Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Providing inclusive and culturally competent care is an essential strategy for engaging patients, improving adherence to treatment, and helping address issues related to bias and health disparities. Discussions about culturally competent care often focus on individuals who are racial or ethnic minorities or who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. Yet, another special and diverse population often is overlooked — people who have disabilities.
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Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Opioid addiction is arguably one of the most significant public health crises in the United States over the past few decades. Increases in opioid prescribing and consumption in the late 1990s and first decade of the 2000s fueled an epidemic of overdoses, a national heroin crisis, and a rise in deaths from synthetic opioids.1
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Marcy A. Metzgar
What Is Jousting?
In podiatry, "jousting" refers to a podiatrist criticizing another podiatrist's treatment and assuming a patient received inadequate care. In turn, this perspective may motivate the patient to allege malpractice against the podiatrist that provided the initial care.
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Marcy A. Metzgar
The telephone is one of the most important communication tools in healthcare practices. Telephone calls must be prioritized and routed appropriately so patients receive proper medical attention. Telephone triage, like triage in person, is a critical step in ensuring that patients see the appropriate provider at the appropriate level of care.
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Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Violence is an undisputable issue in healthcare, and the media is rife with reports of violent acts occurring in various healthcare settings. When thinking about violence in healthcare, stories in which patients or their families are the perpetrators often come to mind. In some instances, disgruntled or mentally unstable employees act as the aggressors. Violence prevention programs often focus on these aspects but may overlook another crucial source of violence — domestic violence (including intimate partner violence).
Read moreLaura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Maternal health has long been an Achilles heel in the U.S. healthcare system, with the United States having the highest rate of maternal deaths of any high-income nation.1 Although recent data show some improvements, maternal morbidity and mortality are still significant issues, particularly for Black women.2
Read moreLaura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
In healthcare, the concept of informed consent is generally straightforward. A patient is informed about a proposed test, treatment, or procedure; its benefits and risks; and any alternative options. With this knowledge, the patient decides to either consent or not consent to the recommended plan. In reality, though, informed consent is a more complex process that involves nondelegable duties and varies in scope based on the type of test, treatment, or procedure involved.
Read moreLaura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
When envisioning the future of healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) is a preeminent part of the picture. Daily stories trend in the media related to AI applications and their widespread potential for revolutionizing medical practice and patient care. Yet, akin to the promises of electronic health records in the early 21st century, the excitement surrounding AI has sometimes led to an idealistic view of its capabilities while marginalizing technological and operational challenges as well as safety and ethical concerns.2
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