How we can help health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic
To all of the clinicians and health care workers putting their health and lives on the line, we want to acknowledge your immense sacrifice and bravery. More
Is Dignity a Healthcare Business Strategy?
Sure, hospitals should be paid for the services they provide, but that simple axiom crumbles when one looks closely at the complexity and contradictions built into healthcare, e.g., “… the widespread acceptance at the top of health care organizations that being ‘business-like’ is a virtue…,”says Vikas Saini, MD, the president of the Lown Institute and a Harvard-trained cardiologist. More
Interoperability rule exposes gaps in protecting privacy
Patients will gain greater control of their data, but largely by using third-party apps that aren't regulated by HIPAA. More
Coronavirus will also cause a loneliness epidemic
We need to take both social distancing and the “social recession” it will cause seriously. More
Covid-19 will be the ultimate stress test for electronic health record systems
Electronic health record systems aren't ready for Covid-19. But because the weaknesses are well-known, health systems can plan for them and around them. More
Winners and losers of the HHS interoperability final rule
HHS released its much-anticipated final rules on EHR interoperability, ruling against 'information blocking' tactics by EHR vendors and giving patients more control over their medical records. More
New Federal Rules Will Let Patients Put Medical Records On Smartphones
Patients would have far more control over their health care with complete medical histories stored on their phones, proponents say. More
Doctors may feel ‘moral distress’ when surrogates make decisions
When patients cannot make their own decisions about life-prolonging care, many doctors feel “moral distress” acting on the choices of surrogates like family members, a small survey suggests. More
New Analysis Presents Puzzle About Physician Suicide
Why is it more common among female docs than other women, when it's the opposite for men? More
Addressing Mistreatment in Medical Education
More than one-third of medical students reported experiencing at least 1 episode of mistreatment by faculty, peers, or clinical staff. More
Final Report Delivers a Strategy to Reduce EHR Burden
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a comprehensive strategy to reduce the regulatory and administrative burden related to the use of health IT, including EHRs. More
“What worries you most?” Survey examines patients’ biggest health care worries
What are American people most worried about when it comes to health care? The Right Care Alliance patient council conducted a survey of more than 1,000 patients from across the country, to find out patients' biggest health care concerns. More
How to solve the medical misinformation mess
Asking the right questions can help cut through the mess of medical misinformation that often leads to overuse. More
The link between overuse and burnout
Doctors' experiences show how the systemic factors that lead to overuse and waste are also causing widespread burnout. More
Finding Connections And Comfort At The Local Cafe
“Memory Cafe” ... offers social activities for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia — and their caregivers. Activities include art, music, poetry, presentations and social interaction. More
Why burned-out doctors despise electronic health records
The systems were supposed to improve communication. But they’re really prioritizing insurance billing over patients. More
Few patients access their EHRs, but it’s not for lack of interest
Why do so few patients access their medical records electronically? It's not because they don't want to do so, write patient advocates in Health Affairs. More
The Real Epidemic: Not Burnout But ‘Moral Injury’ Of Doctors Unable To Do Right By Patients
The wellness of clinicians — the autonomy and latitude of practice that protect against moral injury — has a profound impact on everyone around them, and changes are essential to improving health care for all of us. More
“When They Restrain You They Ignore You”—What We Should Learn From the People We Restrain in Emergency Departments
Increasing numbers of people in the United States seek mental health care in emergency departments (EDs). From 2009 to 2015, mental health ED visits increased for pediatric and adult patients by 56.5% and 40.8%, respectively, and the ED length of stay among persons awaiting psychiatric hospitalization increased by 31.7%. More
Why I Said Nothing When My Med School Professor Made Racist Remarks
Nearly 1 in 3 residents reported gender-related abuse, physical abuse and/or verbal abuse. Nearly 17% reported racial discrimination, and 10.3% reported sexual harassment... More