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Healthcare hiring outpaces almost every other sector in 2018
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareThe job market ended last year on a high note with more than 312,000 reported jobs added for the final month of the year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported earlier this month, even while the overall unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent. The healthcare sector had a very strong year, having experienced the creation of more than 346,000 new jobs. Annually, that’s up from 284,000 jobs in 2017, a 22 percent rise year-over-year. Ambulatory centers added 219,000 jobs while hospitals added 107,000 jobs.
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Improve the way your physicians use EHRs
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationElectronic health records (EHRs) can be an incredibly helpful tool in providing targeted patient care and reducing medical error. Yet many hospitals' EHR systems can be difficult to navigate for many doctors due to poor technology, confusing or time-consuming notation requirements, or a lack of understanding how to utilize EHRs to provide the best patient care. The solution? Take stock of your EHR system for efficiency — then use the following advice to make it easier for your doctors to work with, with life-saving, cost-saving results.
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Study evaluates 9 coronary risk scores used to evaluate undifferentiated…
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareNonspecific chest pain is the second most common reason for presentation to the emergency department, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) identification with appropriate disposition is quite challenging. While most ED patients with undifferentiated chest pain do not have ACS, missing this diagnosis has major morbidity and mortality implications. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers compared the performance of nine different risk scores within the same population presenting to the ED with undifferentiated chest pain.
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For many hospitals, the fax machine is still the dominant information sharing…
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareThe fax machine has not gone anywhere in medicine. This so-called "ancient relic" is still operational and is considered a simple, yet powerful tool for those in healthcare, despite the other more modern modalities of exchanging information. According to newly released federal data, almost three-quarters of nonfederal acute care hospitals routinely use faxes to receive summary of care records from providers outside their system, according to the data released by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health IT.
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Hand hygiene in the operating room: Halting the spread of staph infections
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareIn 2014, approximately 14.2 million inpatient operations were performed in U.S. hospitals. A survey of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevalence, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, revealed an estimated 157,500 surgical site infections associated with inpatient surgeries in 2011. Although advances have been made in infection control practices, surgical site infections remain an alarming cause of morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and death. In fact, these infections are associated with a mortality rate of 3 percent, and 75 percent of deaths are directly attributable to these infections.
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New year, new skin for your spa clients
Elizabeth Donat RetailOur clients will certainly be setting goals and New Year's resolutions for 2019: starting a new exercise routine, a dietary cleanse, or perhaps a goal to finally give themselves the skin that they always wanted. We, as spa industry professionals, should be several steps ahead of them and ready to guide them in the right direction when it comes to making major improvements in their skin for this upcoming year. Follow my expert tips below and help your clients transform their skin in 2019.
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How to give your cardiologists the support they need
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationAs an administrator, you know that cardiologists are often nothing short of miracle workers. A little-considered fact, however: these highly skilled and brilliant physicians often work under emotional and physical constraints that make their jobs difficult, even dangerous — and that can compromise patient care. To give the cardiologists in your organization the assistance they may need, but may not ask you for, implement these important research-driven points. Doing so will ensure safe, satisfactory outcomes.
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Breakthrough in food poisoning research could save lives
Tammy Hinojos Food & BeverageDon’t eat the flavor-blasted Goldfish crackers. Um, or the romaine lettuce. Put down the peanut butter. Oh and remember when we had to stop eating Blue Bell Ice Cream that one summer? Heaven help us. Food poisoning is no joke. One of the most common causes of food poisoning is a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, a nasty little sucker that secretes the toxins that cause vomiting and diarrhea. A team of researchers at the Australian National University has made an important discovery about how Bacillus cereus works that could help save the lives of patients with serious bacterial infections, particularly those suffering from food poisoning.
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Do patients lie to their physicians? Results of an eye-opening survey
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareIn the delicate doctor-patient relationship, not telling the truth to patients requires special attention because patients can suffer serious harm if lied to by their physicians. Not only is patient autonomy undermined, but patients who are not told the truth may experience a loss of trust, and trust is essential for healing. Similarly, patient failure to disclose medically relevant information to their physicians can undermine patient care or even lead to patient harm. A recent survey showed that patients commonly withhold medically relevant information from their clinicians, a pattern that may adversely affect the quality of patient care.
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Stoking the healthcare leadership succession pipeline
Keith Carlson Medical & Allied HealthcareIn healthcare and other industries, keeping the succession pipeline filled is essential to organizational success and longevity. Healthcare institutions must bear in mind that a valued leader can retire, quit, be let go, or become ill or disabled at any time; thus, being ready for changes in leadership is both prudent and forward-thinking. In this particular endeavor, a proactive strategy is much preferable to a reactive one. If we accept the necessity of keeping the succession pipeline stoked, what are steps that a thoughtful healthcare facility can take in order to assure relatively seamless transitions of power and leadership at pivotal times?
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