Articles tagged with Health Care Delivery
A systematic review of 156 trials found that physical exercise improved motor symptoms and quality of life in people with Parkinson's Disease. Most types of structured exercise, including dance, water-based exercise, and endurance training, showed clinically meaningful benefits.
A remote hypertension program, operated by Mass General Brigham, successfully supported patients through the COVID-19 pandemic in achieving their blood pressure goals. Participants who enrolled during the pandemic reached and maintained their goal blood pressures an average of two months earlier than in the pre-pandemic period.
A population data linkage study found fewer people in Wales diagnosed with long-term conditions in 2020 and 2021 than expected, indicating a potential backlog of undiagnosed patients. This disparity affects chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and anxiety disorders, corresponding to over 30 and 80 missing diagnoses respectively.
A systematic review of 33 randomized controlled trials found that yoga improved gait speed and lower extremity strength in inactive older people. However, it did not offer a benefit for frailty markers compared to exercise or tai chi.
A study found that telemedicine visits did not adversely affect the quality of care for patients with major depression, and even improved some aspects of care. The transition to virtual visits also led to increased adherence to measurement-based care practices.
A survey of over 1000 patients found that two thirds prefer a urologist of their own gender, but in certain situations, both men and women choose a female doctor. Patients with painful conditions are more likely to opt for a female urologist.
Dr. Natasha Kekre, a University of Ottawa associate professor and hematologist, has secured millions in funding and published numerous peer-reviewed papers on CAR-T cellular therapies for cancer treatment. Her work has advanced the immunotherapy field in Canada and made her an expert in cancer immunotherapies.
A Cochrane review found that eliminating hazards around the home, such as clutter and poor lighting, can reduce the risk of falls for older people by around a quarter. Decluttering and reducing hazards had the most benefit for those at high risk of falls.
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has selected Cleveland Clinic for a nationwide initiative to improve how healthcare systems translate research findings to clinical practice. The initiative aims to reduce the time it takes to move discovery in research to new treatments, with an estimated lag of 17 years.
High-dose anticoagulation reduces intubations and deaths by 30% in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, especially those with ARDS. The study found a significant reduction in mortality and need for ICU care among patients treated with therapeutic anticoagulation.
A new study shows that transcatheter mitral valve repair significantly reduces hospitalizations by almost 50 percent and death by nearly 30 percent in heart failure patients with severe mitral regurgitation. The procedure, using Abbott's MitraClip system, improves symptoms, reduces hospitalizations, and leads to longer survival.
A study published in the American Journal of Critical Care found that a single trained observer serving as a checklist prompter can accurately assess whether multidisciplinary rounds addressed key elements of the ABCDEF bundle. This approach enables customized, shorter checklists to streamline workflows and improve patient care.
The NCCN Annual Conference will debut a new hybrid format featuring in-person events at a new venue, allowing for hallway conversations and networking opportunities. The conference will also showcase more than 100 abstract poster presentations on various oncology-related categories.
This special supplement from Annals of Family Medicine highlights the work of six HRSA-funded academic units focused on advancing health care equity and improving primary care practices. The articles cover topics such as workforce training, mental health care seeking, socioeconomic issues, and whole-person oriented healthcare.
A school-based wellness initiative led by MUSC's Boeing Center for Children's Wellness has been shown to reduce the average student BMI over time. The program, which targets policy, systems and environmental change, uses evidence-based strategies such as physical activity, nutrition and social-emotional wellness.
A recent BC study found that midwifery care is safe and effective for clients with varying levels of medical risk. Midwife-led care resulted in lower rates of preterm births and low-birth-weight babies, as well as increased cesarean delivery rates at higher medical risks.
A study found that over 80% of American adults with type 2 diabetes meet the criteria to use GLP-1 RAs or SGLT2is, but only a small percentage are using them. The medications have a substantially higher cost than current first-line treatments, making it difficult for patients to access them.
A smartphone app-based cognitive behavioral therapy program lowered blood sugar levels and improved health behaviors in patients with diabetes. The study found a clear 'dose effect,' where participants completing more lessons saw greater benefits.
A culturally appropriate model of end-of-life care is being developed in Ghana to address the scarcity of palliative care in low-resource communities. COMPASS Ghana aims to provide universal end-of-life care by the end of the decade, utilizing a compassionate community approach that involves patients and caregivers in care provision.
A global study found that almost half of newborns were separated from their mother, leading to low breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact rates. Despite rare transmission and mild cases, the pandemic's impact on family-centred care was significant.
Current state reporting methods may be inadequate, as not all individuals experiencing an overdose connect with medical services or community programs. This study highlights the need for more comprehensive reporting of nonfatal drug overdoses across US states.
An investigation by The BMJ found that only 30 of 200 private hospitals treated COVID-19 patients in April 2020. Meanwhile, some private hospitals devoted 60% or more of their capacity to treating private patients during the pandemic.
Targeted RNA therapy aims to treat pre-eclampsia by delivering mRNA to placental cells, reducing maternal blood pressure and restoring fetal circulation. The treatment has shown promising results in mice, paving the way for potential treatments for human patients.
Experts warn that scrapping England's long term plan for cancer will lead to wide variations in access to effective treatments and quality of care. The current proposal jettisons decades of global consensus on the need for dedicated cancer plans.
A single prior paid claim increases future claim risk, regardless of specialty or state disclosure. Timely education and intervention have the potential to mitigate future claims.
A novel study found a direct relationship between belief in race as a cultural phenomenon driving health disparities and the use of race in care among family physicians. The study suggests that using race without recognizing social, political, and economic factors can stigmatize racially minoritized people and worsen health disparities.
A new review suggests that remote symptom reporting systems can significantly reduce outpatient waiting lists by enabling patients to monitor and report their symptoms digitally. This allows clinicians to make informed decisions in near real-time, reducing the need for unnecessary clinic appointments.
A new economic model estimates the health benefits and budget impact of Fracture Liaison Services, showing significant reductions in fragility fractures, hospital bed days, and social care costs. The model suggests that FLS implementation would lead to improved patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
A UK government program aimed at tackling childhood obesity may be having negative effects on children's mental health and relationships with food. The study found that some families expressed concerns about the potential for weight-related teasing and stigma, which can lead to poorer self-perceptions and unhealthy dieting behaviors.
Researchers found inconsistencies in labor and delivery policies, causing vicarious trauma among nurses. Policy changes are proposed to improve emotional and mental health support for healthcare workers.
A new study found that primary care visits addressing mental health concerns rose by almost 50% over a decade, with Black and Hispanic patients facing barriers to access. Primary care physicians welcome the opportunity to address mental health concerns but need better support systems.
People living with dementia are more likely to have cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage and receive less treatment, negatively affecting survival. Review authors provide pragmatic recommendations for clinicians treating cancer in patients with dementia.
A new study found that Black and Hispanic stroke survivors in the US are less likely to receive treatment for common complications, despite improved overall stroke survival rates. Researchers analyzed electronic health records from 2002 to 2022 and matched patients based on 41 factors to minimize biases.
A new study found that financial coaching for parents of infants in a pediatric primary care setting reduced missed well-child care visit rates by half and improved vaccination receipt. The intervention, which connected parents to public benefits and cost-saving services, also increased monthly household income.
A new study finds that Mexican American stroke survivors are less likely to receive intensive rehabilitation services compared to non-Hispanic white peers. Nearly one-third of all stroke survivors in the study did not receive any rehabilitation within 90 days of their stroke.
A team of leading experts in reproductive biology, microbiome science, and immunology found that the concept of a foetal microbiome is inaccurate. The detection of microbiomes in foetal tissues was attributed to contamination during vaginal delivery, clinical procedures, or laboratory analysis.
A position paper highlights the intersection of structural racism and ageism in healthcare, highlighting delayed care, exclusion from medical research, and adverse health outcomes. The authors advocate for increasing representation of diverse voices in healthcare policy discussions to promote solutions to these barriers to quality care.
A recent study found that telemedicine use did not compromise the quality of opioid use disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical outcomes for patients treated by clinicians with high and low telemedicine use were similar, suggesting telemedicine as a comparable alternative to in-person care.
A nationwide study led by Harvard researchers found that patients in health systems receive marginally better care but report slightly better experiences, while care comes at a much higher price. The analysis suggests that health systems have not realized their potential for better care at equal or lower cost.
The Collaborative for Telehealth and Aging has published the first-ever guidelines for offering telehealth services to older patients. The principles provide general rules for behavior, while the guidelines offer specificity for each principle, aiming to achieve individual goals for programs and providers.
A recent study published in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy found that about one-third of caregivers self-medicate. Carriers who reported unfavorable healthcare experiences were more likely to take personal care into their own hands. The research team recommends that healthcare professionals should interact with caregive...
Researchers found that primary care physicians using community health information exchanges (HIEs) reduced the likelihood of re-hospitalizations and follow-up emergency department visits. By accessing data about patient care transitions, doctors increased hospital admission lengths from 99 to 238 days.
The study provides insights into primary care's challenges and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The learning community of AHRQ identified promising solutions to improve primary care delivery.
Researchers analyzed data from Ontario, Canada and found no evidence that virtual care increased emergency department visits. The study controlled for various factors, including patient complexity and practitioner characteristics.
A nationwide study in Japan found that high-quality primary care attributes, including accessibility and continuity, significantly reduced hospitalizations. Researchers identified a reduction in total hospitalizations among participants with better primary care coordination and comprehensiveness.
A study found that primary care clinics increased care management processes for chronic disease care from 2019 to 2021, with scores improving in organized and urban settings. However, performance and patient management areas saw a decline in 2021, with rural areas performing lower than urban ones.
Primary care physicians and patients expressed concerns about digital detection surveillance of infectious diseases, including ambiguity over consent and potential discrimination. High-quality primary care was associated with reduced hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A study by Kennesaw State University researcher Weiwei Chen found that COVID surges led to poorer outcomes for non-COVID patients in hospitals overwhelmed with COVID cases. The odds of an in-hospital death were 1.2 times higher among non-COVID patients than before the pandemic.
Research finds that seniors living in R3 program sites have lower hospitalization rates, days, payments, and readmissions compared to control sites. The R3 initiative embeds wellness teams in senior housing, providing assessments, proactive check-in calls, risk stratification, and care coordination.
A recent study found that patients who met with surgeons for first-time surgery consultations via telemedicine were satisfied with the quality of communication, comparable to in-person visits. The study suggests that either method is appropriate, depending on what the surgeon and patient prefer.
A new study finds that online physician rating platforms can help disseminate important quality information to patients and direct them to higher-quality physicians. The research examines the impact of user-generated online ratings on healthcare choices and highlights their positive association with conventional measurements of physici...
Researchers developed an eight-point framework to assess the validity and performance of patient matching tools. The framework provides a standardized approach to evaluate patient matching algorithms, covering technical areas such as data preprocessing and record adjudication.
A new study from Flinders University found that a telehealth program delivering individualized coaching improves self-management and reduces suffering for people with chronic pain. The program, called Rethinking Pain, provides access to care and support for those living in rural areas who face long wait times for specialist care.
A large randomized study found that machine learning-triggered reminders significantly increased rates of advanced care planning conversations, reducing potentially harmful therapies at end of life. The intervention also improved patient education and early palliative care referrals.
The SafeCare study found that adverse events occur in 23.6% of hospital admissions, with medication-related harm being the leading cause. The study recommends improved tracking of adverse drug effects, reliable data collection, and a culture prioritizing safe care.
A recent study found that patients treated at centers that don't perform transplants have a 79% higher odds of being denied bridge-to-transplant designation. This change could exacerbate existing disparities in access to heart transplantation, according to the research team.
Research reveals private equity firms experience greater replacement of the workforce and rely on physician assistants and nurse practitioners. A more stable workforce is associated with better health outcomes for patients.
Internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy shows promise in expanding care for underserved children with developmental delay. The study found significant improvements in child behavior that were maintained across follow-up visits.
Researchers developed a framework to address women's reproductive needs holistically, combining family planning, contraception, and preconception care. The model suggests teaching children about reproductive health in school and using social media campaigns to raise awareness of reproductive preferences.
A study of 5.1 million commercially insured adults found a rapid increase in telehealth services for mental health conditions during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic led to higher service utilization rates for several mental health conditions compared to pre-pandemic levels.