An obvious way to reduce preventable harm in the hospital is to warn clinicians about harmful events before they happen. But the prevalence of alarms in the hospital, from medical equipment and EHRs, creates unintended consequences for clinician and patient well-being. More
In a Health Affairs Grantwatch blog, Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini from the Lown Institute and Benjamin F. Miller from Well Being Trust discuss how state budgets are being squeezed by health care costs and what we can do about it. More
When it comes to dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, it appears that anxiety about cognitive decline is driving treatment decisions, rather than evidence. More
Some policymakers argue that moving to single payer health care will "kill jobs." But is that a reason to stick with the status quo?
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Media coverage of a recent study is generating hype about supplemental screening for cancer for women with dense breasts. More
What are the most urgent needs when it comes to implementing programs that address community conditions? At the final roundtable event in the Drivers of Health project, health policy experts identified crucial research and policy needed to fill the gaps in community health and wellbeing. More
We remember Louise Lown, social worker, peace activist, and beloved wife of Bernard Lown, who passed away on Friday. More
The ISCHEMIA trial found that for patients with stable coronary disease, stents and bypass surgery do not improve rates of mortality or heart attacks more than medical therapy. Will this study finally change cardiology practice norms? More
How usable are electronic health records, compared to other types of technology we use every day? More
Caregiving involves significant time and emotional work, yet much of this work is invisible. In his new book, The Soul of Care, Dr. Arthur Kleinman shares his story of caring for his wife, Joan, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. More
In a recent feature article in Healthy Aging magazine, patient advocate Johanna Trimble describes what happened when her mother-in-law, Fervid, was transferred from her residential facility to a nearby health care center. More
Despite the prevalence of multiple medication use, a significant proportion of both older adults and caregivers were unaware that older adults should avoid certain medications. More
Health care systems are not always built to accommodate caregivers into the care team, but including caregivers into the conversation can provide essential information to clinicians about the patient's health. More
When we characterize ED visits as "inappropriate," we are essentially faulting patients for making the decision to go to the ED; however there is a lot more behind that decision than simply a patient's choice. More
A recent study shows the impact of asking "Do you want everything done?" for critically ill patients and their family members. More
Despite the claim that "CDC does not accept commercial support," this agency does indeed have financial ties to industry organizations. A petition from watchdog groups is demanding transparency. More
On "The People's Pharmacy" on NPR, Shannon Brownlee and Cynthia Boyd discuss drivers of and solutions for medication overload. More
Privacy isn't the only thing we should be worried about with Facebook's new preventive health tool More
Is sunshine really the best disinfectant? Or do we need much more than transparency when it comes to financial conflicts of interest? More
With help from a network of industry-independent experts, doctors are speaking out against conflicts of interest in maternal safety recommendations More