Mark McLaughlin works as a hospice reporter. His hospice news today column offers an editorial view on current topics in palliative and hospice care. His reporting is thorough and informative. Here are his top picks in hospice news today:
Hosparus tries palliative medicine
With an increasing number of people facing end-of-life issues, Hosparus Health is exploring options for palliative care. This is the kind care that is offered at end-of-life. It is similar to the care provided for milestone events. Palliative care is a way for patients and their families to live the best life possible. This service is available to anyone at any stage of a serious illness.
Medicare payments to hospices will be reduced due to sequestration
A recent letter to congressional leaders urges them to take action to avoid the automatic cuts to Medicare payments to hospices. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and others wrote the letter to express concerns about the effects of sequestration on hospice care. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is an advocate for hospice care in Washington and has successfully lobbied for $1 billion in Provider Relief Funding for hospices and a moratorium on Medicare sequestration payments.
End-of-life doulas
The popularity of hospice care has grown to include doulas. They help people with advanced disease prepare for their eventual death and reflect on life. They are not physicians, but instead non-medical advocates who help families to cope with the demands of a dying loved. There are many benefits to using a doula, and here are some reasons why. These are just three of the many benefits that a doula can bring to a woman's life.
Home-based palliative treatment reduces hospitalizations
Many health systems offer Home-Based Palliative Care (HBPC), but there are many variations in the payment structures and models. Diverse services are also offered. It is difficult to compare different models with high-quality evidence. HBPalC appears to be an effective option for end-of life care, both for patients and caregivers.
Racially disparate hospice use
Though there is very little research on the racial disparities of hospice use, recent studies suggest that blacks and whites use hospice services at different levels. Although it could not find any racial disparity in the results, the study did identify variations in hospice service delivery across counties. These findings will be useful in assisting local efforts to increase access to hospice care for all races. This study was conducted to explore the relationship between health care resources and intercounty variations in black and white hospice use.
FAQ
What are the three levels in health care facilities
The first level includes general practice clinics. These provide basic medical services for patients not requiring hospital admission. They may also refer patients if needed to other providers. These include general practitioners, nurse practitioners, or midwives.
The second level are primary care centres, which provide complete outpatient care, as well as emergency treatment. These include hospitals.
The third level is secondary care centers which provide specialist services such as orthopedic surgery, eye surgeries, and neurosurgery.
What is a health care system?
All aspects of healthcare, from prevention to rehabilitation, are covered by health systems. It includes hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, community services, public health, primary health care, long-term care, home care, mental health and addictions, palliative and end-of-life care, emergency medicine, research, education, financing, and regulation.
Health systems are complex adaptive systems. They can have emergent qualities that cannot be predicted if you only look at individual components.
Complex health systems can be difficult to comprehend and manage due to their complexity. This is where creativity is needed.
Creativity helps us find solutions to problems we don't know how to solve. We use our imaginations and creativity to develop new ideas.
People with creative thinking skills are vital for the health system. They're always evolving.
Individuals who think creatively have the potential to change the way healthcare systems operate.
What information should I have about immunizations
Immunization is the process that stimulates the immune response to a vaccination. Immunization is the process by which the body makes antibodies (immunoglobulins), that protect against infection.
How do I get health insurance free in my locality?
If you are eligible, you can apply for free insurance. You might be eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Tricare, VA benefits, Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), military health plans, Indian Health Service (IHS) benefits, or some other program.
What is the difference in a doctor and a practitioner?
A doctor is an individual who has completed his/her training and is licensed to practice medicine. A physician is a specialist in one type of medicine.
Who is responsible in public health?
Public health is a responsibility of all levels of government. Local governments control roads, schools, parks, and recreation facilities. National and state governments have laws and regulations that regulate food safety, workplace safety, consumer protection, and other areas.
Statistics
- The health share of the Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to continue its upward trend, reaching 19.9 percent of GDP by 2025. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Price Increases, Aging Push Sector To 20 Percent Of Economy". (en.wikipedia.org)
- Foreign investment in hospitals—up to 70% ownership- has been encouraged as an incentive for privatization. (en.wikipedia.org)
- For instance, Chinese hospital charges tend toward 50% for drugs, another major percentage for equipment, and a small percentage for healthcare professional fees. (en.wikipedia.org)
- About 14 percent of Americans have chronic kidney disease. (rasmussen.edu)
External Links
How To
What is the Healthcare Industry Value Chain
All activities that are involved in providing healthcare services for patients make up the healthcare industry value chain. This includes all the business processes that occur within hospitals and clinics as well as the supply chains that link them to other providers, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists or insurance companies. The end result is a continuum of care that begins with diagnosis and ends with discharge.
The value chain consists of four major components.
-
Business Processes – These are the tasks that individuals perform throughout the delivery of health care. A doctor might conduct an exam, prescribe medication and send a prescription to a pharmacy. Each step must be done correctly and efficiently.
-
Supply Chains – All organizations that ensure the right supplies reach the correct people at the right times. A typical hospital has dozens of suppliers, including pharmacies, lab testing facilities, imaging centers, and even janitorial staff.
-
Networked organizations - These entities must communicate with each other in order to coordinate. Hospitals typically have many departments, each with its own set of offices and phone numbers. The central point will allow employees to get up-to-date information from any department.
-
Information Technology Systems (IT) - IT is essential in order for business processes to run smoothly. Without IT, things could quickly go sour. IT can also be used to integrate new technologies into a system. If doctors want to integrate electronic medical records in their workflow, they can use secure network connections.