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More than 300 healthcare groups encourage Congress to maintain telehealth…
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareIn a step that's reminiscent of the old adage, "We're mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore," American healthcare organizations and lobbying groups are warning Congress not to cut off current reimbursements for care offered through telehealth capabilities, which have exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter was sent to Congress’ leaders from 340 groups and organizations, including some of the most well-known in the country. These groups are concerned that Congress will roll back telehealth's gains when the public health emergency ends.
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Study: ED clinicians hesitant to prescribe buprenorphine for treating opioid…
Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied HealthcareDespite the fact that 2 million Americans are diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) each year, evidence-based medications aren't often prescribed, especially in the ED setting. It's estimated that only a third of those diagnosed with OUD are given methadone, buprenorphine/naloxone or naltrexone for substance abuse treatment. A new study from Yale University seems to confirm that assumption. Researchers surveyed some 400 clinicians at four urban academic emergency departments.
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When COVID-19 remains front and center
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareDuring the first half of 2020, prognostications regarding the course that the COVID-19 pandemic would take were as diverse as the individuals, countries, and organizations debating what might truly come to pass. The pandemic has remained front and center on the world stage as economies teeter on the brink, millions are sickened, and thousands continue to die. Even so, the possible outcomes for one of the most challenging times in recent human history remain beyond accurate prediction.
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Will the ‘beat China’ bill help the US win back pharmaceutical…
Bambi Majumdar ManufacturingThere has been a staggering 75% increase in U.S. imports of pharmaceuticals from China from 2010 to 2018. To help reverse this trend, some GOP U.S. Senators recently unveiled a bill to incentivize pharmaceutical companies and increase U.S. drug manufacturing. They worked to introduce the Bring Entrepreneurial Advancements to Consumers Here in North America (BEAT CHINA) Act. The goal is to reduce the country’s overdependence on China for critical medications and increase U.S. manufacturing of prescription drugs.
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Data shows cancer patients forego preventative care, use EDs more often
Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied HealthcareCancer patients with financial hardships are more likely to forego preventative care and are therefore more likely to seek care for pain, urinary tract infections, respiratory distress and other ailments in an emergency department. That's the result of a data analysis of more than 10,000 cancer survivors who responded to the National Health Interview Survey. While most of those who participated in the study had some form of health insurance, patients struggle to pay coinsurance, deductibles, copayments, and other out-of-pocket expenses, lead author Jason Zheng, Ph.D., said.
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Study: How doctors can identify the kinds of stress patients are dealing…
Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied HealthcareAs a healthcare professional, you know the abrupt and traumatic physical impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on your patient population. The life-changing emotional ramifications for those patients are much harder to assess for your organization but are no less important to address. A new study can help your doctors determine which stressors are causing your patients the most difficulty so action can be taken to help them get relief quickly and effectively.
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COVID-19 and national responses, part 2 of 2: The United States and around…
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareAs the summer of 2020 begins, the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of abating. In fact, as many economies open up, spikes in infections are on the rise. While some attribute this phenomenon to increased testing, others also point to increased community transmission. Now that we find ourselves on the brink of six months of this global battle, what can we say about the pandemic response in the bigger picture?
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As close as your own breath: A simple — and free — way to improve your…
Victoria Fann Medical & Allied HealthcareWe breathe approximately 25,000 times a day, and 30-50% of us are doing it improperly. Almost as many of us have respiratory issues and illnesses that affect our sleep, brain function and overall health. How could this be? Breathing happens in the body automatically without us having to think about it. That’s exactly the problem. Most of us are not conscious about this essential bodily function.
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Social media madness: Why distraction and discourtesy alienate us all
Lisa Cole Mental HealthcareIs anyone else feeling as disconnected as I am in this world of hyper-connection? Nobody seems to be listening anymore — even my dear friends stop in mid-sentence when their phone pings. While responding back to whoever just usurped our conversation, they say they can still listen. It doesn't feel like that to me, though. They don't look at me and we never get back to where we left off before the interruption. Something clearly has shifted.
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Care specialties most affected by COVID-19 revealed
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareAs COVID-19 continues to ravage the U.S. healthcare system, reaching its viral hands into nearly every specialty, some are reeling more than others, a new study points out. The study, published in mid-June by FAIR Health, estimated the drop in healthcare utilization for nonhospital providers. As expected, elective procedures have cratered. To that end, oral surgery experienced the most significant reduction in usage in March 2020, declining 80% compared to a similar period in 2019. Gastroenterology was the second largest decline, with a 73% drop in March and a 77% decline in April.
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