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After national legalization of marijuana, Canadian agency studies human…

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Civil & Government

Marijuana became legal in Canada in October 2018. Like many states in the U.S., government officials are struggling with how to manage, measure and understand both legal and illegal use of cannabis. This is where the study of human excrement comes in. Sewage in several municipalities will be studied to gain knowledge of cannabis use. Statistics Canada will use a process referred to as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to estimate cannabis use by the general public in several Canadian municipalities.

Help your pediatric patients beat dental fear

Lisa Mulcahy Oral & Dental Healthcare

As a dentist, you understand that many of your patients have anxiety over visiting your office, of course. Yet what may be a simple case of nerves for an adult can be full-blown terror for a child who fears visiting your office. You want your young patients to get the care they need without seeing you as the bogeyman or woman — so how can you quell their fear? Science has your back. Try these easy, research-driven tips to help your pediatric patients feel comfortable — and even look forward to — their next appointments.

Study: Caregivers aren’t putting patient-reported symptoms into EHRs

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

When it comes to getting more good news into the electronic health record case file, the following story is not among them if the source and the research are to be believed. The following might also fall at the feet of providers, who may be at the heart of this hairy tale. Per the findings of a recent study published in the December issue of the peer-reviewed journal Quality of Life Research, primary care physicians "do not routinely put patient-reported symptoms regarding sleep, pain, anxiety, depression and low energy or fatigue into electronic health record systems."

States begin to mandate mental health education

Bambi Majumdar Education

Experts state that an overwhelming majority of our youth who commit suicide, over 90 percent, suffer from depression or other diagnosable forms of mental illness. Students who have some kind of mental illness are less likely to succeed in school as well. With such ominous statistics staring us in the face, it is high time we have straight talk with our children about mental health. New York and Virginia have become the first states to mandate that schools include mental health education in their curriculums. It is a step in the right direction, and other states should follow suit.

Top 5 perks of being a physical therapist

Heidi Dawson Sports & Fitness

Some people are fortunate enough to love their jobs. I think that most physical therapists would fall into this category. We are in a great line of work, for many reasons. Around this time of year, it is important to reflect, be thankful and look forward to what’s to come, so I thought I would write a little lighthearted post to celebrate being a PT!

Breakthrough in food poisoning research could save lives

Tammy Hinojos Food & Beverage

Don’t eat the flavor-blasted Goldfish crackers. Um, or the romaine lettuce. Put down the peanut butter. Oh and remember when we had to stop eating Blue Bell Ice Cream that one summer? Heaven help us. Food poisoning is no joke. One of the most common causes of food poisoning is a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, a nasty little sucker that secretes the toxins that cause vomiting and diarrhea. A team of researchers at the Australian National University has made an important discovery about how Bacillus cereus works that could help save the lives of patients with serious bacterial infections, particularly those suffering from food poisoning.

Do patients lie to their physicians? Results of an eye-opening survey

Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied Healthcare

In the delicate doctor-patient relationship, not telling the truth to patients requires special attention because patients can suffer serious harm if lied to by their physicians. Not only is patient autonomy undermined, but patients who are not told the truth may experience a loss of trust, and trust is essential for healing. Similarly, patient failure to disclose medically relevant information to their physicians can undermine patient care or even lead to patient harm. A recent survey showed that patients commonly withhold medically relevant information from their clinicians, a pattern that may adversely affect the quality of patient care.

VA, T-Mobile partner as government expands its telehealth efforts

Scott E. Rupp Civil & Government

Mobile phone service provider T-Mobile has announced plans to provide 70,000 lines of wireless service to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in an effort to ensure that every VA location has a connection for telehealth services to veterans. According to a release issued by the company, military veterans drive "an average of 25 to 50 miles for healthcare visits today." Through its partnership, the VA healthcare system is attempting to create better, more efficient connections between patients and their provider.

Stoking the healthcare leadership succession pipeline

Keith Carlson Medical & Allied Healthcare

In healthcare and other industries, keeping the succession pipeline filled is essential to organizational success and longevity. Healthcare institutions must bear in mind that a valued leader can retire, quit, be let go, or become ill or disabled at any time; thus, being ready for changes in leadership is both prudent and forward-thinking. In this particular endeavor, a proactive strategy is much preferable to a reactive one. If we accept the necessity of keeping the succession pipeline stoked, what are steps that a thoughtful healthcare facility can take in order to assure relatively seamless transitions of power and leadership at pivotal times?

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

It is a message that needs to repeatedly loudly and often: do not drive impaired. The holiday season is a time where there are frequent preventable tragedies due to impaired driving. For that reason, December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. On average, 29 people in the United States die each day in motor vehicle crashes that involve the use of alcohol. Every year, more than 10,000 lives are lost to drunk driving at a cost of $44 billion.

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