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Hurry on over to hospice — don’t wait
Lisa Cole Medical & Allied HealthcareWhen given a prognosis of likely less than six months to live, most people — once the shock subsides — seek cure. Some go to the ends of the earth in search of treatment; others spend every available dime to ensure they stay alive. It doesn’t matter how old or ill, we humans are hardwired for survival. Making this decision is each person’s own prerogative. As healthcare providers, though, it’s our duty to make sure we give folks choices. It’s our responsibility to be educated about hospice and palliative care and to become comfortable having this conversation with our clients — early on.
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Will AI and robots steal your healthcare job?
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareRobots and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly pervasive in most aspects of 21st-century life, including healthcare, medicine, and nursing. Fears abound that jobs are going to be lost to machines that can do our jobs 24/7 without needing to be paid or call out when the kids are home sick from school. Are these fears well-founded or are we looking down the wrong tech rabbit hole? The reality of healthcare technology in 2019 isn't necessarily a robot revolution, but things are changing and some concern is understandable.
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How to run a happy hospital
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationThe concept of a "happy hospital" in which employees, caregivers and patients report high levels of satisfaction in their work and experiences may seem like an impossible dream. But you can make it happen more easily than you think! Research from the University of Michigan on community hospitals found that patients are happiest when hospital employees have high morale. You're aiming for low employee turnover and joy at the job to meet your patient satisfaction goals.
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HHS’ fight for drug pricing transparency continues amid unmitigated…
Scott E. Rupp PharmaceuticalThe Department of Health and Human Services recently filed an appeal in hopes of overturning a court decision from June that halted a rule to force drugmakers to list the prices of the drugs they advertise on television. HHS unveiled its plan to require listing the drug prices in direct-to-consumer TV ads last October and finalized the rule in May. The idea meant that pharmaceutical companies would have to include the wholesale acquisition price for a drug in their television ads if the drug cost exceeded $35 for a one-month supply.
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Safety issues and trackability in personal care product packaging
Michelle Pudlo RetailThere are already certain concerns we have about quality when purchasing personal care products, but there are also several safety concerns pertaining to the manufacturing and packaging of these products. Personal care products may be referred to as "cosmetics" by law, but they consist of much more than fragrance and makeup products. Cosmetics can refer to everything from body wash and shampoo to toothpaste and skin lotions. While millions of consumers use personal care products on a daily basis, there are certain safety measures that they often lack that put consumers at risk.
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Study: ICU in the ED dramatically improves patient survival rate
Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied HealthcareAccording to a recent study, locating an intensive care unit inside the emergency department drastically increases survival rates for the sickest patients who arrive at ERs. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, examined outcomes from the University of Michigan Medical School's emergency department-based ICU. The study was carried out at the Massey Family Critical Care Center, which opened in 2015 and is housed adjacent to University Hospital's main adult emergency room. The goal of establishing a critical care area in the ED was to prevent some patients from ever needing to be transferred to an inpatient ICU, study authors said.
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Study investigates effectiveness of hormone injections for weight loss…
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareObesity increases the risk of health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome, all of which can be addressed with bariatric surgery options, including gastric band, gastric bypass, and gastric sleeve. However, these procedures can cause complications. The findings of a new small study found that a hormone injection helped reduce body weight and glucose levels in patients with diabetes and obesity in four weeks. Previous research by Imperial College London suggested that one of the reasons gastric bypass surgery works so well is because three specific hormones originating from the bowels are released in higher levels.
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Obtaining prior authorization from non-Medicare carriers for hyperbaric…
Tiffany Hamm and Jeff Mize Healthcare AdministrationDenied claims due to unauthorized patient procedures or services can be responsible for a major loss in revenue. Although most medical offices and provider-based departments are moving closer to 100% verification for patient services, there is still no guarantee that every account will be paid. Claims that are denied due to no prior authorization happen primarily in a hospital setting. To ensure your claims will be paid, plan ahead, meticulously document, and follow the regulations as noted below.
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Top senator: Rural health systems must be allowed to evolve, survive through…
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationTelehealth is getting some additional mainstream backing again in a significant way as one of Washington, D.C.'s leading healthcare voices continues to place his support behind it — Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. The reason for his doing so is because of the weakening of the rural healthcare community. These rural health systems face continual financial pressure, and many of them are facing closure. Thus, telehealth can help solve some of the many challenges confronting rural communities in maintaining access to care, Grassley says.
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5 ways to reduce alarm fatigue at your hospital
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationWorking at a hospital, you know that alarms on monitoring equipment in your ICU, step-down unit and general wards are a major challenge for your staff and patients. When false alarms happen, patients panic unnecessarily and staff become desensitized, increasing the chance of a missed emergency. The noise pollution can fray nerves and keep patients from resting so they can heal faster. Stumped as to how to handle this issue? Science can offer you innovative answers.
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