Jun 7
2022
Aesthetic medicine has come a long way in the last couple of decades. The field is in a very advanced state at this point, and many people have been enjoying the benefits it brings to the table. Watching that progress unfold has been exciting for those with an active interest in observing the field and tracking improvements in it as well. With that in mind, where do we stand right now, and what’s the current state of aesthetic medicine?
Jun 6
2022
By Melissa Mooney, director, eCOA Solutions Engineering, IQVIA.
Patient centricity has quickly become the biggest buzzword in medicine and clinical research – but it is much more than a trend. Patient centric clinical research allows the healthcare industry to deliver more holistic outcomes for patients, meaning that new treatments not only deliver the desired outcome, but also leave intact or even improve the patient’s quality of life while they are undergoing treatment. As a result of this shift, implementing strategies for capturing the patient’s voice in clinical research has become a top priority for the biopharma industry.
Patients today certainly have more advocacy and are playing a more active role in clinical trial planning and data collection as a condition of their participation, which is a major contributor to this shift. However, regulators and payers are also driving the shift by showing increasing interest in the perspectives of patients as they review submissions for new drug approvals. Electronic clinical outcomes assessments (eCOAs) have emerged as an effective approach to capturing these patient insights that can make or break the trial by giving them a structured platform for reporting their experiences and capturing those reports in measurable and meaningful ways.
What are eCOAs?
An eCOA is a digital approach to capturing patient experience data in traditional clinical trials and real-world studies. During the pandemic, eCOAs shot to prominence in the research space as sponsors sought out more agile tools to capture patient data remotely. At this critical point in time for agile research, eCOAs made it easier for investigators and sponsors to keep track of patient progress outside of the site environment’s confines and collect more patient-specific information to support the safety and efficacy of treatments and their impact on patients’ quality of life.
eCOAs are custom-built interactive assessments that clinical trial participants are prompted to respond to, through provided or personal devices. They allow patients, clinicians, and caregivers to directly report outcomes, supplying real-time insights, and high-quality data collection. These digital assessments have led the way in simplifying patient engagement and amplifying the voice and experience of patience.
Jun 1
2022
By Cindy Gaines, chief clinical transformation officer, Lumeon.
Reflecting on the past couple years, it’s become clear that staffing shortages have taken a toll on nursing physically, emotionally and mentally, leading to declining retention rates, inadequate resources, and, at times, concern for their mental health.
Staffing shortages are not just the result of a pandemic, but of an aging workforce. Hospitals are faced with the challenge of addressing the work environment not just in the context of a pandemic, but holistically.
Pain Points
Through the years, we have equipped nurses and care staff with equipment such as computers, pagers, tablets, and zone phones to help them connect with patients, family members, doctors, labs, radiology and outside services. This equipment is necessary for their work but has had unintended consequences. As nurses manage medications and juggle competing priorities, they are constantly bombarded with a world of distraction. This creates safety risks in the care environment.
Additionally, this technology has introduced service expectations created to support the patient and family experience. For example, a phone call must be answered within 3 rings—great customer service for the caller, but it takes the nurse away from the patient currently being cared for. At times, technology meant to support the care process has become a barrier between the nurse and the patient.
This stressful work environment is further complicated by very real staffing issues in our country. Demographic data suggests that the average median age of a nurse is 52 years old and that 20% of RNs are 65 years or older, meaning hospitals can expect gaps in staffing as this age group ages out and begins to retire. While this seems like an opportunity to usher in a new generation of young, fresh-minded nurses, nursing programs are unable to graduate enough people to supply this gap in the industry due to an overwhelming lack of resources.
These factors together have created the perfect storm of a care staff shortage.
May 26
2022
By Ken Perez, vice president of healthcare policy and government affairs, Omnicell, Inc.
Discussions about the cost of healthcare in the United States often take the form of debates, pitting one sector against the other. Classic examples are health insurers (payers) versus hospitals and health systems (providers), and pharmaceutical manufacturers versus providers. Often at stake in these clashes are the relative sizes of the healthcare economic pie received by the different sectors.
Looking at healthcare through a societal lens helps one avoid participating in these debates and instead focus on macro issues. For years, how much the U.S. spends in total on healthcare—across all payers and for all healthcare—has been at the top of the macro issues list.
National health expenditures (NHE) are the universally accepted measure of that. On March 28, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2021-2030 National Health Expenditure report, which was prepared by the CMS Office of the Actuary.
How much did the U.S. in total spend on healthcare last year? In 2021, national health spending totaled $4.3 trillion, equal to 18.8% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and down from a record 19.7% of GDP in 2020 that reflected the significant spending incurred to respond to COVID-19. Because of the pandemic, NHE grew sharply (9.7%) from 2019 to 2020, and its growth slowed to 4.2% in 2021. Per capita health expenditures were $13,037 in 2021. To put that in perspective, last year, the U.S. spent almost $1,100 per month on healthcare for the average per person.
Comparisons with Other Countries
Since healthcare consumes almost a fifth of the nation’s GDP, one has to ask whether that is good or bad. One basis for answering that question is to compare U.S. healthcare spending with that of similarly advanced industrialized countries. Two measures are commonly used to perform that comparison: 1) healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP; and 2) per capital health expenditures.
May 25
2022
Technology has improved the patient-doctor relationship dramatically since healthcare organizations have embraced its versatility and effectiveness. But, while technology is an effective method for improving the patient’s healthcare experience, it is not the only area for healthcare providers to consider.
One considerable option that benefits patient health and overall care is collaboration both within the institution and from external resources and business. If you want to provide the best care for your patients, consider these six reasons to encourage more collaboration.
Improved Care
Unique perspectives are important in many parts of life, but they become even more crucial in the medical industry. Although everyone who sees a patient has qualifications, their experiences could mean they recognize treatment options or conditions that others could miss, creating a severe risk of misdiagnosis.
Multiple healthcare providers working with a patient guarantee the best possible care. They have different skills that can help them get back to full health, and it also reduces the risk of burnout, which could affect their focus. You can also consider different hospitals, especially if your institution does not have the required equipment to provide treatment. A strong working relationship with nearby resources could help save a life.
Cut Down On Mistakes
Medical mistakes have been reported to contribute to one-third of patient deaths, although this number has been disputed over the past few years. Even so, any patient death caused by malpractice is too many, so working in a collaborative environment reduces errors and accidents and ensures the patient receives the correct treatment.
By providing the right treatment every time, hospitals can discharge the patient quicker without the risk of complications. This frees up more beds in emergency rooms and ICUs so patients can get the answers they need when they require them.
May 25
2022
It is astonishing how the healthcare system has changed progressively over the past few decades. Devices, applications, and gadgets help bridge the gap between novel solutions and broad use. Consistent upgrades in the technology that helps deliver better healthcare are one of the prime contributors to the growth of the healthcare system.
At the current pace, we can expect tremendous changes in the healthcare sector to benefit everyone. Here are some of the handpicked tech tools that have the potential to change the dynamics of healthcare in the near future:
3 Revolutionizing Healthcare Tech Tools
Drug research, primary packaging, logistics, etc., play a huge role in the growth of healthcare across the globe. Tech tools are of those numerous factors that have played a huge role in revolutionizing the healthcare sector. Below are the tech tools that have the potential to change the dynamics of healthcare:
# 1: Three-dimensional or 3D printing
Physical blood veins, tissues, and even organs are no longer required for transplantation, thanks to 3D printing. Although the world is still far from having an artificial beating heart by 2021, current advancements are important.
As early as 2019, researchers began printing live skin with blood vessels. There have also been attempts to develop prostheses to replace limbs that have been lost.
These technologies are becoming increasingly accessible to small businesses. It is possible that we would see similar procedures be a common practice.
May 20
2022
More older adults are embracing technology. According to a Pew Research Center report, 58% of seniors 65 years and above use the internet today. Technology enables seniors to combat loneliness and improve physical and mental health. It also allows them to live independently while keeping in touch with their long-distance loved ones. Read on for five essential tech tools for older adults’ everyday use.
1. Wearable fitness devices
Fitness monitors like FitBit enable you to lead a healthy life. They track your day-to-day activities and sleep to ascertain that you engage in enough exercise. This helps you combat medical conditions such as heart diseases and diabetes.
You could wear your fitness device on your wrist like a lifeline pendant or a watch to monitor your heart rate, daily steps, sleeping schedule, and pattern, and the number of calories burned every day. This gives you the motivation to reach your fitness goals fast. Consider setting up a challenge with family or friends in your senior independent living facility to determine who can get their fitness target first.
2. Medication monitors
Senior adults fill nine to 13 medication prescriptions annually. These prescriptions can be challenging to manage, especially when you opt to stay at home instead of moving into an assisted living facility, so you should consider investing in medication monitors. A medication reminder system enables you to track your prescription schedule. It will alert you when it is time to take your dose and repeat the alarm if you fail to take medicine within a specified time frame.
If more time passes without taking your medication, the device will even contact your primary caregiver. Some medication systems are equipped with medical alert systems that leverage mobile phone technology, enabling them to call your family member or friend first, then an emergency response team in case of medication errors.
May 19
2022
Technology has advanced in leaps and bounds in almost all industries, but it’s not hard to see just how much has changed in nursing. Previously labor-intensive tasks like lifting patients and administering medication are now made much easier by using technology and innovative practices. If it has been some time since you stepped foot in a hospital, you might be amazed by the following incredible changes.
Online Nursing Programs
In the past, the only way to become a nurse was by attending a nursing school in person. You might have had to move to a new location and change your entire life just to partake in the program. Now, you can enroll in a nurse program online, and nothing else in your life has to change.
As long as you have a computer, an internet connection, and your chosen provider’s classroom software, you can study to become a nurse. Nursing programs are available for secondary school graduates and nurses looking to upskill. All classes, assignments, and grades are accessible anywhere in the world from the cloud.
Diagnostic Equipment
Diagnosing illnesses has always been challenging, especially when a wide range of symptoms can indicate an equally wide range of ailments. However, diagnostic equipment has advanced significantly, and it’s now no longer as challenging as it used to be. For example, nurses can use handheld biosensors that require a body specimen and receive definitive answers. They can also utilize ultrasound machines for the best chance of success while placing an IV.
