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CDC issues new recommendations for treating pediatric mild traumatic brain…
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareEpidemiological data indicate a market increase in the number of emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) over the past decade, yet there are no evidence-based guidelines for diagnosing and managing these concussions. To address this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now established the Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Guideline Workgroup. Children made nearly 3 million visits to the ED and more than 2 million outpatient visits for mTBI from 2005 to 2009. Because many patients seek treatment at a variety of settings, including in their schools, the actual number of mild TBIs cases in children is difficult to assess.
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First of its kind: Housing for homeless vets at the Cabin in the Woods…
Miranda Y. Brumbaugh Civil & GovernmentOne of the most concerning issues for military veterans is homelessness. Whether vets are struggling with mental health issues or simply don’t have the funds for a home, one state is offering a solution. The Togus Veterans Administration Medical Center in Chelsea, Maine, has recently opened the Cabin in the Woods project. Thanks to this new project, 21 veterans now have their very own home. However, this initiative is dedicated to providing homeless veterans in Maine more than just a home.
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HIV/AIDS program cuts to pay for immigrant child detentions
Michelle R. Matisons Civil & GovernmentAmidst the news about the controversial practice of locking up immigrant children whose parents are not U.S. citizens is the looming question of who will pay for these detentions. Corrections facilities already face overcrowding and harsh conditions, and now we are seeing how the Trump administration plans to pay for all this: shifting funds from programs essential to some Americans’ lives, including HIV/AIDS programs. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides myriad social service programs and also pays for the more than 13,000 children held in U.S. immigration detention facilities.
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Study shows prevalence of e-cigarette cannabis use among US youth
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied HealthcareThe results of a study that estimated the prevalence nationally of marijuana use with electronic cigarettes among middle and high school students in the United States were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics. Close to 9 percent of the more than 20,000 youths between the ages of 9 and 19 in the study reported having used marijuana in vaped form in 2016. This is approximately 1 in every 11 youths.
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Per-employee healthcare costs to rise in 2019, but not as much as this…
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationAs expected, employee health plan costs are likely to rise again, even if only marginally, by an estimated 4.1 percent in 2019, according to new research by the Mercer National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans. The rise is actually slightly less than that of 2018, which has grown by as much as 4.2 percent. Mercer says the rise this year has fallen significantly from highs of 6.5 percent in years' past. While past years' increases have been substantial, the rises in premiums also were accompanied by common employer cost-control tactics.
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Strategies to help your nurses provide safer patient care
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationRNs are the backbone that makes every care team in your hospital run like clockwork. Yet these caregivers are often unsung heroes and heroines as well — they routinely work beyond their physical and emotional limits for the good of their patients, and do so without complaint. As a hospital administrator, however, it's crucial to realize that the more essential support you provide your RNs with, the sharper they'll be when it comes to caring for every patient — improving health outcomes across the board. Employ these proven points to help your nurses accomplish their best work every day.
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Visibility as a path to healthcare career success
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareBeing visible is a key to success that the savviest healthcare professionals adopt as their modus operandi. Visibility is multifaceted, occurring both within and outside your workplace, and the potential impact on your career trajectory is often woefully overlooked. Visibility within your place of employment creates new opportunities since those with influence may more readily take notice of your contributions. It also creates circumstances wherein you can leverage what you accomplish in your current position to curry favor with future employers.
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New Census data shows uninsured rate remains unchanged
Seth Sandronsky Medical & Allied HealthcareWhat has happened to the rate of insured Americans after a year of the GOP-controlled Congress trying to end the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare? The number of uninsured Americans has remained statistically unchanged, 28.5 million at any time in 2017 versus 28.1 million in 2016, or 8.8 percent of the populace both years, according to Census Bureau data released on Sept. 12. The uninsured rate was 13.3 percent in 2014, when most major provisions of the ACA began, the Census reported.
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Could ketamine help reduce opioid use in emergency rooms?
Tammy Hinojos Medical & Allied HealthcareAs opioid abuse continues to make headlines across the nation, medical researchers are busy looking at different, safer ways to treat patients who present with acute pain. A recent study in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine compares the analgesic effect of the drug ketamine to opioids in an emergency room setting. The conclusion? Ketamine could be a useful, safe alternative in many cases.
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Effective strategies to stop workplace bullying
Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementMany managers aren't aware of how pervasive the problem of workplace bullying is today. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, one in every 20 employees faces disrespectful behavior, most often from co-workers or direct supervisors, on the job. Bullying can take many forms, from humiliation, to offensive remarks, shouting, scapegoating, excluding an employee from group activities, and gossiping about that employee. What can you do to prevent bullying from happening in your organization — or stop the behavior in its tracks if you find it occurring?
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