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5 ways to recruit the best nurses for your healthcare organization
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationMany hospitals and healthcare organizations are trying to cope with an ongoing nursing shortage — both through hiring and retention issues. As an administrator, you always want to make sure the very best nurses are working to produce the very best patient outcomes. So how can you get and keep the best professionals to perform nursing duties? Use the following research-driven tips to identify the nurses who will benefit your organization long-term.
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Perceptions of opioid policies and implications for pain treatment in older…
Christina Thielst PharmaceuticalPain management can be complex for the 66 million individuals in the United States experiencing acute pain and the 100 million suffering from chronic pain. Opioids successfully alleviate pain for many; however, morbidity and mortality rates are rising. State responses to this public health threat include the creation of prescription pain management policies. A University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging examined the views and experiences of adults aged 50 to 80 years on opioid prescribing and related policies.
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JAMA: Growing rural ED use putting strain on safety-net hospitals
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationSafety-net hospitals in the nation’s rural areas are strained and busier than their counterparts in urban areas, a new JAMA study reveals. This problem is further exacerbated by fewer physicians serving patients in these areas and generally worse health for rural residents. Rural hospitals also are constrained financially with "operating margins often too narrow to invest in upgrades to optimize care delivery." According to the JAMA study authors, emergency department use patterns provide a lens into the status of healthcare delivery in the communities they serve.
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Price transparency can be exciting
Dr. Jonathan Kaplan Healthcare AdministrationHealthcare providers worry about the advent of price transparency for many reasons. It could be the concern that patients will focus on cost rather than the doctor-patient relationship, or they worry their competitors will check their price points and try to undercut them. With various insurance plans and deductibles, it's considered too difficult to offer actionable pricing insights to the consumer. All of these concerns are understandable. But they're also surmountable, as detailed below.
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Staying young with RVing
Cindy Belt Recreation & LeisureWhen I go camping, I see many older people that are still active. We're hiking the trails, paddling rivers, and generally getting outside. I've realized that RVing helps people stay active and feeling young. Research has shown there are several methods to extend your life and keep your brain and body in the best condition. RVing provides the opportunity to experience these ways every day.
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Putting ‘human’ back in healthcare human resources
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareWhen we think of healthcare industry human resources departments, we may readily think of the processes of hiring and firing, the doling out of benefits packages, and other such responsibilities of HR professionals. In the worlds of healthcare, medicine, and nursing, employees can feel like so much cannon fodder when corporate interests appear to override the personal needs of individual staff members and the public whom they serve. Thus, we need to reevaluate the role of human resources and consider once again reasserting more of the "human" side into the mix.
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How to increase safety for your hospital’s outpatient procedures
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationOutpatient surgeries are becoming more and more common, even encompassing procedures like spinal fusion, retinal operations and total joint replacement. Hospitals and patients often prefer outpatient procedures because they lower costs and take less time than surgery might during a traditional hospital stay. Yet, safety must also be paramount. As a hospital administrator, it has be your first priority. Research has shown how specific outpatient procedure strategies can ensure great outcomes, so use the cutting-edge info in this article to evaluate and improve your facility's ambulatory care approach.
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5 surprising ways to create a more patient-friendly vibe at your practice
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationYou know that patient satisfaction is crucial. Because of this, you no doubt check all the standard boxes to keep people happy — you're flexible with appointment times, try not to make patients wait too long, and instruct your staff to be courteous. Cutting-edge research suggests that these steps may not be enough. Your patients can feel a lot more reassured, supported and comfortable if you make the effort to employ some unexpected — but incredibly effective — steps to create a more helpful, inclusive practice environment.
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Can patient-physician recordings be good for care?
Christina Thielst Healthcare AdministrationHistorically, healthcare administrators have been concerned about the risks of patients recording their conversations. Perhaps they should be more concerned about the risks of patients not having a recording of their physician or other caregiver. A recent article in Healthcare Executive examines the issue from an ethics perspective and looks at the benefits for the patient’s understanding of what is being communicated during an encounter. Patients or their family caregivers can replay sessions to clarify information they believe they have received, or simply to reassure themselves.
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ED visits rise, along with their costs for everyone
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareEmergency department visits increased by nearly 10 million patients in 2016 compared to 2015 data, according to a recent report the from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The total of 145.6 million visits is the highest number reported. Even with the total number of visits increasing, patients who used the ED for regular care decreased. Per the report, the percentage of emergency patients with nonurgent medical symptoms dropped from 5.5% to 4.3%.
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