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Back it up: Let your death inform your life
Lisa Cole Mental HealthcareWe've all heard about "bucket lists." You’ve probably got your own. It may include ideas about what we want to see and do and where we want to go before we die. These lists are great — I have a few of my own. Let's dive a bit deeper, though, and stretch even further. Go straight to your death now. How you wish to be remembered may change how you live your life. Here are five strategies to get you started.
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Bringing mindfulness into the classroom
Brian Stack and Erica Stack EducationImagine arriving home from work each day and being confronted with tasks to complete as soon as you walk through the door. As adults, we typically have a little bit of time to "decompress" after a long day. Now more than ever, in a society where we are expected to be executing one task while simultaneously thinking of the next one, we as adults need time to be mindful. Children are rarely afforded these mindful opportunities, and that needs to change. They often sit on a loud bus, enter their classroom, and are expected to get right to their morning work.
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Historic inmate commutation in Oklahoma calls for new approach after release
Michelle R. Matisons Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityEarly November saw conservative Oklahoma release 462 people serving sentences for non-violent and drug offenses in the largest commutation in U.S. history. This is a case study, if you will. These former inmates are now working residents, sharing demands with people in the working class: fair wages; the right to unionize; affordable housing/healthcare/child care; quality public education/scholarships; and continuity of safety-net services, among others. There are competing visions of prison reform that render post-release obstacles part of a fledgling "release/rehabilitation state-industrial complex" of sorts.
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Anti-inflammatory agents for major depression: Results of a pooled data…
Dorothy L. Tengler Mental HealthcareMajor depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. An estimated 65% of those with depression received combined care by a health professional and medication treatment. According to a pooled analysis, anti-inflammatories, such as aspirin/paracetamol, statins, and antibiotics can safely and effectively control or limit the symptoms of major depression. The effects of these agents are even stronger when added to standard antidepressant treatment.
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The successful healthcare career toolbox
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareLike any career, forging a way forward in the world of healthcare takes diligence, planning, and nurturing of your goals. For those interested in achieving their career objectives, the contents of your career-building toolbox should not be overlooked. For the healthcare professional, some essential building blocks are the resume or CV, cover letter, business card, and complete LinkedIn profile. There are others, but most everyone will agree that these are absolutely necessary.
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Survey: Healthcare communication is stuck in the past
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationHealthcare communication issues are a thing of the present, not the past. Communication remains fragmented, with many healthcare organizations remaining reliant on landline phones, fax machines, and pagers. Furthermore, the adoption of modern communication technology is often happening in silos. These findings are from technology company TigerConnect in its annual State of Healthcare Communications report, a survey of healthcare leaders and patients detailing the pervasive challenges in healthcare communications.
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5 ways to update your IT to protect patient safety
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationAs a hospital administrator, you always want to make sure that your IT is keeping complete pace with crucial services your patients need. Keeping on top of these tasks can be time-consuming, however, and you can't always immediately identify innovative ways to employ new technology. But you can update your IT strategies with your team using the following science-driven info, and your patient safety goals will be met more effectively than ever.
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Today’s trends in family caregiving
Amanda Ghosh Medical & Allied HealthcareCommunity and family caregiving can be overlooked. Yet, they are vital components of our healthcare system. The number of seniors requiring care is ballooning, and the availability of caregivers is shrinking. Caregiving is becoming increasingly complex, but more elderly individuals are providing care instead of receiving it. The list goes on and on. So, this November — National Family Caregivers Month — let’s reflect on what’s happening in family caregiving.
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The undeniable health benefits of writing
Victoria Fann Mental HealthcareI've been writing most of my adult life. I've been working with writers as a group facilitator and teacher for 30 years. In my experience, I can assert with confidence that writing changes lives. Studies have shown that writing has many health benefits. According to researcher and professor James Pennebaker, co-author of the book, "Opening Up by Writing it Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain," writing about life's challenges helps us heal physically and emotionally.
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Study: Patients aren’t accessing medical information online
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationPatients are not accessing their medical records online, according to recent research published in Health Affairs. Hospitals that are part of a more extensive system saw their patients engage more with online records. That was also the case for teaching and public hospitals, the research says. But the lowest access rates were for people at hospitals receiving the most in disproportionate share hospital payments and those with a high mix of dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid patients.
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