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Tighter opioid laws may not work
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalMore restrictive laws surrounding opioid prescriptions do not always have the results they intended. That appears to be the conclusion of a study published recently in a JAMA Surgery article dated Aug. 22. The study focused on the impact of the October 2014 change of hydrocodone products from Schedule III to Schedule II. The law intended to reduce the total quantity of hydrocodone prescribing, and it did. The number of hydrocodone products (HCP) prescribed across the nation declined significantly. But the recent study noted that the schedule change appears to have resulted in a slight increase in the amount of opioids prescribed initially.
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New strategies to facilitate patient advocacy at your hospital
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationAs a hospital administrator, your goal is to help your patients become as empowered and informed about their health decisions as possible. Yet, you're no doubt familiar with the very common problem of patients having difficulty advocating for themselves. They may feel intimidated in a healthcare setting, so they don't speak up about what they want. Patient advocacy is the obvious solution to the problem — but many healthcare organizations aren't tapping into all of its potential.
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Hospital execs prepare to raise salaries to fight staff shortages
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationHospitals and health systems are continuing to experience shortages of physicians, nurses and even mental health providers, which may be a challenge in regard to reducing labor costs, per Navigant analysis conducted by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). Because of potential shortages of these positions, hospitals are projecting higher labor budgets for the coming year, and these same hospital leaders anticipate needing to offer increased compensation to fill these roles.
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New study blames 3 factors for rapidly increasing physician burnout
Lynn Hetzler Healthcare AdministrationPhysician burnout is a serious problem, for both providers and for patients. In fact, 83 percent of respondents to an April 2018 survey said that burnout was a moderate or serious problem for many clinicians and clinical leaders in their organization. Burnout among physicians has already reached epidemic proportions, and the percentage of physicians experiencing symptoms of burnout is growing, according to a new paper written by University of California, Riverside School of Medicine doctors.
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Research documents surprising benefits of prenatal supplements
Sheilamary Koch PharmaceuticalRecently published findings from two international follow-up studies show that offspring development may be greatly affected by the vitamin supplements their mothers took when pregnant. This research is likely to open the door to further studies in the area of prenatal supplementation and could eventually influence the vitamins prescribed to pregnant women. In one of the studies, adolescents whose mothers received multiple micronutrient supplements during pregnancy showed notably higher intellectual development than the offspring of women who took folic acid, according to Chinese researchers.
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Marijuana breathalyzer technology remains elusive, despite progress
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityCurrently, there are no roadside breath tests when marijuana-influenced driving impairment is suspected. Canada recently approved use of a roadside test using saliva, but a sensitive test using breath has yet to be available. Dr. Tara Lovestead, a research chemical engineer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S., described one of the problems with this goal, "Picture cutting a raisin into a trillion parts and trying to detect one of them."
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How to cut the stress at your practice
Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied HealthcareAs a physician, do you find yourself feeling depleted, exhausted, and isolated? You're not alone. A new Stanford University School of Medicine study found that at physicians' practices worldwide, the emotional and physical impact of managing daily workload is causing doctors more stress than ever. Out of 6,695 doctors surveyed by the researchers, 55 percent reported feeling burnt out. The good news: there are positive and concrete steps you can take to alleviate your stress, forge stronger bonds with your staff, colleagues and patients, and physically recover so you're refreshed to do your best work.
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New research focuses on link between hormones and migraines in women
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareThe three most common forms of pain treated in the United States are headache, backache, and metastatic pain or cancer pain. Headaches are a major reason why people miss work or school or visit a healthcare provider. Migraine headaches, which affect about 12 percent of Americans, involve moderate-to-severe throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. Migraines are three times more common in women than in men and may relate to changes in hormones and hormonal levels during their menstrual cycle.
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Electronic transactions may save Medicaid $4.8 billion annually
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationA new Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH CORE) report states that Medicaid could save more than $4.8 billion annually if they moved to fully electronic transactions. The California-based nonprofit also said more than half of Medicaid enrollees are in plans without electronic prior authorization. Only 44 percent of Medicaid recipients are in plans with automated claims processes. State agencies and health plans covering these enrollees have achieved some level of CORE Certification compared to 78 percent for commercial health plans and 75 percent for Medicare Advantage plans.
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Are happiness and a healthcare career mutually exclusive?
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareThose who have a good understanding of healthcare know that it is a stressful industry for doctors, nurses, and allied staff. From the rigors of education and loan repayment to the challenges of the 21st-century workplace, those who choose healthcare careers are at risk of losing their sense of balance and happiness. Must healthcare careers and personal happiness be mutually exclusive?
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