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Considering giving up alcohol? You’re in good company
Victoria Fann Medical & Allied HealthcareFor years now, people have been abstaining from alcohol during the month of January. This trend follows the typical pattern of people wanting to focus on health after holiday indulgences and failed resolutions from the previous year. Once the month is over, many return to their previous habits. This year is different. Now, there is a major trend toward eliminating alcohol altogether. So, why now?
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Groupthink and healthcare: An unhealthy alliance
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareThe term "groupthink" has been in popular usage since the 1970s, and its applicability to the multibillion-dollar 21st-century healthcare industry could not be more salient than it is today. Initially coined in 1974 by Irving Janis, a professor of psychology at Yale University, it is defined by Yale Alumni Magazine as when "a group of intelligent people working together to solve a problem can sometimes arrive at the worst possible answer." Those firmly ensconced in the healthcare ecosystem can likely agree that groupthink plays a larger role than we would like to believe.
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Feeling the way to better acoustics
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesDozens, if not hundreds, of studies have demonstrated the negative impact noise has on occupants. Yet, even with advances in materials and technology, noise continues to be a major challenge to designing today’s interior environments. Perhaps the solution lies deeper than controlling for noise. It may have to do with how we respond emotionally to the sounds around us. Much of the controversy concerning noise in interior environments has followed from the widespread adoption of open-plan and active space layouts.
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Is your job affecting your sleep?
Terri Williams Medical & Allied HealthcareExperts recommend seven to nine hours of sleep nightly. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, not getting enough sleep could negatively impact your immune system. That's in addition to other sleep-deprivation issues, such as a lack of focus and productivity. But even if you sleep the recommended number of hours each night, you may not be getting "good" sleep, especially if you're dreaming about work. A study by Healthy Sleep reveals that 79% of people have work-related dreams.
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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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How I moved on after being discriminated against because of my learning…
Amy Temple EducationA few weeks ago, I applied for a job as a freelance proofreader for a proofreading company. Before I go on, let me say that I am experienced in this field. I recently proofread "My Heart Speaks," a book of poetry written by Ernest Roberson Sr. I participated in the Business Professionals of America's district contest in high school, where I placed in the top 10 of the administrative assisting and proofreading/editing competitions. So, I didn't go into this opportunity totally blind. I was sent a sample essay to proofread — obviously to show my skills — and I honestly thought I did pretty well.
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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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Officers pair with crisis prevention teams to protect, serve better
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecuritySince 1991, New Haven, Connecticut, has pioneered police partnerships with mental health workers in its innovative Child Development-Community Policing (CD-CP) program. Now, the city of St. Louis is following New Haven’s lead with its Mobile Crisis Prevention Team. The team pairs St. Louis cops with volunteer community health workers to provide victims and others affected by crime with access to help. They focus on the social issues and environmental conditions that affect individuals. This way, they can address core concerns and redirect individuals before they become further embroiled in crimes.
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10 health hacks for 2020
Victoria Fann Medical & Allied HealthcareA new year is upon us and with it typically comes the desire to get healthy. Here are some health hacks to give your healthy resolutions a jump-start! For example, if sitting is the new smoking, then it's essential to find creative ways to move. Instead of setting aside time to stretch or move, double up! Stretch while waiting for your coffee to brew in the morning, take a 10-minute walk during your lunch break, do yoga while watching television or talking on the phone, dance while doing housework, etc.
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When the healthcare C-suite embraces the digital age
Keith Carlson Healthcare AdministrationIn the healthcare ecosystem, digital technologies have been gaining prevalence, market share, and clinical applicability for years. In the 21st century, the ubiquity of these innovative advancements is increasing. On the leadership front, many health systems have been lagging behind in terms of bringing the digital age into the C-suite, but that calculus now seems to be irrevocably changing.
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