Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM

Telehealth is a mainstay in healthcare delivery, particularly after demonstrating its criticality during the COVID pandemic. Although the use of telehealth has receded from its peak in 2020, it remains a critical tool as issues related to access to care persist.

Personal electronic devices (PEDs) — such cellphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other “smart” devices — are ingrained in modern life and will continue to proliferate as technology advances and consumer demand grows.

Senior care organizations, like other healthcare facilities, must make deliberate and coordinated efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases and outbreaks. The vulnerability of the senior care population reinforces the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC). Senior care residents often are at heightened risk for infections because of declining health, comorbidities, frequent interactions with caregivers, open wounds, use of medical devices, and other factors.¹

Unexpected events that lead to bodily injuries or critical medical conditions can occur anywhere, including healthcare practices. In fact, the occurrence of medical emergencies in healthcare settings might not be as uncommon as many people think.

Medical emergencies occur in various situations, including when people are seeking routine medical or dental care. Although some medical emergencies are inevitable, others potentially can be avoided through careful patient evaluation and assessment.1 An article in the Journal of the American Dental Association explains that the prevention of medical emergencies relies on gathering adequate and appropriate information and assessing the patient’s level of care-related anxiety.