Category: Healthcare

Freebies, Discounts, & Perks for Healthcare’s Heroes

To recognize the heroic efforts of frontline medical staff, companies are offering promotions as a way of giving back. Here’s a giant list of them.

Last Updated: May 11th, 2020 at 8:50 AM ET. Please see individual websites for further details about offers, including whether or not they have expired.

No one has proven more essential through the COVID-19 crisis than the medical professionals who are working on the frontlines of the pandemic. To recognize your heroic efforts, scores of companies across the nation are offering promotions as a way of giving back.

To make it a bit easier to know what is being offered to you, we’ve compiled a list of some of the available free and discounted goods and services, as well as other perks, and have posted it below.

Please note, this list is by no means complete. However, it is extensive, and we will continue to update it, as we come across new promotions and as promotions expire or reach their limit. If you are aware of a promotion not listed below, or if you discover that a promotion listed has expired, please email us by clicking here.

If you have any questions about a specific promotion, please direct those questions to the company offering the promotion. Thank you.

PPE

Mask Match — Free Masks
If you are a healthcare worker in need of a mask, Mask Match will try to connect you with someone who has masks to donate. Fill out the “I Need Masks” form to get started.
Learn More →

Apparel, Goods, and Services

Adidas — 40% Off
Adidas offers 15% off year-round for first responders and nurses. However, they have increased that discount program to 40% off during the COVID-19 crisis.
Learn More →

Big Lots — 15% Off
Big Lots is offering a 15% discount off everything for medical professionals, first responders, and active military/veterans. Just show your badge or work/military ID or use code BIGHEROES online. This offer is good through May 31st.
Learn More →

BJ’s Wholesale Club — Priority Access
BJ’s Wholesale Club, at all of its locations, will have an Appreciation Hour from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sundays for first responders and healthcare workers. During this designated time period, first responders and healthcare workers can shop in all of BJ’s locations without a membership.
Learn More →

Care.com — Free Premium Access
Care.com is providing one month of free, premium access to their site to support frontline medical workers who need help with finding care for their children, parents, and pets.
Learn More →

Clarks — 50% Off
Shoe manufacturer and retailer, Clarks, is offering a 50% discount for nurses and first responders. Limit one 50% off code per nurse or medical professional. Verify your ID through ID.me to receive the discount.
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Costco — Priority Access
Costco is temporarily offering priority access to members who are healthcare workers and first responders, such as police officers, EMTs and firefighters. Just present your Costco membership card and official identification of your role to move to the front of the line.
Learn More →

Crocs — Free Crocs
Crocs is donating 10,000 shoes a day through their “Sharing a Pair for Healthcare” initiative. All you have to do is go to the Crocs website and get in line at 12:00 PM ET for each day’s giveaway.
Learn More →

Dearfoams — Free Slippers — Limit Reached/Giveaway Expired
Dearfoams is giving away free slippers to healthcare workers, and has also committed to donating 100,000 face masks to healthcare heroes.
Learn More →

Dollar General — In-Store Discount
Dollar General is offering an in-store discount of an unspecified amount to all medical personnel, first responders, and activated National Guardsmen. Just present your employer badge or ID. It was previously announced that the discount would be 10%, and may be more or less at this time.
Learn More →

Dr. Scholl’s — Free Insoles
Dr. Scholl’s is donating 100,000 pairs of Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Work insoles to healthcare workers across the country, totaling a $1.3 million donation. Hospitals can email coronavirus.outreach@drscholls.com to submit a request for their medical staff.
Learn More →

Food Network — Free Access
Food Network is giving healthcare professionals 1 year of free access to their app, Food Network Kitchen, which offers step-by-step cooking tutorials, as well as commercial-free access to Food Network shows.
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Home Shopping Network — 15% Off
Home Shopping Network is offering nurses 15% off any single item on HSN.com. Exclusions apply. Coupon valid through December 31st, 2020.
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Jansport — 50% Off
Jansport, the maker of backpacks, bags, and accessories, is offering 50% for medical professionals and first responders. This offer is valid through June 30th, 2020.
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Nike — 20% Off
For a limited time, Nike has increased their first responder and medical professional discount from 10% to 20%. Doctors, nurses, technicians, medical researchers, EMTs, firefighters, law enforcement, and more are eligible for the discount.
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The North Face — 50% Off
From April 14, 2020 to December 31, 2020 The North Face will be giving a 50% discount to healthcare workers in the U.S. This discount can be used for the purchase of non-sale items on their website and at The North Face-owned retail stores in the United States.
Learn More →

Publix — Priority Access
First responders and hospital staff will be permitted to shop in Publix and access in-store pharmacies an hour after closing to the general public on Thursday evenings, from 8:00 until 9:00 PM, and an hour before opening to the general public on Friday mornings, from 7:00 until 8:00 AM until further notice.
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Reebok — 50% Off
Reebok has increased their longstanding company discount to first responders and educators to 50% off. All nurses, military members, educators and first responders can shop 50% off at Reebok.com with no exceptions during this time.
Learn More →

Sam’s Club — Priority Access
Beginning April 19th, Sam’s Club is offering priority access to members who are healthcare workers and first responders during their “Hero Hours,” which are special shopping hours on Sundays from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
Learn More →

Samsung — Up to 30% Off/Free Repairs
Samsung has extended their employee discount to all first responders and their families, which includes free repairs for Samsung phones, as well as up to 30% off products.
Learn More →

Tide — Free Laundry Services
Tide is offering free laundry services and dry cleaning to the families (defined as ‘next of kin’ e.g. same household/address) of frontline responders including nurses, doctors, paramedics, hospital/medical staff, medical researchers, police officers, and firefighters. The offer is good in participating cities through May 9.
Learn More →

Under Armour — 40% Off
Under Armour is recognizing those on the front lines by offering a 40% off discount for military members, first responders, health care workers and teachers. Just choose ‘Military and First Responder Discount’ at checkout to get your discount.
Learn More →

YETI — 20% Off
YETI, maker of coolers, drinkware, bags, and more, is offering a 20% discount to medical professionals and first responders. Verify your ID to receive the discount. Some restrictions apply.
Learn More →

Food & Beverages

Circle K — Free Coffee, Tea, or Fountain Drink — Limit Reached/Giveaway Expired
First responders and health care workers can get a free coffee, tea, or Polar Pop Fountain Drink when they show an ID through April 30.
Learn More →

DoorDash — Free or Discounted Delivery
DoorDash, the food delivery app, is actively partnering with hospitals in the U.S. and Canada to provide free access to Corporate DashPass. Every doctor, nurse, and hospital employee from partnering hospitals will receive at least 60 days of free DashPass, which eliminates or reduces delivery fees from local restaurants.
Learn More →

Dunkin’ — Free Coffee and Donut — Limit Reached/Giveaway Expired
On the first day of National Nurses Week, Wednesday, May 6, Dunkin’ is offering a free medium hot or iced coffee and a free donut to all healthcare workers who visit participating Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide, while supplies last. Not purchase necessary. Excludes Cold Brew and Nitro Cold Brew, Limit 1 per guest. Not valid on mobile orders.
Learn More →

Hooters — 20% Off
Hospital workers, first responders, and military personnel get 20% off at Hooters. Show your work ID for curbside pickup orders, or for online orders choose the “Pay at Store” option.
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IHOP — 20% Off
Get 20% off your entire check if you’re a medical, law enforcement, military, and firefighter professional. All you need to do is mention the offer when you call in your order to IHOP. Then, show your official ID when you pick up your order.
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Krispy Kreme — Free Dozen Donuts
Every Monday, Krispy Kreme is giving free dozens of their iconic Original Glazed® Doughnuts to healthcare workers. Just go to a Krispy Kreme drive-thru, tell them what you need, and show your employer badgeLimit five dozen per healthcare worker. Valid until May 12.
Learn More →

Little Caesars Pizza — Free Pizzas
Little Caesars Pizza will be donating and delivering a million pizzas to healthcare workers and first responders in the U.S. in the next few weeks. Starting April 13, customers can also “Pie it Forward” and donate a pizza to their local hospital, police station, or fire station via the Little Caesars app.
Learn More →

McDonald’s — Free Meal — Limit Reached/Giveaway Expired
Participating McDonald’s locations will provide the option of a free Thank You Meal to first responders and healthcare workers, valid all day and night between April 22nd and May 5th. Frontline workers, including healthcare professionals, can order these meals via the drive thru or the McDonald’s app and will be asked to show their ID badge during the pick-up process.
Learn More →

Nando’s PERi-PERi — Free Meals
The fast-casual chicken restaurant, which has locations in Illinois, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, is providing free meals to anyone with a valid hospital ID. Limited to one meal per day while supplies last. Valid through May 17th, 2020.
Learn More →

Racetrac — Free Small Coffee or Fountain Drink — Limit Reached/Giveaway Expired
Racetrac is offering all essential workers, who are either wearing their uniform and/or have valid ID, a free small coffee or small fountain drink now through April 30. Limit one per person per day.
Learn More →

Starbucks — Free Hot or Cold Tall Brewed Coffee — Limit Reached/Giveaway Expired
Starbucks has announced that “any customer who identifies as a first responder or front-line worker supporting our healthcare system” can get a free hot or cold tall brewed coffee on each visit through May 3.
Learn More →

Thistle — 10% Off
Thistle, a ready-to-eat, food delivery service, is offering 10% off all deliveries to healthcare workers through May. Use code HOSPITALHEROES at checkout or reach out to hello@thistle.co for more details.
Learn More →

Tropical Smoothie Cafe — Free Smoothies
Medical professionals and first responders can contact their local Tropical Smoothie shop to have free smoothies delivered to your team.
Learn More →

Wawa — Free Coffee
Wawa, which has locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Florida, and Washington D.C., is offering free coffee to healthcare workers and first responders for the length of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Learn More →

White Castle — Free Castle Combo or Breakfast Combo — Limit Reached/Giveaway Expired
White Castle is offering a free Castle Combo or breakfast combo to healthcare workers and EMTs, valid through the end of April. This is good for drive-thru only and you must show ID to receive the offer.
Learn More →

Health & Wellness

Down Dog — Free Access
Down Dog is offering all of its apps, including Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout, completely free for nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals through July 1.
Learn More →

Headspace — Free Access
Headspace is offering free access to its meditation app through 2020 for anyone working in a public health setting.
Learn More →

Neurocore Counseling — Free Telehealth Counseling
Neurocore Counseling is offering free telehealth counseling to medical personnel and first responders through May 1 or longer.
Learn More →

Training Mate — Free Streaming Workouts
The LA-based gym is offering a free month of streaming workouts for frontline healthcare professionals.
Learn More →

Lodging, Travel, Transportation

Airbnb — No Fees
Find a frontline stay specially prepared for first responders through Airbnb, with the company waiving fees for the first 100k stays booked through their COVID-19 relief program.
Learn More →

BP/Amoco — $.50 Off Per Gallon of Gasoline
The gas station chain is offering a discount of 50 cents off per gallon for first responders and health care workers the next time they fill up at BP or Amoco gas stations in the US.
Learn More →

Choice Hotels — Discounted Hotel Rates
Choice Hotels is offering a “Choice Cares” special rate for nurses, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, food/agriculture workers, transit employees, and others outlined by CISA guidelines. Up to 9 nights can be booked with the special rate.
Learn More →

Hilton Hotels — Free and Discounted Hotel Rates
Hilton Hotels, in partnership with American Express, will donate up to 1 million hotel room nights across the United States to frontline medical professionals leading the fight against COVID-19. They will make rooms available without charge to doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics and other frontline medical staff who need a place to sleep, recharge, or isolate from their families through the end of May.
Learn More →

Honda Motor Company — $500 Off
Honda is offering nurses and other healthcare professionals $500 savings toward any 2019 or newer model year Honda when they finance or lease with Honda Financial Services®. Available until July 6, 2020.
Learn More →

Marriott Bonvoy — Free and Discounted Hotel Rates
Marriott Bonvoy, in collaboration with American Express and JPMorgan Chase, has started a new initiative called Rooms for Responders which will provide $10 million in hotel stays for doctors and nurses leading the fight against COVID-19. They also offer their Community Caregiver Program, which provides significantly discounted rates for first responders and healthcare professionals who want to book rooms at hotels near the hospitals where they work.
Learn More →

Red Roof Inn — 15-20% Off
Travel nurses with valid ID can get 20% off their stay at Red Roof Inn when they book online or call 1-800-733-7663. Discounts are also available to members of Advantage RN (20% off) and Emergency Nurses Association (15% off).
Learn More →

Sixt Rent a Car — 5% Off
Sixt Rent a Car is offering a 5% discount on car rentals to doctors and other medical staff. Bring valid ID when you pick up your vehicle.
Learn More →

Uber — Free Transportation
Uber Health is providing free transportation for frontline healthcare workers, helping them get to and from patients’ homes, as well as between healthcare facilities. They are also providing free meals on Uber Eats to first responders and healthcare workers in US and Canada, in coordination with local, state, and provincial governments.
Learn More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Join the Fight Against COVID-19

We encourage all healthcare professionals who are able to join the fight against COVID-19 to register with us and label themselves as #covid19 ready.

Our nation is facing an incredibly trying time due to COVID-19, and it is being felt the deepest on healthcare’s front lines. As a leading healthcare job board, we feel it is our responsibility to assist hospitals and health systems across the U.S. to be properly staffed during the COVID-19 crisis, not only to better serve their communities, but to help alleviate the enormous strain placed on healthcare professionals due to staffing shortages and increased patient volume.

We encourage all healthcare professionals who are ready, willing, and able to join the fight against COVID-19 to register with us and label themselves as #covid19 ready.

To do so, please take the following steps:

  • Create or update a profile on HealthJobsNationwide.com by clicking here.
  • Fill in all required information, and along with your current specialty, be sure to select the temporary specialty “#covid19” in the Specialty dropdown. This will allow hospitals and healthcare facilities to easily find and contact you.
  • Then, if and when you are ready, search COVID-19 related jobs on our site by clicking here.

Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do through this crisis. We are with you.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

How to Care for Yourself While Treating COVID-19 Patients

People who work in healthcare are being stretched beyond their limits due to COVID-19. Here are tips to take care of yourself while caring for others.

Right now, people who work in healthcare across the United States are being stretched beyond their limits due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Working in an industry that normally experiences a rampant burnout problem, it is important to take extra care of yourself during this especially trying time, not only so you can continue to be effective in your role, but to stay as mentally and physically healthy as possible. Here are some tips, based on recommendations made by the CDC, on how to properly care for yourself while treating patients of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Make a Plan

  • Try to learn as much as possible about what role you will play in responding to the outbreak, so you are able to plan, both for work and your home life.
  • Speak with your supervisor about any concerns you have and any questions you need answered regarding your role in response to COVID-19, as well as day-to-day operations.
  • If you will be working abnormally long hours, explain this to your loved ones and set boundaries, particularly for communication. Your work will be demanding and you will not be able to respond to every call, text, or email in real time, and this needs to be expressed to people who may not understand the pressure you will be under.

Understand & Identify Burnout & Secondary Traumatic Stress

  • Anyone and everyone can be susceptible to burning out or experiencing Secondary Traumatic Stress when dealing with a crisis such as COVID-19.
  • Knowing the difference between the two is important. Burnout is defined as feelings of extreme exhaustion and being overwhelmed, while Secondary Traumatic Stress is categorized by experiencing stress reactions and symptoms resulting from exposure to another individual’s traumatic experiences, rather than from exposure directly to a traumatic event.
  • Symptoms of burnout include: experiencing sadness, depression, or apathy; feeling easily frustrated or irritable; lacking feelings, or feeling indifferent; disconnection from others; poor self-care and hygiene; feeling tired, exhausted or overwhelmed.
  • Symptoms of Secondary Traumatic Stress include: excessively worrying or fearing about something bad happening; being easily startled, or feeling like you must be “on guard” all of the time; physical signs of stress, such as a rapid heartbeat; experiencing nightmares or recurrent thoughts about the traumatic situation; feeling that others’ trauma is yours.
  • Coping techniques such as taking breaks, eating healthy foods, exercising, routinely sleeping, and using the buddy system can help prevent and reduce burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress.

Get Support

  • You are not alone in what you are experiencing. Enact a buddy system, in which you and another person who is responding to the COVID-19 crisis partner together to support each other, as well as monitor each other’s stress, workload, and safety.
  • Check in with each other on a daily basis to offer support, be that in the form of listening or sharing.
  • Help each other with basic needs, such as sharing supplies or transportation.
  • Encourage each other to take breaks, and share opportunities for stress relief, such as exercise or meditation.

Practice Self Care

  • Caring for yourself may be the last thing on your mind when treating patients impacted by the virus, but it is the most important thing you can do.
  • Given the contagious nature of COVID-19, having your immune system in top shape is imperative. Beyond that, stress prevention and management is critical so you can stay well and continue to help in the situation.
  • Effective self care techniques for healthcare workers include:
    • If at all possible, limit workdays to 12 hours or less.
    • Work in teams as much as possible and limit the time you spend working alone.
    • Talk to family, friends, supervisors, teammates, or mental health professionals about your feelings and experiences.
    • Journal your thoughts on a regular basis.
    • Practice breathing and relaxation techniques.
    • Maintain a healthy diet and get adequate sleep and exercise.
    • Avoid or limit consumption of caffeine and alcohol.
  • Know that it is healthy to draw boundaries and to say “no.”
  • It is important to remind yourself that it is not selfish to take breaks when you need them, and that asking for help is okay.
  • The needs of your patients are important, but they are not more important than your well-being. There are others who can help, when you need to help yourself.

Get Help If & When You Need It

You are not alone. You are just a call or text away from reaching professionals who can help you to process what you are experiencing. Reach out to them, if you need support at:

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Hotline: Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
  • The Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741741.
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Poll: Healthcare Workers & Coronavirus

Given all of the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, we wanted to gauge the thoughts of medical professionals on the outbreak and its impact. Take our poll now.

An outbreak of viral respiratory illness in the United States caused by SARS-CoV-2—also known as coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19—has now claimed the lives of 25 Americans and has sickened at least 600 others in 36 states, including the District of Columbia.

It is a rapidly evolving situation and the CDC is expecting more cases in the coming days, stating that, “It’s likely that at some point, widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the United States will occur.”

Given all of the uncertainty surrounding the virus, and the fact that healthcare professionals caring for patients with COVID-19 are said to be at an elevated risk of exposure, we wanted to gauge your thoughts on the outbreak and its impact. Please fill out the following form, and check back next week to see how others in the healthcare field are feeling regarding the virus.

Name:*
Email Address:*
Title:*
Specialty:*
How concerned are you, as a medical professional, regarding the spread of COVID-19 in the United States?*
How concerned are you for your own health and safety, as a medical professional, in regards to treating persons diagnosed with COVID-19?*
How concerned are you regarding potential personal protective equipment supply shortages related to COVID-19?*
How concerned are you regarding potential staff shortages related to COVID-19?*
How well-equipped do you feel your facility is to triage and manage patients who are diagnosed with COVID-19?*
How well do you feel your local, state, and federal governments are informing the public of the COVID-19 outbreak?*
If you have any additional thoughts you would like to share relating to the COVID-19 outbreak, please do so in the text box below.

By submitting this form, you are giving your permission to HealthJobsNationwide.com to republish any responses included on this form in future content that may be used on our website or social media accounts.

Verify You're a Human:

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

The 3 States with the Most Healthcare Jobs

Healthcare added over 35,000 jobs last month, so it’s safe to say hiring is off to a great start in 2020. See where the most jobs are right now.

Healthcare hiring is off to a strong start in 2020, adding more than 35,000 jobs in January alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. So, where are the jobs? We analyzed data on our site and came up with the top three states with the most available openings right now, as well as a selection of noteworthy positions in each state.

1. California

Number of Openings in California: 6,531

Noteworthy Openings in California:

Click Here to Search Jobs in California →

2. Texas

Number of Openings in Texas: 3,943

Noteworthy Openings in Texas:

Click Here to Search Jobs in Texas →

3. New York

Number of Openings in New York: 2,111

Noteworthy Openings in New York:

Click Here to Search Jobs in New York →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Preeminent Hospitals Penalized Over Rates Of Patients’ Injuries

Hundreds of hospitals will be paid less by Medicare after the federal government determined they had higher rates of infections and patient injuries.

Jordan Rau, Kaiser Health News

Hundreds of hospitals across the nation, including a number with sterling reputations for cutting-edge care, will be paid less by Medicare after the federal government pronounced that they had higher rates of infections and patient injuries than others.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday identified 786 hospitals that will receive lower payments for a year under the Hospital-Acquired Conditions Reduction Program, a creation of the Affordable Care Act. The penalties are designed to encourage better care without taking the extreme step of tossing a hospital out of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which would drive most hospitals out of business.

Now in their sixth year, the punishments, known as HAC penalties, remain awash in criticism from all sides. Hospitals say they are arbitrary and unfair, and some patient advocates believe they are too small to make a difference. Research has shown that while hospital infections are decreasing overall, it is hard to attribute that trend to the penalties.

Look Up Your Hospital: Is It Being Penalized By Medicare?

“There is limited evidence that this is the kind of program that makes things better,” said Andrew Ryan, a professor of health care management at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Under the law, Medicare is mandated each year to punish the quarter of general care hospitals that have the highest rates of patient safety issues. The government assesses the rates of infections, blood clots, sepsis cases, bedsores, hip fractures and other complications that occur in hospitals and might have been prevented. Hospitals can be punished even if they have improved from past years.

Medicare cuts every payment by 1% for those hospitals over the course of the federal fiscal year, which started in October and runs through the end of September.

Since the program’s onset, 1,865 of the nation’s 5,276 hospitals have been penalized for at least one year, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis.

Many hospitals escaped penalties because they were automatically excluded from the program, either because they solely served children, veterans or psychiatric patients, or because they have special status as a “critical access hospital” for lack of nearby alternatives for people needing inpatient care.

This year, 145 hospitals received their first penalty, the analysis found. Conversely, 16 that had been penalized every year since the start of the program avoided punishment. Those included Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tampa General Hospital in Florida.

Novant Health said in a statement it had lowered infection rates by being more discriminating in using urinary catheters and central lines, standardizing the steps to prevent infections in surgeries, and getting staffers to wash their hands more.

This year, Medicare penalized seven of the 21 hospitals on the U.S. News Best Hospitals Honor Roll, an annual ranking often used as a proxy for identifying the most prestigious facilities.

Those penalized “honor roll” hospitals were UPMC Shadyside in Pittsburgh; Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles; Keck Hospital of USC; Stanford Health Care’s main hospital in Northern California; UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco; NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan; and the Mayo Clinic’s hospital in Phoenix.

Only UCSF commented to KHN on the penalties, blaming its high HAC rates on its thoroughness in identifying infections and reporting them to the government.

“That commitment will naturally make our rates appear to be higher than some other hospitals,” UCSF said in a written statement.

Three other “honor rollees” have avoided punishment in all six years of the penalties: Massachusetts General Hospital, the Mayo Clinic’s flagship hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia.

Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore has also avoided penalties every year, but Medicare excludes all Maryland hospitals from the program because it pays them through a different arrangement than for the rest of the states.

The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality last year estimated there were about 2.5 million hospital-acquired conditions in 2017. Rates have been dropping by about 4.5% a year, the agency calculated, with the biggest decreases since 2014 in infections from Clostridioides difficile, known as C. diff.; bad reactions to medications and postoperative blood clots.

Maryellen Guinan, a senior policy analyst at America’s Essential Hospitals, the association of about 300 safety-net hospitals said, “Our folks even before the HAC program was in existence have been doing a lot to put in infection controls.”

However, a study Ryan and colleagues published in Health Affairs in November analyzed a clinical surgical data registry used by 73 Michigan hospitals and concluded that hospital complications rates were higher than what the government has estimated. The study agreed rates were dropping but said there was no proof the HAC penalties played a role.

Leah Binder, president of The Leapfrog Group, a patient safety organization, said the complex formula Medicare uses to allot penalties is too confusing and the penalty set by Congress is too small to be effective.

“Americans expect 100% of hospitals to go to the ends of the Earth to prevent needless patient suffering, and singling out some hospitals for a little 1% ding isn’t enough,” she said.

CMS did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

The Association of American Medical Colleges said 45% of its members were penalized this year — nearly double the rate of other hospitals.

Dr. Atul Grover, the association’s executive vice president, said teaching hospitals incurred penalties more often because they often treat some of the sickest people and Medicare’s calculations did not sufficiently take into account the especially weakened condition of their patients, which make them more susceptible to infections.

“There are still issues with the methodology, surveillance bias, and the inability to fully risk adjust for our institutions that have patients who are sicker” and are more likely to have multiple medical problems, Grover said in an email.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Healthcare Resume: 4 Steps to a Standout Professional Summary

Your professional summary is one of the most important aspects of your resume. Here’s how to get it right.

By Andrew Fennell

Your professional summary is one of the most important aspects of your resume and, therefore, you need to spend some time getting it right – at least, if you hope to secure yourself an interview.

While it can feel daunting—after all, you have just a few sentences to impress the recruiter—there are some simple steps you can follow to make writing your professional statement a bit easier.

What Is a Professional Summary and Why Do I Need One?

Your professional summary is an introductory statement that lets the recruiter know who you are. This is found at the top of your resume and should be no longer than three to five snappy sentences.

It allows the recruiter to quickly decide whether you’re a potential fit for the role, without having to read your resume in its entirety. For this reason, it needs to grab their attention right away and encourage them to keep reading.

Here is how to do it.

1. Always Start with Thorough Research

Before you begin writing your summary, you need to do your research. This will help you to tailor your statement to the specific role and company you’re applying to.

There are several resources available to help you conduct your research. Firstly, you can use the job advert to highlight the key skills and requirements that the employer is looking for.

You can also use the company’s website or run an internet search to find out more about the company and the industry as a whole.

2. Begin by Summarizing Your Experience

You should open your professional summary with an attention-grabbing sentence which outlines your job title, any standout experience or qualifications, and how many years’ experience you have.

This aims to grab the recruiter’s attention right away, highlighting why you’d be qualified for the role.

For example: I am an attentive Nurse Practitioner at {hospital name}, with three years’ experience diagnosing patients and managing their treatments.

3. Showcase Your Relevant Core Skills and Strengths

Next, you should highlight some of your core skills. At this stage, it’s a good idea to refer back to the job advert to find out which skills are most desirable to the employer.

These could be a number of soft and hard skills; for example, a nurse might want to include some of the following:

  • Clinical nursing skills (these should be tailored closely to the role you’re applying for)
  • Communication
  • Strong diagnostic skills
  • Empathy
  • Problem-solving
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Analytical skills

4. Add in a Standout Achievement or Result

Now you want to demonstrate to the recruiter how you can add real value to the business, so you need to share one or two of your key achievements from previous positions.

An example of this might be: In my current role I frequently receive personal requests and thank you notes from my patients, as a result, patient retention rates to the practice have increased by 20% this year.

Your healthcare professional summary is your chance to impress the recruiter and convince them to continue reading the rest of your resume.

Be sure to follow the four steps above, taking time and care over crafting a persuasive professional statement that is sure to increase your chances of winning the role.

Andrew Fennell is the founder of CV writing advice website StandOut CV – he is a former recruitment consultant and contributes careers advice to websites like Business Insider, The Guardian and FastCompany.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

4 Ways Medical Offices Can Keep Their Patient Information More Organized

Looking to be more organized in 2020? That can also extend to your workplace and patient information. Here are some tips on how to keep it tidy.

By Anica Oaks

In your medical office, patient information is one of the most valuable resources you have. It makes sense, then, that in order to properly protect and maintain this information that you need to keep it organized. Though your office likely has some sort of system to keep patient information organized, there is always more that can be done. To help you take great care of the information that’s been entrusted to you, here are a few tips to help increase the organization of your patient information.

Regular Practice

One of the best ways to keep patient information organized is to make organizing a regular part of your business practices. If you limit organizing to times when everything is a mess or when you have a rare record purge, you risk losing patient information that could put you at risk of exposing this information to the wrong parties.

Even if that doesn’t occur, it will still be difficult to find the information you need if it’s only rarely organized. That’s why it’s so important to organize your patient information on a regular basis, whether it be weekly, monthly, or on some other regular schedule. By incorporating organizing into your normal routine, you’ll be far more likely to give it the time it deserves.

Designated Individual

Another challenge you may have when trying to keep your patient information organized is that everyone in your office can see it as “someone else’s” job. It’s not that people are necessarily unwilling to organize patient records, just that it’s likely not a specific job requirement of any certain person. In the midst of day-to-day busyness, then, it can be easy for your office staff to overlook the crucial role of organizing patient records.

If someone in your office is specifically responsible for organizing, however, it’s far more likely that the job will get done. So, whether you have to re-define someone’s job role to add this task or you need to hire someone new and add this to the list of their responsibilities, be sure to have someone who, among their other responsibilities, is responsible for keeping patient information organized.

Utilize Technology

When it comes to organized patient information, technology is definitely your friend. Electronic records allow you to easily and automatically keep all patient information organized and makes updating that information incredibly easy. Plus, most technology platforms that allow you to organize records also have other features that can help improve the efficiency of your office. These features include patient review software, marketing tools, personnel resources, and more. Together, these features will give you more time to focus on what’s truly important: your patients and your office staff.

Ask for Updates

In some cases, patients who you have seen in the past have moved on for one reason or another. Though privacy laws control the destruction of patient records, updating the information in these records is up to you. That’s why it’s a great idea to reach out to your patients to update their contact information, medical history, and other information pertaining to their file. This can be done when they’re in the office for an appointment or can be done by sending forms through the mail. Either way, having updated patient records is a great way to be confident in the care you’re providing.

When it comes to patient information organization, everyone benefits. Whether it’s the patients who enjoy a faster and more seamless experience when they come to the office for an appointment or it’s the office staff who enjoy less stress and more clarity, good organization is good for everyone involved. With the simple tips mentioned above, you can achieve excellent patient information organization with minimal effort.

Anica Oaks is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Our Top 5 Healthcare Articles of 2019

With 2019 quickly coming to a close, we thought it would be a good time to take a look back at our most popular articles from the year. Read them here.

With 2019 quickly coming to a close, we thought it would be a good time to take a look back at our most popular articles from the year. Given they all had plenty of views, there’s a chance you might have seen some of these before. However, take a look at the list below for our top five most popular blogs, in case you missed some of these great reads the first time around.

1. Top 10 Professions of the Future in Healthcare


Experts believe that by 2030, these new branches of healthcare and specialties will be in demand.
Read More →

2. How Healthcare Professionals Can Make a Change When You’re on the Road to Career Burnout


Those of us who work in healthcare sometimes put our own needs last, which can lead to career burnout. Here are a few simple changes to make to feel more satisfied in your career and life in general.
Read More →

3. 4 Career Options That Don’t Require Traditional Medical Schooling


Healthcare offers many new jobs for individuals interested in a stable career, who don’t necessarily want to follow the traditional educational path.
Read More →

4. The Highest Paying Job in Every State Is in Healthcare


Yes, you read that title correctly—the highest paying job in every single state in the United States is a healthcare job.
Read More →

5. AI’s Future in Healthcare Is Not Entirely Rosy


There is a lot of interest and excitement surrounding integrating AI into healthcare, but there are a lot of hurdles that still need to be addressed.
Read More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

3 Reasons to Become an Online Educator as a Medical Professional

If you’re a medical professional looking for a side gig in 2020, online education might be the right choice for you. Read about it here.

By Cristian Gallegos

In the 21st century, innovation in technology has given us, as a society, a platform to access essentially all the information in the world almost instantaneously. This immediate information, which is used in almost everything we do, can be leveraged in ways that weren’t previously available. One of the largest industries utilizing this technology in education. The shift in education to an online service has made it more accessible to those who can’t afford a traditional education and for those who operate on a schedule that isn’t conducive to a classroom, not to mention that the industry is expected to grow by approximately 11% in the next ten years.

In addition to education becoming more accessible to students, teachers, especially those working in their industry, can now work on a more flexible schedule. No longer is it necessary to commute to a school in order to give students the proper education necessary to prepare them for the workforce. Here are 3 reasons healthcare professionals should consider becoming an online educator in their field.

1. A Flexible Schedule

Having a flexible schedule is likely one of the most important things for a medical professional. As someone who is working a day (or night) job in their field, it can be incredibly difficult to make a commitment to teaching full (or part) time in a physical classroom.

2. Additional Income

One of the best reasons to become a teacher is the additional income. Although educators don’t traditionally have the highest income, as a side-gig, becoming an online educator is a great way to earn a few extra bucks.

3. Sense of Giving Back

Becoming an educator can be rewarding. For a student, having a student-teacher relationship can have a great impact on their scholarly experience. Becoming a mentor for a student can become a reality in online teaching more often than people realize. Even though there isn’t much face-to-face interaction, you’d be surprised at the relationships you build during your time as an educator.

What It Takes to Become an Online Educator

If you’re considering becoming an online educator there are a few things you should know before jumping in.

First of all, being an online educator requires a lot of experience with technology. Unlike a traditional teaching position, there typically aren’t IT resources immediately available when teaching online, therefore, being capable when working with technology is essential.

Second, having a knack for preparation is going to play a big role in the success of an online educator. Teaching requires the compliment of many resources, which is time-consuming, but essential for a class to operate.

The third, and more arbitrary trait, is the ability to work well with people. As an educator, working with students is going to be 90% of your job, and the better relationships you have with those students, the more smoothly your classes will go.

Getting into online education is not for everyone, however, if you think you’d be the right fit it could be great to get into as a way to earn a little extra money on the side. Be sure to do your research and determine if you have the right personality for the job!

Cristian Gallegos is a freelance writer living in Salt Lake City. He writes all things healthcare, technology, and IT. When he isn’t at home writing, you can find him skiing the slopes of the Wasatch mountains.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.