Like others working at the intersection of public health and medicine, my faith in primary care has long been unshakeable. Increasingly actualized as the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), primary care has experienced a decade plus of attention thanks to efforts at retooling and rebranding the field. But in the last week, a tiny crack formed… Read More »
The pandemic has highlighted the challenge health care providers face in translating new scientific findings to actual patient care. The integration of COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment is a good example of this challenge. Frustration at a Local Hospital In a year of difficult days, my mom came home from work one evening in March especially… Read More »
During the COVID-19 pandemic, health misinformation has been soaring across the internet and social media platforms. Despite a lack of supplement regulation, vitamin and supplement use have seen a sudden 28% increase in the US and a 25% increase globally during COVID-19. Vitamin C supplements have gained particular attention because of studies finding it might reduce… Read More »
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the pandemic has spotlighted the heroic efforts of our nation’s healthcare workers. Healthcare workers are providing much needed front-line patient care. However, in doing so, they also place themselves at risk of exposure to infectious disease, psychological distress, and burnout. But as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, another concern for… Read More »
As the older population in the US continues to grow, simultaneously increasing the need for healthcare services and providers, patients these days might be more likely to see a physician assistant (PA) or a nurse practitioner (NP), as opposed to an physician (MD); but what’s the difference? Let’s start out with some key facts: how… Read More »
Working in the healthcare profession can be both physically and emotionally draining for anyone, no matter their role or job title. Over half of physicians in the US [PDF] experience symptoms of burnout, and studies estimate a large percentage of nurses experience emotional exhaustion and have a higher prevalence of depression when compared to other US workers. Exhaustion… Read More »
There are some occupations where employees are mandated to receive age-based skills and cognitive testing. For example, the National Business Aviation Association has a mandatory retirement age of 65 for airline pilots. Additionally, firefighters, employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, air traffic controllers, and nuclear material couriers are all subject to age-based regulations. These agencies impose age-based… Read More »
What’s the first thing you do when you get sick? For many people, a cursory search through various online resources is the initial step in gathering information toward obtaining a diagnosis. The internet places an infinite number of health-related resources at our fingertips, many of which are consumed through social media. Presently, 74% of US… Read More »
In 1999, the Institute of Medicine released a report called To Err is Human. This report estimated that 44,000 to 98,000 hospitalized patients die each year as a result of preventable medical errors. But how do medical errors affect healthcare workers? A recent article by Van Gerven and colleagues, published ahead of print in Medical Care, addresses that… Read More »