The U.S. Senate committee on Aging is investigating the assisted living industry, discussing the concerns regarding the high costs, quality of care, and financial practices. Both Republican and Democratic senators have expressed support for the inquiry but are wary of further federal regulation. The dominant concern is the poor care and the high costs that…
Stacy A. Ogbeide discusses the importance of self-care and wellness for healthcare professionals, especially in the post-COVID era. She emphasizes the need for the healthcare system to support practice changes that create a more enjoyable work environment for clinicians. This includes making electronic medical records more user-friendly and utilizing artificial intelligence to reduce documentation. Ogbeide…
The federal government is seeking to block Novant Health from acquiring two hospitals in North Carolina, which would give them control of over 65% of the inpatient market in the region. This acquisition would make Novant even more powerful and could drive up insurance premiums and medical bills. Novant, a nonprofit system with $7.6 billion…
Senior health leaders are urging the government to develop a strategy on sexual health in response to the increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections among young people. England’s chief medical officer and the president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV called for a new approach to running sexual health services, including addressing…
The differences in brain activity between handwriting and typing have been studied by researchers in Norway who found that handwriting increases brain connectivity more than typing. Connectivity between different brain regions increased when participants wrote by hand, but not when they typed. The researchers concluded that the careful forming of letters while writing by hand…
A new study found that toilet flushing creates aerosols that can carry viruses to other surfaces, leading to potential cross-contamination. The study examined the impact of closing the toilet lid before flushing on the odds of viral contamination. Tests found that closing the lid did not reduce the risk of contaminating bathroom surfaces. Using hydrochloric…
At 27, Julie Stamm was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the midst of her finance career. Now 42, she advocates for others with MS and authored a children’s book. She balances motherhood and symptoms with fun activities and empowering language. Director Mary Rensel stresses that medication, nutrition, and social connections are key to living with…
The FDA has approved dupilumab for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in children aged 1-11 years and weighing ≥ 15 kg. Dupilumab is the first and only medicine approved for this use. EoE is a chronic inflammatory disorder that damages the esophagus, causing difficulty swallowing and eating. The approval is based on results from…
A recent study found that babies born to women infected by COVID-19 during pregnancy are three times more likely to develop respiratory illness. The risk is significantly lower when mothers are vaccinated before getting infected. Uninfected children exposed to the virus during pregnancy have also shown increased reports of respiratory distress. Research published in Nature…
In the study comparing PCI guided by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS), it was found that both imaging techniques had similar outcomes when used to guide treatment for complex coronary lesions. The study concluded that there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes or procedural success between the two imaging modalities. This…
