Healthgrades released its 2022 Healthgrades Ratings and Specialty Excellence Awards. The ratings assess hospital performance across 31 of the most common procedures and conditions. The awards recognize superior clinical performance in 17 specialty areas and include a new category for overall surgical care. This list of all award recipients is available here.
“Every American should use this information to help them decide where to seek specialty care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer and head of data science of Healthgrades. “Healthgrades also provides the tools for hospitals to understand how well they perform compared with other local, regional and national hospitals—and to make improvements accordingly.”
Quality data for objective measures of excellence
The 2022 Healthgrades Specialty Excellence Awards recognize hospitals that deliver superior patient outcomes across the most common in-hospital procedures and conditions, including surgical care, critical care, cardiac care and surgery, gastrointestinal care and surgery, bariatric surgery, and 10 other specialties. Full methodology is available here.
Fewer Americans were visiting primary care providers even before the pandemic.
According to a long-term study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the number of U.S. adults with a primary care physician slipped from 77% in 2002 to 75% in 2015. It’s a seemingly slight decline that nonetheless represents millions of patients. And due to the pandemic, fear of entering hospitals will continue exacerbating the issue, causing health systems to miss out on long-term revenue-building relationships. Fortunately, virtual care can fill in the gaps if healthcare organizations implement it appropriately.
COVID-19 made people cautious about nonessential in-person interactions, but it also encouraged them to try new technological solutions ranging from shopping for groceries online to telehealth visits with physicians. According to Kyruus’ “Patient Perspectives on Virtual Care Report,” 72% of patients surveyed tried virtual care for the first time during the pandemic, and more than 75% of them were “very satisfied.” In fact, nearly three-quarters of respondents want virtual care to be an option in the future, and half would switch providers to ensure they have that choice.
Taking Telehealth Further
The videoconference model of telehealth popularized during the pandemic has been incredibly effective at extending access to care, but it does have limitations. In particular, video-only virtual care doesn’t allow for the real-time transmission of diagnostic data from medical devices, including stethoscopes, EKGs, and ultrasounds. By offering virtual care models that integrate medical devices, physicians can diagnose and treat a wider variety of patients with more accuracy. Facilities can also extend care to treat and bill higher-acuity patients.
Patients and providers currently use telehealth primarily for one-off appointments, but organizations can leverage a more adaptable telehealth program across the care continuum and at multiple touchpoints. Achieving this goal will require health systems to view telehealth as a key part of care delivery instead of an exception. To embrace telehealth and reap the benefits of improved service quality and patient retention, healthcare leaders should follow three key steps:
By Rebecca Love, chief clinical officer, IntelyCare.
The news media has done an excellent job of covering the country’s ongoing nursing shortage since the pandemic began. But one problem I have with the coverage is that most of the reports suggest the pandemic and the subsequent burnout suffered by nurses is to blame for the shortage.
Let’s be clear about what we in healthcare know all too well.
Years before February 2020, when COVID-19 began to spread across the globe, a growing number of care facilities around the country were chronically understaffed. The truth is the pandemic exacerbated and brought dramatic downward pressure on an already strained workforce. The issue came to the forefront because nurses were on the pandemic’s frontlines and in the spotlight. It shouldn’t have surprised anyone that the many ways the healthcare system has failed them – going back decades – were thrust into full public view.
Earlier this month, the St. Louis Post Dispatchpublished a story about the high turnover in area hospitals. At one hospital system, out of a 8,500-person staff, managers are losing 160 nurses a month, according to the paper. The story is much the same around the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the nation’s care facilities will be short 1.1 million registered nurses by next year. A problem is particularly serious for post-acute care facilities, which were seeing a pre-pandemic annual turnover rate of 128%.
Before the pandemic, shortages at facilities didn’t draw much attention because there was always some way to patch shifts together. Managers could hire per diem staff or travel nurses. Then, the pandemic struck and the backup resources administrators typically relied on dried up. With so many hospitals overflowing with COVID patients, few places possessed extra nurses.
A stage would come when you need to decide what would work best for your aging parents, nursing home or in home senior care. A lot would rely on the older adult’s living situation, his wishes, and your situation.
Picking the right option for senior care might seem a bit overwhelming as there are vast and various services available. There is full-time care available or aging in place at home or just daycare or night care. In-home care allows the elderly to enjoy the comfort of staying in their own homes and feel independent.
Different seniors have different needs in their golden years, and thus the type of in-home care you pick will rely on their specific needs and what they feel comfortable with.
Basic assistance– In-home caregivers provide assistance with basic chores of daily lifestyle such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. They pay bills, drive and make appointments as well as provide companion care for seniors. If the older adult lives in a rural or remote area, that may require a lot of driving for services such as shopping and medical appointments.
Specialized care– In-depth specialized care is available for those with Dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s or any other chronic disease. Nursing and supervised care might be needed for such older adults for their health management. So, if your loved one suffers from a chronic disease, they will need specialized care at home.
Telecare software – Take advantage of advanced software that provides family
caregivers and service providers to stay in touch with older adults who are relatively independent. All they may need is remotely provided support and care. Look for a smart device for your loved ones to simplify their lives and avoid social isolation as they stay connected with their families and caregivers.
If the older adult is relatively independent, then staying at home and getting care is a good option. But, think about the needs of the older adult and what kind of help he or she needs for his daily living. Make some modifications to the home, install a wheelchair ramp, set up a medical alert system, and put bathroom grab bars. Get some more help from family, friends, and relatives and ask neighbors to keep a check if possible.
As mobile app technology advances, more people are embracing the use of health and fitness apps. They help make your lifestyle healthier by tracking your workout programs, food, and water intake. Other apps monitor your blood pressure and heart rate, which is beneficial for people with high blood pressure. Additionally, other health and fitness apps have health coaches who help you effectively achieve your fitness goals.
Consider narrowing down your search for an app by opting for those designed for specific needs to help you meet more particular goals. Below are ways mobile apps are transforming health and fitness:
1. Diet monitoring
Monitoring your diet can be challenging, especially when you have health and fitness goals to meet. They help you calculate the number of calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in each meal, helping you avoid foods that aren’t good for your health. These apps also give you tips on dietary supplements like amygdalin b17 500mg tablets to help you cover nutrient and mineral deficits in your diet. With the help of a digital food diary, you can monitor your food intake to ensure you eat more consciously. Additionally, other apps also offer healthy cooking recipes you can easily follow.
2. Track your progress
Health and fitness apps allow you to fill in your health details and update them after every checkup. For example, you can fill in your blood pressure levels and update each you get checked, helping you keep track of your health. You can also monitor your workout routines and progress to determine whether you’re on the right track. Using the apps in combination with wearable technology, you can measure your body temperature, heart rate, running pace, distance, and the route followed during a run or a walk.
3. Access to personal health and fitness coaches
With a health and fitness app, you no longer have to look for a health coach, trainer or join a fitness class at a gym. Some apps provide health coaches and trainers at an affordable price, helping you achieve your health and fitness goals from the comfort of your home and at your convenience. You can also find video tutorials showing specific workout techniques to ensure you perform them correctly for desired results.
By Ken Perez, vice president of healthcare policy and government affairs, Omnicell, Inc.
Although they are usually the first person patients see when they walk into a pharmacy, the important roles that pharmacy technicians play are not well understood by the public.
How pharmacy technicians support patient care is becoming more evident as the United States is experiencing a widespread shortage of pharmacy technicians. Last month, I met with a dozen chief pharmacy officers from leading hospitals and health systems from across the nation, and a large majority of them said they were struggling to staff enough pharmacy technicians. Similarly, a nationwide survey conducted in late May by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) found that nearly 90% of the survey’s 278 respondents said they couldn’t find pharmacy technicians.1
What’s causing the shortage? It’s primarily due to externalities. The pharmacy technician shortage is part of the broader problem affecting entry-level hiring across all industries—for various reasons, many people are reluctant to return to work.
Consequently, many large corporations are offering new workers unprecedentedly high starting hourly wages. Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, recently raised its hourly pay for more than 565,000 store workers by at least $1, bringing the chain’s U.S. average hourly wage to $16.40.2 Also, Amazon, the nation’s second-largest private employer, also recently increased its average starting wage to more than $18 an hour, and it announced plans to hire 125,000 warehouse and transportation workers.3 In contrast, the U.S. average hourly wage for pharmacy technicians is approximately $15.
By Dr. Jeremy Kenter, chief medical officer, Ally Medical ER.
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on every aspect of American life, but the health care sector- particularly emergency care – has been hardest hit.
The overwhelming number and cost care for COVID-19 patients has pushed health care professionals to exhaustion, forced some facilities to ration care or close, and has led to significantly delayed access to care for all. In this crisis, every option must be utilized to ensure crucial resources are maximized and patients receive the care they need.
Pre-pandemic, the average ER wait time in the United States was around 40 minutes. At the height of the current Delta variant, ER waits increased to several hours, or longer. More than 10 states have recently reached their highest hospital admissions of the pandemic. From the Southeast to the Pacific Northwest, patients are seeking alternative emergency room care.
To avoid having to endure packed waiting rooms full of potential COVID-19 patients, many doctors are urging patients to consider alternatives, including freestanding ERs. As the pandemic surges, freestanding ERs are playing a crucial in relieving stress on community hospital systems and improving patient care.
Here’s why.
Safe, Faster Service and Less Waiting
Outside of COVID-19, emergency room overcrowding can be dangerous for patients and is considered a severe public health issue. For sick and injured patients, long wait times can result in complications and more detrimental outcomes, even death. Ensuring emergency room access that is readily available, fully staffed, and stocked is the key to patient satisfaction, safety, and better overall patient outcomes. By offering COVID-19 testing and treatment, freestanding ERs in certain regions, like Texas and Oklahoma, have helped thousands of patients avoid crowded waiting rooms and receive sterling care.
Early in the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported the proportion of ER visits for exposure and contact with infectious diseases (COVID-19) was nearly four times higher than previous years. More people sought out alternative treatment options due to the sheer number of patients crowding hospitals.
Freestanding ERs are smaller, typically less trafficked than mainstream hospitals, and often owned by fully accredited emergency room physicians. In some cases, they have direct agreements with payers, such as mid-sized businesses, and other providers as referral sources. These facilities are often located in underserved areas and offer an invaluable resource to the local community. In these cases, freestanding ERs provide PCR tests and access to critical treatments that are otherwise unavailable.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced patients and healthcare providers alike to accept new ways to stay in touch, communicate, and to ask and give advice – which, in turn, catalyzed adoption of digital tools.
Although patients might not have thought to request them, the vast majority appreciated the convenience of digital tools, with one survey finding that 90% of people who used digital health tools during the pandemic rated their experience as good. Another poll found that 77% of Americans have been very or completely satisfied with their virtual health visits.
A big part of the shift speaks to the meta-trend of the digitized customer experience. Today’s healthcare patients are used to ordering pizza through a website, checking their bank accounts with a native smartphone app, and interfacing with a touchscreen kiosk to pay for the bus. We receive personalized marketing, customized discounts, and even our massage therapists send us automated texts when it’s been a while since we’ve booked a session.
In this context, having to arrive at a clinic in person to receive blood test results seems ridiculously outdated.
“Consumers expect to engage and transact online,” says Jack Brock, Head of Healthcare Provider Practice at Cognizant. “They are used to frictionless, intelligent, and digitally enabled experiences, such as seeing recommendations based on purchase histories or securely moving funds on a mobile app. That’s the standard healthcare providers must match.”
It’s beyond time for healthcare to join the 21st century. Today, patients say they appreciate digital tools – but it won’t be long before they expect it and get irritated at providers who don’t embrace the tech. Some 60% said that using digital health tools increased their trust in healthcare providers, so those providers who stay ahead of the curve and use tech to maximize engagement will reap the benefits, while those who lag behind will feel the consequences.
If you’re still trying to get with the digital program, here are five ways that tech can help you supercharge your patient engagement.
By Dr. Jeremy Kenter, chief medical officer,