Practice Management
An abstract presented at ID Week in Atlanta recently paints a grim picture of the evolution of hepatitis A transmissions. Between 2007 and 2017, the incidence of hepatitis A attributed to outbreaks (as opposed to common-source exposure) increased steadily—to the point that in 2017, 43% of hep A infections were associated with outbreaks, compared with only 5% between 2007 and 2011. In the past, large community outbreaks were most likely to be associated with asymptomatic …
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In the past, we’ve pointed out that the urgent care industry has forged a reputation for being more consumer-friendly than many other settings (which is a key part for its ongoing growth). As other industries evolve, though, urgent care operators might want to pay attention to new strategies that are paying off. A post on FastCompany.com suggests taking a closer look at Lyft and Airbnb—two companies that have built their brand on a foundation of …
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Nearly half of the 3,500-plus emergency physicians who took part in a survey commissioned by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) say they’ve been physically assaulted at work. Most deny being injured or needing to take time off as a result. Hitting/slapping, spitting, punching, kicking, scratching, and biting were all considered to be physical assault. The numbers are even worse when you consider nonphysical assaults or harassment; 96% of female physicians and 80% of …
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No sane human wants to wind up on the wrong end of a lawsuit, but the risk is especially perilous in the healthcare field. Be found culpable in a malpractice suit and you could literally lose everything you’ve worked for, going back to medical school. Unfortunately, the practice of medicine is inherently risky. Susan Boisvert, BSN, MHSA, CPHRM, FASHRM, a senior risk manager with Coverys, will talk about how to walk that tightrope during the …
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CVS Health and Aetna received approval to merge from the Department of Justice this week—provided that Aetna follows through on plans to sell its Medicare Part D business to a subsidiary of WellCare Health Plans in order to preserve competition in that market. CVS is already the leader in the Medicare Part D market, with Aetna fifth. The $69 billion deal will blend Aetna’s rich beneficiary data with CVS’s capability to provide point-of-service care, a …
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The U.S. Department of Transportation added four semisynthetic opioids to its drug testing panel on the first of this year. Now, just over 10 months later, those four—hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone—are turning up more often than their older counterparts when transportation professionals fail a drug test. New data from the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index show that the positivity rate for them is “notably higher” than the positive rate seen for more traditional opiates. Prior to …
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Sexual harassment is a “chronic debilitating disease” in healthcare settings—and it needs to be treated as such, according to a pair of Perspective articles in the New England Journal of Medicine. As one of them points out, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine issued a report stating that up to 50% of female medical students will experience some form of sexual harassment before they even get out of med school. The morality (or …
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Los Angeles County in California is beset by a major outbreak of typhus—so much so that area health officials have called it an epidemic, with no signs that it’s going to abate any time soon. Pasadena, CA has seen 20 cases, mostly in the past 2 months; in an average year, they might see five cases. Long Beach has confirmed 12 cases, double the typical annual number, with more than 2 months left in the …
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As we first told you weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone who should be vaccinated against influenza—which would include all Americans over the age of 6 months, unless they have a contraindication—do so by the end of October. The CDC says the flu will strike early this year, but as always there are more naysayers among the public than there should be. Some people just don’t think it …
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With publication of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) new Qualification of Drivers; Diabetes Standard, drivers who have insulin-treated diabetes will no longer be barred from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Here’s what you need to really need to know if you offer occupational medicine services such as Department of Transportation physicals in your urgent care center: Certified Medical Examiners will rely on physician input to determine whether to issue a Medical Examiner’s Certificate …
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