Bringing Prescribing and Fulfillment of Specialty Medications Into the 21st Century
Often, to prescribe the specialty drug, the physician must write a letter requesting the health plan to cover it and provide lab and/or test results to verify medical necessity. Meanwhile, the patient, who typically has a complex, difficult-to-manage health condition, waits needlessly for a drug that they hope will improve their health and quality of life.
Joint Commission Targets Maternal Health Crisis
This week, TJC released a Sentinel Event Alert and Quick Safety advisory on maternal mortality and morbidity. “We must address the maternal health crisis immediately, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated racial disparities in pregnancy-related outcomes,” Ana Pujols McKee, MD, executive vice president, chief medical officer, and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer of TJC, said in a prepared statement.
Three Ways to Ensure Healthcare Technology Design Focuses on the End User
Today’s technology solutions can help stem the tide of burnout—but to do so, their design must incorporate direct input from the end user. With informatics solutions that span care settings and are easy to use, clinicians and nurses can spend more time on patient care rather than grappling with disparate technologies that don’t fit into their workflows.
The Exec: Coronavirus Pandemic Remains a Top Challenge
Marjorie Bessel, MD, has been with Banner Health for more than a decade. She has held many physician leadership roles at the health system, including serving as chief medical officer for several hospitals and working as chief medical officer of Banner Health’s Arizona Division. Before taking on the chief clinical officer role, she served as vice president and chief medical officer of community delivery.
Safe Staffing at the Top of New ANA President’s Priority List
Mensik Kennedy brings more than 25 years of nursing experience to the ANA presidency and has given more than a decade of service to ANA as a committee treasurer and board of directors member. She also is a member of the Oregon Nurses Association.
The Joint Commission Elevates Health Equity to National Patient Safety Goal
The Joint Commission (TJC) —which last year issued new hospital Leadership standards to encourage health equity, effective January 1, 2023—has now elevated health equity to a National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG).
There are no new requirements for NPSG.16.10.01, which echo the Leadership standards except to identify all six elements of performance (EPs) as risk areas.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 70 – Using Technology to Get Complete Medication Histories
On episode 70 of PSQH: The Podcast, Chris Roark, Chief Information Officer of Stillwater Medical Center, talks about using technology to get complete medication histories.
AAMC: Diversity in Medical Schools Increased in 2022
Lack of diversity in the healthcare workforce risks undermining trust and patient health, according to the Urban Institute. An Urban Institute report published last year found that only 22.2% of Black adults reported being of the same race as their healthcare providers compared to 73.8% of White adults and only 23.1% of Hispanic/Latinx adults reported racial, ethnic, and language concordance with their usual healthcare provider.
And Again: PHE Continues After 90-Day Renewal Issued
The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is now extended. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra issued the renewal on January 11. The typically 90-day extension would then last through April 11, 2023.
Nurse Practitioners Have the Best Job in Healthcare
Besides ranking No. 1 in healthcare jobs, NP ranked No. 2 in the top 100 Best Jobs by U.S. News, the global authority in rankings. And though nearly 40% of the best jobs are in healthcare, a technology job—software developer—captured the top spot this year because of the “rising number of products and services that leverage software,” says Janica Ingram, careers editor at U.S. News.