When vision and hearing problems gundetected, they can lead tpermanent loss and more. Vision and hearing impairments contribute tearly morbidity, according tthe National Institutes of Health. Cost-effective interventions are available, however, and early intervention can prevent vision and hearing loss, as well as yield significant long-term savings. New technology … [Read more...]
Averting the long-term care crisis
Experts offer solutions for improving the long-term care system About 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day – a trend that is expected to continue until 2029, according to Dr. Bruce Chernof of the SCAN Foundation. When the last of the baby boomers turns 65 in 2030, about one in five Americans will be 65 and older, he says, and most of them will require roughly three years of … [Read more...]
Warfarin: Still the gold standard
Despite the new oral anticoagulants, warfarin remains the drug of choice, keeping the door open for point-of-care PT testing It has been four years since a new class of blood thinners – which eliminate the need for regular monitoring – hit the market. Even so, in 2014, the old stalwart, warfarin (Coumadin®), remains the king of the class. That’s good news for Repertoire … [Read more...]
Quality over Quantity
Efforts to transform physician reimbursement from fee-for-service to fee-for value fail, but change may be imminent. After more sound and fury, lawmakers chose to delay what many perceive to be the inevitable. Rather than change the current Medicare system of reimbursing physicians, they essentially tabled the matter for another year. In what had become an annual … [Read more...]
A Matter of Perspective
Eighteen years on the payer side and another five in Cardinal Health’s Nuclear Pharmacy Services has given John Rademacher a different perspective on ambulatory care With a background in finance, strategy consulting, process re-engineering and risk management, John Rademacher came to his current position in August 2012 as president, ambulatory care, Cardinal Health, with … [Read more...]
A Good Fit
By Laura Thill From PAR Excellence automated inventory to low-unit-of-delivery and an integrated service center, supply chain expert Patrick Moore won’t stop until the job gets done. When he joined Allina Health in 2006, Patrick Moore was no novice to supply chain and operations. Healthcare, however, was quite another thing. “All of my past positions have been in … [Read more...]
HIDA Health Reform Update
By Linda Rouse O’Neill, VP Government Affairs, HIDA Spring started fast for the government, which took significant steps on key healthcare topics including Medicare’s physician sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, CMS’s competitive bidding program, and the FDA’s pedigree traceability implementation. Subsequently, HIDA’s Government Affairs team provided the following input … [Read more...]
Publisher’s Letter: The Debate Rages On
Americans cans must be sick of listening to both sides of the healthcare reform debate. Unfortunately, the debate will continue to rage through at least November. As someone who follows the debate daily and as part of the industry, I, too, am reaching a certain level of fatigue. The problem is that there isn’t a single solution that, once settled, will make everyone happy -- … [Read more...]