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Dentists are getting busier

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

It looks like more people are taking care of their pearly whites, according to recent findings. The American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute reported that more than a third of dentists experienced an increase in patient volume in 2017 compared to 2016. But if you’re a patient, you may wait a little longer to be seen. HPI also found that the average wait times for appointments are trending in the same direction, increasing from 4.5 days in 2012 to 5.4 days in 2017 for patients of record and from 5.3 days to 7 for new patients.

Take an overview of your hospital’s discharge protocol

Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare Administration

You undoubtedly know how important it is for patients to be discharged promptly and safely at your hospital — but at so many facilities today, making that happen is a challenge. Time constraints, confusion during handoffs, and a lack of patient post-care awareness can make discharges unsuccessful and can lead to readmissions, or a worst-case scenario, patient mortality. Use a focused approach to evaluate how well your discharge system is working, and make necessary changes using this research-based information.

Primary care physician visits drop among patients with employer plans

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

People with an employer-sponsored health plan tend to visit their primary care physician (PCPs) less than those people without, but those with work-sponsored insurance are more commonly seeing nurse practitioners and physician assistants than earlier this decade, according to a new Health Care Cost Institute report. Per the report, researchers said they found an 18 percent decrease in PCP office visits between 2012 and 2016; however, there was a correlating 14 percent increase in office visits for all providers. All of this new data suggests that non-PCPs are seeing more patients than their PCP counterparts for their care.

Pharmacists well-positioned to support individuals living with dementia

Sheilamary Koch Pharmaceutical

Each year 7.7 million new cases of dementia are diagnosed worldwide. In the United States alone, age-related dementia affects at least 5 million people — a number expected to rise in upcoming years as life expectancy increases and more baby boomers age. The high percentage of the population affected — around 1 in every 6 people aged 80 years and older — makes dementia something that medical professionals across all sectors will undoubtedly encounter. Healthcare professionals and pharmacists who are person-centered in their approach will be able to provide much more effective care for this growing population.

8 tips to avoid hotel hygiene horrors

Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

In most hotels, a housekeeper only has 30-40 minutes to clean a checkout room, where the linens must be changed and straightened; the bathtub, toilet, and sinks must be cleaned and sanitized; the floor must be mopped, and the carpet must be vacuumed. While every traveler wants to stay in a clean hotel room, the fact is not all hotel rooms are cleaned thoroughly. Last week, a video about some housekeepers’ unsanitary cleaning practices recorded in 14 luxury hotels in China went viral on social media.

Study refutes effectiveness of drug combination for treatment-resistant…

Dorothy L. Tengler Mental Healthcare

Many treatment options are available for depression, but how well treatment works depends on the type of depression and its severity. Antidepressants take time — usually 2 to 4 weeks — to work, and often, symptoms such as sleep, appetite, and concentration problems improve before mood lifts. However, despite advances in understanding the psychopharmacology and biomarkers of major depression and the introduction of several novel classes of antidepressants, only 60 to 70 percent of patients with depression respond to antidepressant therapy.

Strength training comes out on top over cardio for heart health

Tammy Hinojos Sports & Fitness

It has long been accepted and taught that regular cardiovascular workouts are good for cardiovascular health. And they are. But a new study asserts that regular strength training is even better for your heart than more aerobic activities like walking and cycling. A survey of 4,000 adults revealed that static activity, such as strength training, had stronger links to reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases than dynamic activity, such as walking and cycling. But before you tell your patients to hang up their walking shoes and park their bikes in favor of free weights and dumbbells, keep reading.

Healthcare’s crucial human capital

Keith Carlson Medical & Allied Healthcare

The healthcare system runs on people power. From nurses and physicians to food service and housekeeping, the hearts, minds, and hands of real people are the engines behind many aspects of healthcare delivery and organizational infrastructure. As the use of artificial intelligence and robotics increase, how we approach the management of human resources will say a great deal about our values, workplace culture, and the healthcare industry writ large.

New ways to help patients with chronic conditions

Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied Healthcare

As a physician, bringing relief to patients with chronic conditions, which include everything from diabetes to high blood pressure to arthritis and more, is a top priority. Yet aside from prescribing the proper medication and charting your patients' progress through appointments, there are a number of strategies you can employ to make them feel better on a daily basis. These strategies are low-tech, easy to implement and follow, and can make a huge difference in terms of quality of life, according to recent scientific research. Try these proven tips.

Study: Controlling blood pressure with blue light shows promising results

Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied Healthcare

About 75 million American adults (32 percent) have high blood pressure — that’s 1 in every 3 adults — and 1 in 3 adults has prehypertension. High blood pressure costs the nation $48.6 billion each year, a cost that includes healthcare services, medications, and missed days of work. A new study suggests that blue light can reduce blood pressure. Blue light increases levels of nitric oxide, an important signaling molecular that protects the cardiovascular system.

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