New AAPA President: Physician Associates Key to Addressing Workforce Shortages
Physician associates are part of the solution for workforce shortages in the healthcare sector, says Folusho Ogunfiditimi, DM, MPH, PA-C, president and chair of the Board of Directors at the American Academy of Physician Associates.
Q&A With New American Medical Association President
HealthLeaders talked with Ehrenfeld about a range of issues, including the top priorities of his AMA presidency, health equity, and physician shortages. The following transcript of that conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
How to Improve Emergency Department Efficiency
An initiative launched in January has significantly improved efficiency at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center’s emergency department.
AMA: Nearly One-Third of Physicians Have Been Sued for Medical Liability Claims
Most lawsuits for medical liability claims do not result in the finding of a medical error, according to the AMA. From 2016 to 2018, 65% of claims were dropped, dismissed, or withdrawn; and for the 6% of claims decided by a trial verdict, 89% were won by the defendant.
Counting Will Resume for Minimums for Ventricular Assist Device Procedures at End of PHE
For hospitals with cardiac programs that include performing ventricular assist device (VAD) implants, The Joint Commission offers the reminder that as of May 12, 2023, CMS will resume monitoring the number of procedures done by the VAD team as part of determining coverage under Medicare.
Should a Pharmacist Be Allowed to Deliver Primary Care Services?
Primary care providers are under a lot of stress these days. Pharmacists can help them. That was the takeaway from an intriguing panel at last week’s HIMSS 2023 conference and exhibition in Chicago.
Gun Violence Costs U.S. Healthcare $1B+ Annually
Gun violence in the United States was responsible for nearly 49,000 deaths in 2021, about 30,000 inpatient hospital stays, and 50,000 emergency department visits, generating more than $1 billion in medical costs, according to a new report from the Urban Institute.
Patient Want to Receive Medical Test Results Immediately Online, Study Finds
The new research article, which was published by JAMA Network Open, features survey data collected from more than 8,000 adult patients and care partners who had gotten test results through an online patient portal from April 5, 2021, to April 4, 2022.
ACEP President: Drop in Emergency Medicine Training Applicants ‘Concerning’
The steep decline in applicants to emergency medicine training programs comes as emergency departments nationwide emerge from a harrowing experience of chaotic emergency rooms during the coronavirus pandemic. Prior to this year’s plunge in applicants, there was an expectation that there would be an oversupply of emergency physicians, with 8,000 more than needed by 2030, according to a 2021 report.
Addressing Maternal Mortality Through Cardiovascular Care
Addressing cardiovascular disease during pregnancy is crucial to reducing maternal mortality, says Rachel Bond, MD, system director of women’s heart health at CommonSpirit. “Cardiovascular death, which is the leading cause of death during pregnancy, is preventable 80% of the time. A lot of that has to do with us communicating with each other and diagnosing these conditions early.”