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How to make more effective patient referrals
Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied HealthcareWhen it comes to sending a patient to the proper specialist for the right reasons, some doctors tend to over- or underperform. You never want to deny a patient the care he or she truly needs, but you also want to make sure you're not causing that patient undue stress or financial hardship for an unnecessary referral, either. Research into this topic has made it easier for doctors to decide the right course of action when it comes to appropriate referrals. Here's what you need to know.
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The patient experience: How you can know
Kent McAllister Healthcare AdministrationHow you can know. This is not a question; it is a statement. Albeit, it is the appropriate question to ask in most industries where any management discipline is applied. Let’s examine patient experience and how you can know what is actually happening from the patient’s perspective in your health system. There are serious challenges to measuring patient experience, and these challenges have recently taken on increased significance as the industry tide shifts.
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Heads-up: Repeated headers may lead to balance issues for young soccer…
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Sports & FitnessChanges in balance and gait can be an indication of incipient neurologic disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. But there is evidence that there can be subtle changes in balance, and thus concern about neurologic injury, in young adults who engage in sports that involve blows to the head. A study authored by Dr. John Jeka of the University of Delaware found that soccer players who moved the ball more often by heading it were more likely to have problems with balance than those players who did not.
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Controversial hospital policy targets opioid-addicted patients
Joan Spitrey Healthcare AdministrationAs the opioid crisis continues to hold the nation captive, some new, innovative approaches are being attempted to at least manage certain aspects of the crisis. The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) in Knoxville will now require patients admitted for medical treatments of drug-use-related infections to comply with new conduct rules. The goal is to create a safer environment for both patients and staff.
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Amazon purchases PillPack. What is that?
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalOnce again, Amazon has given healthcare a shake-up, this time with a reported $1 billion purchase of a prescription delivery service called PillPack that, frankly, many people had never heard of. PillPack? What is that? A Bloomberg article described PillPack as servicing a "narrow segment of patients." But with a reported 2017 revenue of $100 million, it seems to have done pretty well with a skinny slice of the prescription pie.
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New ways to improve patient satisfaction at your hospital
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationAs an administrator, there's no doubt that you're aware of the value good patient feedback has on your facility. Hearing and understanding what works and what doesn't is key in terms of adopting policies that will benefit future patients' physical and emotional comfort. Additionally, as patient satisfaction can determine Medicare reimbursement rates, it's imperative for your bottom line that the environment you provide is pleasant, safe and medically excellent.
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Hospital hiring makes big jump, but overall healthcare numbers still lower…
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareHealthcare saw another increase in the number of jobs added in June, and hospitals in particular experienced a plethora of new blood joining their ranks, up 71 percent from the previous month. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' newest jobs report, healthcare has added 309,000 jobs in the last 12 months. Hospitals hired 10,600 new professionals last month. Overall, the U.S. healthcare sector added 25,200 jobs in June, which was actually lower than the 28,900 jobs it added in May.
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For healthcare organizations, mission is everything
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareHealthcare organizations are not immune to the challenges faced by their brethren in other industries: the economy, staff development, lines of succession, liability, and competition exist across various fields of endeavor. The lack of a clearly focused mission can leave a healthcare facility or agency vulnerable and adrift without a collective vision of what it seeks to accomplish and what it seeks to be. Prudent healthcare leaders are aware of this, and thoughtfully work to create a mission that keeps their collective vision strong, vibrant, and open to change over time.
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Action needed to minimize ovarian cancer risk in LGBT community
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareAccording to the American Cancer Society, 22,240 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2018, killing about 14,070 women. While the risk of ovarian cancer is 1 in 75, the risk for women in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community may be even greater. Studies have found that lesbians and bisexual women get less routine healthcare than other women, including colon, breast, and cervical cancer screening tests. The reasons include low rates of health insurance, fear of discrimination, and negative experiences with healthcare providers, which delays routine care such as early detection tests.
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Use easy technology to improve your patients’ treatment
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationOnline patient portals and automated visit reminders are standard components of care for most hospitals and practices today. But did you know that there are other simple uses of technology that can raise the quality of care you provide — and contribute to better outcomes across the board for your patients? Research shows that implementing the following technological strategies can lead to excellent results.
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