Dr. Mehmet Oz’s nomination as CMS administrator presents a crucial opportunity to reform America’s broken healthcare system. This article explores key areas where Dr. Oz can make a significant impact, from reducing regulatory burdens to fostering competition and combating fraud, ultimately aiming to ‘Make America Healthy Again’.
New Brunswick’s latest attempt to expand primary care access involves collaborative care clinics, a model that has faced challenges in the past. Collaborative care clinics group physicians, nurses, and other allied health practitioners under one system with central administration support. The idea is to tailor patient visits to their specific needs, freeing up doctors and nurse practitioners to handle more acute cases. Despite past successes, funding issues have caused setbacks. The government has now earmarked $20 million for collaborative care practices, hoping that administrative support will attract physicians. While healthcare professionals have expressed a desire for collaborative settings, the message may not have reached policymakers. The success of this latest attempt remains to be seen, but the potential benefits of improved access and reduced wait times are significant.
The organ transplantation system in the United States faces significant challenges, with a severe shortage of donor organs leading to long wait times and even death for those in need. While some advocate for a regulated market for kidneys, the reality of reforming the transplant system is more complex. This article explores the various efforts to improve the transplantation network, including reducing waste and fraud, increasing transparency and accountability, and implementing evidence-based matching algorithms. It also highlights the importance of ongoing system-wide reforms and the need to avoid quick fixes that may not actually improve the system.
Wisconsin GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde emphasizes the significance of addressing healthcare costs and access as a major priority in his campaign. He criticizes Obamacare for worsening the situation and highlights personal experiences with healthcare challenges. Hovde also voices concerns over economic insecurity, the southern border crisis, and crime in Wisconsin.
While recent reports have highlighted the alarming increase in workplace violence against healthcare workers, the Massachusetts Health Association’s recommendations to curb this behavior address only short-term measures like enhanced security and panic alarms. This article delves into the deep-seated causes of rising patient anger, pointing to systemic failures in the healthcare system, such as long wait times, medical debt, and lack of price transparency. It emphasizes that these underlying issues must be addressed to effectively protect healthcare workers and improve the patient experience.
The healthcare system is facing outdated roles for health professionals, hindering access to quality care. A recent review identifies barriers such as workforce design, legislation, and funding, preventing Australians from fully benefiting from the skills of health professionals. Integrated primary care models involving nurses, pharmacists, and physiotherapists offer solutions, but turf wars among professionals and funding disputes pose challenges. The government must prioritize comprehensive general practice support, redesigning funding to enhance collaboration and team-based care. Ensuring all health professionals operate at their full scope of practice is crucial, alongside improving communication and agreements between healthcare providers.
The Biden administration has announced new requirements for nursing homes, including minimum levels of front-line caregivers. The policy, announced by Vice President Harris, requires nursing homes that receive federal funding to provide residents with certain hours of care from registered nurses and nurse aides. The final rule also requires facilities to have a registered nurse on staff 24/7.
