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Right-to-try: Cause for hope or just hype?

Jason Poquette Pharmaceutical

A 2010 movie entitled "Extraordinary Measures" starred Harrison Ford and was based on the real-life story of the parents of two children with a rare, terminal disorder known as Pompe’s disease. It was a good movie and an amazing story. The kids got the medicine during the trial phase and it worked. I wonder if the supporters of "right-to-try" measures for new, experimental drugs expect that the newly signed legislation will produce many more stories like this. Maybe it will.

How house calls can benefit patients — and your practice

Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare Administration

In today's modern healthcare environment, you may think that house calls have gone the way of the horse and buggy. Not so: research shows that in recent years, the number of house calls made to out-of-the-office Medicare patients has more than doubled. Interestingly, this same study notes that those house calls are made by a smaller number of physicians than in previous years — leading to plentiful care opportunities for doctors who do practice in the real world.

HHS delays 340B program rule — again

Scott E. Rupp Pharmaceutical

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has pushed back a decision on the 340B Drug Pricing Program to July 2, 2019. If the proposed rule goes through, it would impose civil monetary penalties for drug manufacturers that knowingly and intentionally overcharge hospitals for outpatient drugs. According to the HHS' Health Resources & Services Administration, the 340B program enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.

Wanted: Meaningful nurse retention strategies

Keith Carlson Healthcare Administration

At a time in history when nursing shortages and nurse attrition can be devastating, healthcare organizations must find ways to attract and retain the best nurse candidates. We all know that high-quality nursing care and engaged nurse employees are crucial for patient satisfaction. With reimbursement often tied to patient satisfaction, the need to retain an excellent nursing workforce cannot be overstated.

New ways to help your patients comply with medical instructions

Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied Healthcare

Every doctor has to deal with a difficult, frustrating fact: some patients simply don't follow their recommendations properly. Obviously, this situation is worrisome in that it can lead to adverse outcomes, hospitalizations and drug interactions. There's good news, though: researchers have been looking into innovative ways for physicians to encourage more convenient compliance. Try these fresh, proven tips to help your patients more effectively focus on participating in their own care.

Scandinavian countries top happiness chart: What’s their secret?

Dave G. Houser Civil & Government

For about six months of the year, Finland has only a few hours of light per day and endures temperatures well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has one of the world’s highest tax rates. Nonetheless, Finns are the happiest people in the world according to the 2018 United Nations’ World Happiness Report — and their Nordic neighbors aren’t far behind in the rankings. By contrast, the United States is in a period of happiness slippage, fading from third place to 18th in the last two years.

Your stress, my brain: Communicating stress to others

Dorothy L. Tengler Mental Healthcare

Stress affects everyone. Whether it’s routine stress related to pressures at work, school or family, stress that occurs from a sudden negative change, such as job loss, divorce, illness or traumatic stress that occurs after a major accident, physical assault or natural disaster, our recovery depends on our coping skills. Recognizing the signs of stress, such as insomnia, increased alcohol consumption, anger, depression and low energy levels, is the first step in coping.

Are cannabinoid products causing preventable blindness?

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Pharmaceutical

Are users of cannabinoids slowly going blind and not knowing it? Cannabidiol has been shown to cause the transient glaucoma symptom of high eye pressure. Cannabidiol-CBD is the nonpsychoactive ingredient found in marijuana and hemp. There needs to be more research related to cannabinoids, including CBD. Not once, but twice, the media and the public have failed to notice research findings that CBD spikes the pressure of eyes in animals.

Nursing faces a huge expertise gap in coming years

Joan Spitrey Healthcare Administration

There is little debate that healthcare is facing a potentially unprecedented nursing shortage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections 2014-2024, the total number of job openings for nurses due to growth and replacements will be 1.09 million by 2024. One of the significant contributing factors to the future need for nurses is the impending retirement of baby boomers, who currently make up 40 percent of registered nurses in the United States. The loss of these nurses caring for patients will also see years of experience and expertise go by the wayside, leaving nursing with a significant knowledge gap.

Dental leaders focus on international volunteerism

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

Medical professionals volunteering and serving in underserved areas around the world is a common (and positive!) reality today. Dentistry is well-represented in this arena. And for good reason. The mouth is a key indicator of a person’s overall health. It can show signs of physical, emotional and even mental health. In some countries, there are few opportunities for adults and children to have access to dental care and oral hygiene education.

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