Restoring Physician-Patient Trust
Physician-patient trust has been deteriorating for years. There are different reasons for reduced levels of trust between patients and doctors. However, ensuring patients have confidence in their care providers and that doctors feel safe at work will be critical in recentering trust moving forward so patients can receive the highest possible level of care. Causes […]
Preventing Healthcare-associated Infections
As health systems continue to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they must brace for a new threat: the rising rate of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). For example, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia (which is resistant to many antibiotics) is infecting an increasing number of patients in healthcare facilities. Tackling the increased rate of HAIs is […]
Physician Burnout is Rising
Physician burnout is on the rise, and the increase is sharpest among younger primary doctors. A new study conducted by the Commonwealth Fund found that over half of medical practitioners under the age of 55 have reported feeling burned out or stressed. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the rise in stressed doctors. Physicians report […]
Healthcare Worker Violence Increases
Healthcare worker violence is increasing at an alarming rate, making providers’ jobs of looking after patients incredibly challenging. The pandemic has largely fueled this increase in violence. The uptick in healthcare worker violence has been substantial and affects all types of care providers. Of registered nurses, 44% reported being victims of physical violence, while 68% […]
Doctor Burnout Levels Increasing as a Result of the Pandemic
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an influx of doctor burnout. A recent study published in the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that physician burnout increased during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic following a six-year drop that ended in 2020. Helping Doctors Through Extensive Burnout In a press release, American […]
Universal Masking Lifted
The Center for Disease Control has recently changed their universal COVID-19 masking protocol in hospitals and other facilities. Now, unless healthcare providers work in areas with high COVID-19 levels or have other specific circumstances, they do not need to wear masks at work. This change is a result of increased vaccination rates and decreased infection […]
Expansion of COVID-Era Telehealth Services
On July 27th, 2022, the House implemented a bill to further expand Telehealth services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, most medical providers transitioned into online consultations with patients using Telehealth with the help of Medicare. In an effort to continue the policies, the introduction of this bill will support these services to provide accessible care through […]
Getting Your Flu Shot This Year
Medical experts are proposing that a noticeable increase in flu cases could occur in the United States this year. This means that getting a flu shot this year is extremely important. Flu season has been different from its usual patterns due to COVID-19, meaning this year’s season is likely to be unpredictable. Influenza rates were […]
New CDC Guidelines on COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement saying that people no longer need to quarantine if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19. This recommendation also holds for people not fully vaccinated. The CDC guidelines state that exposed people now only need to wear masks while indoors for up to 10 days. […]
COVID-19 Tests With Inaccurate Results
Many people use rapid at home COVID-19 tests to ensure that they have not contracted the virus. However, many medical officials are expressing concerns over the accuracy of test results. Receiving one negative test result does n0t necessarily mean that someone doesn’t have COVID-19. According to the FDA, people conducting at home tests should perform […]
COVID-19 Booster Updates
Cases of COVID-19 are still occurring across the United States due to more contagious Omnicron variants. Doctors and scientists worry about the effectiveness of current vaccines in protecting older populations against Omnicron infections. Therefore, experts are highly recommending booster vaccines. Current COVID-19 boosters are safe and effective. They help to reduce the severity of several […]
Monkeypox Outbreak Facts
Recently, monkeypox has been announced as an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization. However, many are unfamiliar with what the virus is and why this outbreak is so concerning. Scientists have been apprehensive about a monkeypox outbreak for over a decade, and this concern is becoming relevant as more and more cases […]