by PWeekly | Nov 15, 2016 | Allergy, Anesthesiology, Articles, Business of Medicine, Cardiology, Career Concerns, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Healthcare Reform, Hospital Medicine, humira-tablet, Infectious Disease, Medical Technology, Neurology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oncology, Orthopedics, Patient Relations, Pediatrics, Practice Management, Primary Care, Psychiatry, Pulmonology/Critical Care, Recent Features, Rheumatology, Slider, Surgery, Tablet, Urology
Following the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president, Physician’s Weekly Managing Editor Christopher Cole received the opportunity to ask select physicians and healthcare experts what a Trump presidency could mean for the U.S. healthcare system. Speaking with Cole were Pawan Grover, MD, an interventional spine specialist and patient advocate who has served as a medical correspondent for CNN, NBC, CBS, and PBS; Mache Seibel, MD, author of The Estrogen Window, former and soon-to-again-be Harvard Medical School faculty member; Carolyn Rosenblatt, RN, elder law attorney and co-author of The Family Guide to Aging Parents: Answers to Your Legal, Financial, and Healthcare Questions; and Chris Orestis, CEO of Life Care Funding, former Washington, DC, lobbyist, senior-care advocate, and author of Help on the Way and A Survival Guide to Aging. What do you think will happen to “Obamacare”? Trump has said he’ll put an end to it, but information is lacking on what, if anything, he’d replace it with. Mache Seibel (MS): If President-Elect Trump wants to make America great again, he will have to make America healthy again. And that requires healthcare coverage for as many U.S. citizens as possible. With rampant obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses, a great deal of prevention needs to be put into play. Obamacare took 2-3 years to implement. For these reasons, I believe that with 22 million people currently depending on Obamacare, the new administration is less likely to abolish it than to modify it. There are many areas that could be addressed, and which of those President-Elect Trump will address will depend on his closer look at the...
by Physicians Weekly | Nov 21, 2013 | Articles, Business of Medicine, Doctor's Voice, Healthcare Reform
End of Life Care in a Changing Health Care Environment: The Impact of the Affordable Care Act and Accountable Care Organizations Thought leaders participate in a timely and engaging panel discussion on end-of-life care amidst new health policy. Source: Life Matters...
by admin | Sep 5, 2013 | Allergy, Articles, Business of Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Healthcare Reform, Hospital Medicine, Pulmonology/Critical Care, Recent Features, Slider
With the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act now underway, more attention is being focused on patient-centered and coordinated care. As a result, primary care physicians (PCPs) are seeking new ways to organize care around patients. This includes providing in-office services that meet all of patients’ healthcare needs and/or taking responsibility for appropriate referrals. Within MaxHeath Family Medicine, the focus is on increasing our ability to address all patient health concerns by adding a diverse array of services. In addition to a patient clinic, our practice houses centers for allergy, physical medicine and rehabilitation, cosmetic medicine, and weight loss. It also offers centers for sports medicine, brain health, and mental health. By offering more services, we have successfully improved patient outcomes, as well as financial benefits for the practice. A Focus on Allergic Rhinitis & Asthma Efficient treatment of chronic conditions is important to cultivating patient-centered primary care. Nearly half of all Americans have a chronic condition, and the prevalence of such conditions continues to increase. For example, approximately 60 million Americans suffer from allergic rhinitis (AR), which often precedes the onset of chronic allergic asthma. To enhance care of chronic conditions, we must shift from simple chronic disease-state management toward prevention-focused care. In an effort to address AR, my colleagues and I implemented additional AR treatment protocols by establishing an allergy center. We work with United Allergy Services to supply allergy testing and immunotherapy to patients. For those who view their symptoms as a minor inconvenience, it is important that they avoid specific allergens. However, this avoidance approach can only work...
by admin | May 30, 2013 | Articles, Emergency Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Opinion Article, Recent Features, Slider
Among the many Affordable Care Act initiatives rumbling through the healthcare industry, the introduction of 30 to 40 million new patients is certain to create additional stress to an already overburdened healthcare system. As a result, hospitals must find ways to increase their patient throughput and operational efficiency. Unfortunately, inefficient inpatient discharge practices continue to create unnecessarily long hospital stays. Patient throughput in the ED impacts the rest of the hospital system. ED lengths of stay generally increase when hospital occupancy levels exceed 90%, so enhanced communication and patient throughput are vital throughout the acute care setting. Although many factors can hinder patient flow, nearly 70% of clinicians cite communication as the most challenging cause of patient throughput delays. EDs: The Communication Ground Zero Communication in the ED sets the course for patient flow throughout the hospital. Safe, efficient, quality care in the ED requires frequent and effective communication. Nearly half of EDs report operating at or above capacity, and wait times and patient visits have risen steadily for the last 20 years. Initial communication with ED patients must be a top priority. As soon as patients register at the ED, they must be clearly informed of their anticipated treatment. Early communication about details, such as estimated wait times, anticipated discharge times, and availability of immediate treatments for minor symptoms, can smooth transitions of care. Intricacies are sometimes forgotten but have a tremendous impact on patient throughput. The physical design of individual patient rooms can greatly affect throughput. When rooms are well-designed and provide optimum flexibility, patients can receive faster, more efficient care. In order to save space for...
