticipate what they will make them feel comfortable, too. Use this research-driven advice to ace the task and earn high patient satisfaction marks.

New protocol triples storage time for donated livers

Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied Healthcare

A three-step approach to the organ preservation process promises to help physicians store donated livers for hours longer than before. To this point, donated livers must be transplanted within nine hours of harvest. A varied protocol means livers may be viable for up to 27 hours. In previous studies, rat livers were preserved using a supercooling method that included a modified glucose compound. The combination prevented ice crystals from growing on the livers. However, when the process was replicated for human livers, it didn't work.

Infographic: Is nanotechnology the future of medicine?

Brian Wallace Pharmaceutical

Nanotechnology has been used in medicine since 2001, but it's now being developed into something bigger. Ingestible capsules containing sensors, cameras, and more are already changing the face of medicine. By 2024, the global market for nanotech will exceed $125 billion. However, there are some ethical concerns about this futuristic field, and public sentiment is currently mixed regarding nanotech. This infographic outlines the advances in medical nanotechnology as well as where the industry is headed.

Deadliest, most common cancers get the least attention

Karen Selby Medical & Allied Healthcare

Cancer is one of the top five leading causes of death in the U.S. The American Cancer Society estimates 1.7 million new cases will be diagnosed and more than 600,000 people will die of the disease in 2019. Americans across the nation are responding to these alarming numbers, but the public and the federal government are focusing their concerns — and donations — on cancers getting the most publicity, not the ones killing the most people.

Worldwide antibiotic resistance in farm animals is on the rise

Scott E. Rupp Food & Beverage

As worldwide demand grows for products delivered through animal husbandry, the industry has increasingly become more reliant upon antimicrobials to treat and prevent infections for animals raised in crowded conditions. These drugs rapidly increase weight gain for quicker delivery of products to market, thereby improving profitability. The use of antimicrobials has several downstream impacts, including prolific advancement of bacteria resistant to these compounds, which is a severe problem showing increased signs around the world.

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