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Tips from frequent flyers, medical professionals on how to stay healthy

Catherine Iste Medical & Allied Healthcare

We have been on this planet for a really long time; yet somehow, we continue to find ways to rethink the basics of our existence. At any given moment, we can find a new trend addressing what, when and even how we should eat, sleep or exercise. However, there are some among us who seem to function quite successfully outside of the trends, remaining healthy and happy despite challenging work environments. To prepare for winter, here are a few tips from medical professionals and frequent flyers on how to stay healthy despite working in environments full of germs.

Survey: Patients who experience telehealth services are happy with them

Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied Healthcare

For those who use telehealth services, the results are quite good, a survey by J.D. Power shows. The satisfaction rate is about 85% — 851 on a 1,000-point scale — while almost half (46%) of all who participated in the survey gave telehealth services a score above 900. The survey included almost 8,300 consumers. In addition to their being happy with the service, they reported that it usually addressed their clinical issues; almost 85% of telehealth users said they resolved their medical problems as a result of their remote teleconsultation.

More advice from a learning-disabled individual

Amy Temple Education

For the past year, you have read about my experiences living with learning disabilities. I have shared moments of being bullied and harassed in school, and being discriminated against and rejected by family members, prospective employers and society as a whole because of my condition. I have described my feelings of anger and bitterness over the mistreatment, but I honestly felt so much worse than that. I didn't trust anyone. I'm sure I missed out on great opportunities and relationships because I was so afraid of getting hurt.

Survey: Prior authorization remains a pain for a huge majority in healthcare

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

A consensus has been reached in healthcare, and the crescendo of hatred for prior authorization is clear. Medical practice professionals are sick of the red tape associated with the practice of getting the OK from an insurer regarding a proposed course of treatment for a perhaps-stricken patient. The opposition's angst for the process is overwhelming. According to a Medical Group Management Association survey, medical practice leaders say they are frustrated with "red tape and reporting requirements." Eighty-six percent say regulatory burdens increased in the past 12 months.

Mindfulness: A potential lifeboat for middle school students?

Sheilamary Koch Education

Daniel was feeling anxious before an exam at school, but he paused and used the three breaths technique to get centered and settle his nerves before starting. When he got his test results, he seemed surprised — he’d expected a D or C but got a B — simply from being more grounded and calmer, shares Daniel’s instructor, mindfulness and emotional intelligence coach Janet Fouts. New evidence from two recent studies strengthens the argument in favor of mindfulness practice for young people. While earlier research has shown that mindfulness training has a positive effect on the adult brain, its impact on young developing brains was unknown — until now.

How to identify depression in the healthcare field and provide support

Amanda Ghosh Mental Healthcare

Medical professionals are at higher risk for depression given the difficulties in creating a healthy work-life balance, the stressors of the profession, and the emotional toll of caregiving. With National Depression Screening Day having just passed, now is the perfect time to assess your workplace for at-risk employees. Here are a few strategies to prevent and identify depression among healthcare workers.

Do we need smartphones in the classroom?

Bambi Majumdar Education

At an age where kids are completely digitally immersed, some Michigan schools have banned cellphones in the classroom, raising a lot of eyebrows in the process. In these districts, students are barred from carrying or using cellphones in class, in hallways, or even at lunch. It is a generational debate. Parents everywhere consider cellphones a considerable distraction for students. Students cannot live without them, and at these schools in Michigan, they are chafing at the loss of their phones.

How to help your dementia patients have a comfortable hospital experience

Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare Administration

As a hospital manager, you know how dementia patients in your facility often experience physical and emotional discomfort that seems difficult or impossible to ease. This is distressing to you, your doctors, your nurses, and, of course, to your patients’ families. To address these concerns, science has uncovered some innovative ways that hospital facilities can bring comfort to inpatients with dementia and make their stays less frightening, safer and more engaging. Implement the following research-driven advice at your organization to benefit everyone involved.

Infographic: Optimizing reputation management with AI

Brian Wallace Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Customers read the reviews, but it's not enough to have good reviews. Those reviews also have to be believable. Your company's online reputation can make or break your business, and your ratings even influence your ranking in searches. Increasing your company's ratings from three to five stars can increase your visibility on Google by up to 25%. Learn more with this infographic.

Study: Financial waste in healthcare remains significant

Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied Healthcare

Despite its reputation for saving things, healthcare can be a pretty wasteful environment. In fact, there’s so much excess that nearly a quarter or more of all the money in the sector gets wasted, a new study suggests. The sum of all waste is estimated to range from $760 billion to $935 billion, according to a recent report in JAMA. There’s a small sliver of good news: Things could be worse. The study authors suggest that the amount of waste was worse, by as much as 5%, in 2011.

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