We can’t discuss the challenges in healthcare without considering the aging population who will be moving to home care settings more and more in the coming years. Shifting the focus to home care and the value it brings, it is necessary to remember that the patient and their families absorb a portion of these costs. And the financial… Read More »
Frequently, as healthcare providers, our focus is primarily on the issues concerning healthcare; however, there are several additional areas worth examining. For instance, with technology evolving, it is imperative that our ability to treat those we serve keeps pace. As physicians, we have the opportunity to practice differently almost every day. New techniques, state-of-the-art treatment modalities, and cutting-edge… Read More »
Last week my post, In Healthcare, Who Protects Us from Misinformation, I discussed the use of “sensationalism” to garner attention. I also mentioned as healthcare providers it is part of our role to join the conversation to ensure balanced and truthful information is shared. Recently an Op Ed appeared in the New York Times with a catchy title;… Read More »
Without a doubt, the internet is a wondrous tool. It provides access to an unbelievable array of information to a much broader audience with an incredibly positive impact. One could argue my own sons are so much more informed than I was at their age because of the amount of information they can access right at their fingertips… Read More »
As we continue to struggle with the rising cost of healthcare and the financial impact it has on people, it is imperative that one addresses the justness involved in pricing. Since I am framing this conversation within a social context, I am making an assumption that healthcare at certain levels is a right and not just a privilege.… Read More »
The majority of literature on trust between physicians and patients focuses on patients believing what their physicians are telling them. Traditionally, the physician has played the role of the single source of information and the patient the receiver without their own level of knowledge. However, with the advancement of technology and research being something searchable at the patient’s… Read More »
There is a great deal of focus on the method people use to purchase healthcare. Though many believe in a market approach where individuals choose a product based on cost and how it will help them, healthcare purchases don’t typically fall into this same market dynamic, meaning there is a lot more complexity and variance to the care… Read More »
Undeniably, there is a tremendous allocation of money on healthcare. Arguably, waste occurs, and there is an abundant opportunity for improvement. Furthermore, with an ever-increasing aging population – 15% of Americans are currently 65 years of age or older and that number will double by 2060, the need for services will increase, thereby causing an ever-growing demand. Providing… Read More »
Nutrition is a driving force concerning health. Consequently, the Farm Bill is an important program that contains several provisions that influence our public health. For those who need clarification, The Farm Bill is a package of legislation renewed every five years by congress that shapes the federal food and agriculture policy. The Nutrition component of the bill accounts… Read More »
In over sixteen hundred articles published since 2000, the value of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is irrefutably clear – “ERAS optimizes operative functional status to improve clinical outcome and patient satisfaction.” ERAS concepts are a comprehensive patient care movement that originated in Europe. By treating undesirable perioperative pathophysiologic processes, like colorectal surgery, which was the first surgery… Read More »