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Lead contamination in schools’ drinking water worse than previously…
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsLead contamination in U.S. schools is more pervasive than previously thought, new water testing results from 20 states say. The data was published in an interactive map by Environment America and U.S. PIRG in June. The map shows several other states where more than half of schools tested found some level of lead. These confirmed cases of contamination are likely only the tip of the iceberg, Environment America said in a statement.
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Medical-retail drugstore partnerships strengthen business, promote public…
Bill Becken RetailIn the last decade or so, some healthcare providers have partnered with retail drugstore chains like CVS and Walgreens to operate storefront health clinics. The clinics can deliver low-cost but high-quality care in a venue that is usually more convenient than a doctor's office. The clinics tend to be well-utilized, even if they offer only a relatively narrow set of authorized services for minor ailments. The clinics are open at times where the only alternative might be a hospital emergency room.
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Suicide rates increase with climate change-related heat
Michelle R. Matisons Mental HealthcareWe all complain when it gets too hot, whether it means running extra air conditioning, working outdoors during peak sun, or only having indoor fans for cooling off. Now, a new study links climate change’s impact on temperatures to suicide rates. It appears that something much more significant than discomfort is associated with soaring heat. To summarize, "authors predict that approximately 14,000 people in the U.S. — and as many as 26,000 — could die by suicide by the year 2050 if global temperatures continue rising, even after controlling for every other major variable that could affect suicide rates."
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New ways actors can benefit your doctors-in-training
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationYou're no doubt familiar with "standardized patients" — professional actors who role-play with medical students and residents to simulate real-life patient interactions. Often, these interactive experiences teach doctors-in-training how to handle basic communication situations, such as how to prescribe medication or explain a diagnosis. New research initiatives, however, are greatly expanding the knowledge medical students and residents can glean from working with actors, leading to more emotional insight when they work with real patients, as well as better effectiveness at sharing medical information with those real patients.
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How to provide more transparency for patients at your practice
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationEvery primary care physician knows this undeniable truth: patients today are more informed about their health than ever (which is a very good thing). Thanks to information about vital concerns like medical conditions, insurance and billing that they can read about on the web, many patients aren't shy about wanting you, as their doctor, to allow them as much access to their care and records as possible. Read on to find out the right ways to provide more transparency for your patients, while respecting the rules of your healthcare organization, and relevant laws as well.
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Massachusetts passes new law to combat opioid abuse
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalOn July 19, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a new package of legislation aimed to combat the persistent problem of opioid addiction, abuse and overdose in the state. Referred to as the "CARE Act" (an act for prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addiction), this 50-page, 97-section, piece of legislation hopes to address an issue that is said to be taking the lives of five people per day in Massachusetts. As a Massachusetts pharmacist myself, I’m encouraged to see that this issue remains a high priority.
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Tech titans stake claims in healthcare arena
Joan Spitrey Medical & Allied HealthcareWhen names like Google, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft exert their forces, entire industries are changed and transformed. With nearly $3.5 trillion spent in healthcare and rising, it should be no surprise that these titans of modern industry would want to get in on the action. As more patients need to be cared for from our aging baby boomer generation, cost-containment solutions are coming from the tech world.
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Action vs. nonaction in healthcare
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareIn any situation we encounter, the choice to act or not act is almost always there. Do we help the little old lady cross the street or not? Healthcare, medicine, and nursing are built upon action: we jump into the fray, we take decisive action, and we save lives. But what does it mean when an organization chooses not to act? What are the repercussions when a hospital, surgical center, or other healthcare facility makes a choice to do nothing, even when the consequences could be dire?
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Summertime seasonal affective disorder is rare, but real
Tammy Gibson Mental HealthcareSummer is a time for beach trips, catching some rays at the pool and months of carefree fun in the sun, right? Actually, for a small percentage of people, the warmer months of the year are the hardest. People who feel down during summer’s longer days may be experiencing summertime seasonal affective disorder, or reverse SAD. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, summer-onset depression is rare, affecting just 10 percent of all SAD cases.
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New study: Intravenous alteplase may not be necessary for mild stroke
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareThe results of a new study, published in the July 10 edition of JAMA, suggest alteplase may not be necessary for stroke patients who do not demonstrate disabling deficits upon presentation. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association, with approximately 795,000 people experiencing a stroke every year. Drug treatment involving intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase is the mainstay of treatment for acute ischemic strokes (AIS).
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