“If You’re Poor, You’re Dead”: Brits Shocked at U.S. Health Costs in Viral Video

“So, if you’re poor, you’re dead,” was one British woman’s reaction to finding out the sky-high cost of healthcare in the U.S. in a video that went viral this week.

“So, if you’re poor, you’re dead,” was one British woman’s reaction to finding out the sky-high cost of healthcare in the United States in a video that went viral this past week.

The video, which was released on Tuesday by @PoliticsJOE_UK on Twitter and has since been retweeted more than 30,000 times, asked people on the streets of Britain how much they thought certain healthcare products, services, and procedures cost in America for the uninsured.

Upon learning the cost of calling an ambulance ($2,500), an inhaler ($250-$350), two EpiPens ($600), childbirth ($10,000-$30,000), and an IUD ($1,300) the participants were completely gob smacked.

People in the U.K. receive healthcare through the National Health System, which is a comprehensive public health service administered by the government and paid for through taxation.

Upon finding out how much healthcare costs in the U.S., one man was then asked if it makes him grateful for the NHS. “Absolutely, absolutely,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t know how much free healthcare we got, like, just off the bat. But knowing you have to pay like $30,000 for a child, it’s outrageous. It’s really ridiculous.”

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.

Things to Put On Your Wish List as a PT, OT, or SLP

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa—no matter what you will be celebrating this holiday season, here is a list of awesome items to add to your holiday wish list as a PT, OT, or SLP.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa—no matter what you will be celebrating this holiday season, here is a list of awesome items to add to your holiday wish list as a PT, OT, or SLP. From fun to functional, and at just about every price point, there is something for everyone.

This Funny (and Probably Accurate) T-Shirt, $16.99+

Fun Novelty Bone Pens, $11.99

This Sweet “Just Speechie” Shirt, $14.99

Drinkware to Bookend Your Hardest Days, $29.95

A Colorful (and Educational) Muscle Diagram, $14.69+

A Super Fancy Coffee/Tea Maker, $158.99

This Hand Stamped Heart Necklace, $10.00+

A Simple Art Print That Says It All, $5.00

This Handy Phone Sanitizer, $79.95

This Pretty PT or OT Pendant That Doubles As a Ring Holder, $42.00+

This Beautiful Sound Wave Watercolor Print, $21.75+

An Engraved OT Ornament, $10.99+

A Sassy (but True) SLP Sipper, $21.99

A Fun, Floral PT Print, $12.16

This Pep-Talking Mug, $16.99

These Adorable OT Badge Reels, $5.00

This Beautiful Journal to Keep Track of Your PT Journey, $6.99

A Boozy Therapeutic Activity CPT Code Glass, $7.00+

A Very Cool Vocal Cord Art Print, $21.75+

This Pretty and Powerful Shirt, $18.99+

A Charming OT Necklace, $26.34

Please note: HealthJobsNationwide.com receives no compensation for recommending these items and makes no warranties regarding their safety. Items listed above should be evaluated individually for potential risks and hazards.

Medical Errors Linked to Physician Depression

A new study has linked depressed physicians to an increase in medical errors, further highlighting the need for interventions aimed at bolstering physician well-being.

As the conversation about physician burnout and what to do about it continues steadily on, a new study published in JAMA Network Open has linked depressed physicians to an increase in medical errors.

Researchers from University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor conducted a systematic review and analysis of 11 different studies, which involved more than 21,000 physicians. As a result, they found that physicians who experienced depressive symptoms were 1.95 times more likely to make medical errors than their mentally healthy peers, and that the association between depressive symptoms and perceived errors was bidirectional.

“Given that few physicians with depression seek treatment and that recent evidence has pointed to the lack of organizational interventions aimed at reducing physician depressive symptoms, our findings underscore the need for institutional policies to remove barriers to the delivery of evidence-based treatment to physicians with depression,” the study’s authors wrote. “Investments in patient safety have been associated with significant reductions in health care costs, and the bidirectional associations between physician depressive symptoms and perceived medical errors verified by this meta-analysis suggest that physician well-being is critical to patient safety.”

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.

Nurses Beware: How a Full Moon Affects Your Night Shift

With the next full moon slated to appear in the sky next week, if you work the night shift, you may want to give this a read.

By Adela Ellis, RN, BSN

According to popular legend, the full moon tends to bring out the worst in people. For centuries, it has been associated with an uptick in violence, aggression, accidents, crime, and, of course, hospital admissions. The full moon has even been linked to disasters, mental illness, suicide, and all sorts of other unpleasant things. There are people out there who virtually live their lives according to the cycles of the moon, and many others who firmly believe that lunar effects are very real.

If you are a nurse, you’ve undoubtedly heard that working the night shift during a full moon can be interesting, to say the least. If you’re new to the night shift or the nursing game in general, though, you may wonder if all of the legends are really true. While research is still ongoing, and we can’t say for absolute certain whether a full moon really affects behavior, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence which suggests that it does. How does a full moon affect your night shift? Keep reading to find out!

The Statistics

When you work the night shift at a hospital or another medical facility, any night can quickly become an interesting one. People often attribute particularly challenging nights and strange cases to the full moon when the lunar event is taking place, but, in reality, those bizarre and difficult cases can happen at any time during the month. In fact, Ivan Kelly, James Rotton, and Roger Culver carefully examined more than 100 studies on lunar effects and found that there is no significant and reliable correlation between the full moon and changes in human behavior.

They did make a few interesting discoveries, though:

For starters, of the 11,613 aggravated assaults that occurred over a five-year period, more occurred around the full moon than at any other point during the lunar cycle. And, of 34,318 crimes that occurred in a single year, more also occurred during the full moon.

When looking at 18,495 psychiatric hospital admissions over the course of 11 years, however, they found that admissions involving patients with psychosis were lowest during the full moon and highest during the new moon. And, when it comes to psychiatric emergency room visits, they tend to happen most frequently near the first quarter moon and less often during the new moon and full moon. The researchers also found that suicides do not increase during the full moon.

Interestingly, though, animal bites tend to happen significantly more often around the full moon.

Is the “Full Moon Effect” Real?

The answer to whether the full moon effect is real or not isn’t an easy one. If you ask doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers, you will likely find that there are several who firmly believe that the full moon brings out the worst in people. You’ll also probably hear plenty of stories about crazy patients or bizarre cases that presented on the night of the full moon.

Statistically speaking, though, there is no hard evidence to back up these beliefs. For nurses working in emergency departments, psychiatric hospitals, and residential care facilities, every night brings the opportunity for all sorts of crazy things to happen. It’s just the nature of working in a medical setting. While doctors and nurses may be more likely to take note of bizarre cases and situations during the full moon, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t happening at other times during the lunar cycle, too. It just means that they are linking two events that are likely unrelated.

Surviving the Night Shift During a Full Moon

Whether you believe in the full moon effect or not, working the night shift when the moon is full can give you a sense of anxiety. You may find yourself waiting and wondering what is going to happen next and anticipating that something will go wrong. Rest assured, though, that your night will probably be as “normal” as it ever is.

If you want to breeze through the next full moon, your best bet is to just not give it much thought. Strap on your favorite comfortable shoes and your favorite pair of cute scrubs, and prepare for your shift the same way you would on any other night. Head into work with a positive attitude, and don’t expect things to go wrong just because of the lunar cycle. If your coworkers are talking about expecting crazy to happen, don’t let them get to you. The full moon effect is largely just a superstition, and you really have nothing to worry about.

If you do have a crazy night during a full moon, don’t get too caught up in blaming the lunar cycle. Chalking a busy night up to the moon is not a correct assumption of cause and effect. When you work in a hospital or any other healthcare facility, you’re going to have crazy nights. That’s just the nature of the field. If one of those crazy nights happens to take place during a full moon, it’s more of a coincidence than a direct cause and effect.

Conclusion

Unless you are a particularly superstitious person (and even if you are), there is really no reason to be afraid of going to work during a full moon. You may have an interesting night, or you may have a calm one. It all depends on the patients in your care or the people in your local area. The moon being full isn’t going to have a major impact on your night, and there is no reason to get yourself worked up about it unnecessarily. Just go to work with a positive attitude, do your work, and make it through your shift without worrying about the moon. Trust us; you’ll feel a lot better if you don’t worry about superstitions!

Adela Ellis is a full-time nurse and part-time ambassador for Infinity Scrubs. Adela attended the University of Arizona and has been a travel nurse for the last 6 years. She enjoys working with different doctors, nurses, and patients from all over the country and blogging about her experiences. In her free time, she loves true-crime podcasts and cooking for friends and family.

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.

AAPA Leaders Welcome German Minister of Health at Bellevue in New York

Last month, the President and Chair of AAPA’s Board of Directors, Dave Mittman, sat down with the German Minister of Health and the founder of the German PA profession to showcase the PA profession.

By Dave Mittman, PA, DFAAPA, President and Chair of AAPA’s Board of Directors

Nothing makes me prouder than showing off the PA profession, especially to folks visiting the U.S. from other countries. While PA practice varies from nation to nation, we all have common interests including a passion for providing the very best healthcare to people who need it.

On Thursday, November 21, AAPA Past-President Jonathan E. Sobel, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA, FAPACVS, and I had the privilege of representing AAPA at a unique gathering at Bellevue Hospital in New York.

There, with PAs who work at Bellevue, we hosted Dr. Marcus Hoffman, MD, founder of the German PA profession, and Dr. Heiner Garg, Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Youth, Family and Senior Citizens of the Land of Schleswig-Holstein – one of Germany’s 16 states.

Both came to see for themselves the fine work PAs do at Bellevue Hospital, one of the oldest and most famous public hospitals in the U.S. After a tour of the Emergency Department and ICU floor, a number of PAs shared their professional stories during a roundtable, providing color to the diverse experiences PAs have here in the U.S.

A personal highlight for me was when the medical director of Bellevue Hospital called PAs “the scaffolding that holds up our hospital.”

We thank Bellevue and their excellent staff for their gracious hospitality, as well as David Lizotte, PA-C, FAPACVS, who worked to put the meeting together and plan the visit.

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.

10 Things to Put on Your Holiday Wish List as a PA or NP

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa—no matter what you celebrate this holiday season, here is a list of ten awesome items to put on your wish list as a PA or NP.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa—no matter what you celebrate this holiday season, here is a list of ten awesome items to put on your wish list as a PA or NP. From ultra-practical shoes to adorable bandage badge reels, there is something for everyone.

3M Littmann Classic III Monitoring Stethoscope
Easily one of the most trusted tools you can have in your arsenal.
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Promising Review: “On the recommendation of a Doc that I work with, I ordered this stethoscope and WOW!! I’m so impressed with the Classic III’s acoustic sensitivity. I get the clearest heart, lung and bowel sounds without any of the light vs firm pressure nonsense of the Lightweight S.E.”

CHEROKEE Infinity Mid Rise Tapered Leg Jogger Pant
Is there anything better than a super comfortable pair of scrubs? We don’t think so.
Rating: 4.4 out of 5
Promising Review: “IN LOVE with these jogger scrubs. They are very comfortable and I love the material. Nothing sticks to it (including my dog’s hair). I’ve gotten so many compliments with these scrubs.”

Before Patients, After Patients 11 oz Coffee Mug and 15 oz Stemless Wine Glass Set
Because patients. Fuel up and wind down with this mug and wine glass combo.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Promising Review: “A bit of humor a whole lot of truth. I am a retired RN and I certainly would have loved receiving this as a gift.”

Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System, Auto-iQ Tea and Coffee Maker
So you’ll have something to put in your “Before Patients” mug.
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Promising Review: “I love this machine so much! It is easy to use; looks nice sitting on my counter; and makes a great cup of coffee. I like that I can easily make a large pot of coffee or just one cup. Plus I can make almost any type of coffee there is!”

PhoneSoap 3 UV Smartphone Sanitizer & Universal Charger
Because germs are everywhere when you work in healthcare.
Rating: 4.4 out of 5
Promising Review: “Bought this along with a set of agar plates to test it for ourselves. We swabbed my daughter’s and husband’s phones before and after use. It does work. We are very happy with the product.”

Bandage Badge Reel
I mean, come on. Could they get any cuter?
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Promising Review: “These are SO CUTE and my patients absolutely love them. My co-workers love them too. 10/10 recommend to anyone.”

A Simpler Time Nurse Practitioner Wood Sign with Personalized Nameboard
Perfect for any NP run practice.
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Promising Review: “The MOST beautiful piece of work! The name is not only printed, but etched into the wood. The subtle elegant details are breathtaking. The way that the sign looks incredibly professional, yet shows a little humor, is a perfect compliment in our office. I cannot recommend this piece enough!”

The One-Minute Gratitude Journal
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude in just one minute a day.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Promising Review: “Absolutely love this. It is simple and straightforward, with the same prompt for each day. It allows you to write in the day & date of each entry and also has blank pages for brain dumping or doodling. Highly recommend this to anyone who seeks gratitude for the little and big things alike.”

Dansko Women’s Professional Mule
Comfortable and durable shoes are an absolute must-have.
Rating: 4.3 out of 5
Promising Review: “I have resisted the traditional “nurse shoe” for a long time, but I have come to realize there is a reason so many of my nurse and physician cohorts have chosen this shoe. Time (and body fluids) will tell how well they hold up. Just wearing them around the house, I can feel a definite difference in support. The platform will take a little getting used to.”

My Quotable Patients – The Funniest Things Patients Say: A Journal
Hopefully, one day, you’ll look back on every hilarious thing a patient has said and smile.
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Promising Review: “Bought as a gift for my husband’s cousin who graduated nursing school. I think this is a super cute book for those memorable patients who are the reason why they chose to go in this career.”

Please note: HealthJobsNationwide.com receives no compensation for recommending these items and makes no warranties regarding their safety. Items listed above should be evaluated individually for potential risks and hazards.

This Year, Physicians Are Thankful For…

We asked you, “What has your career in medicine made you most thankful for?” Here are our top ten favorite responses to that question.

We asked you, “What has your career in medicine made you most thankful for?” We received a lot of great responses, and we picked our top ten favorite answers to feature this week. Here they are.

I love a challenge, and my career in medicine challenges me most days. —Nina S.

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I’m grateful for my team. From the nurses to the residents to the ancillary staff, we are all in this together, and the efforts of the group enable me to be as efficient and effective as possible. —Sandeep R.

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I am thankful to have the opportunity to help and to heal. I think that is why most of us got into this profession in the first place. —Brain W.

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I am grateful for my mentors, their knowledge, and their patience. —Benjamin R.

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The air in my lungs and the ground beneath my feet, I’m thankful for that. Just to be alive is a blessing. Sadly, too many patients I have come across in my specialty cannot say the same. —Angela O.

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I’m thankful for my family. Coming home to them is the balance I need restored at the end of a long, trying day in medicine. —Vikram L.

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The salary, and knowing my children will not have to go into debt as I did while putting myself through medical school. —Charles G.

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I’m grateful to know that, in my line of work, there will always be a job available to me. That security is not found in many other professions. —Gerald P.

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I have the opportunity to completely change someone’s life for the better through the power of medicine and my knowledge of it. That is incredibly rewarding. —Wendy R.

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Vacations. I’m grateful for vacations. —Daniel D.

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No matter what you are thankful for this year, we are thankful for you and all you do. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

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.

This Year, Nurses Are Thankful For…

We asked, “What has your career in nursing made you most thankful for?” Here are our top ten favorite answers to that question.

We asked and you answered: what has your career in nursing made you most thankful for? We received a lot of great responses—some hilarious, some heartwarming—and we picked our top ten favorite answers to feature this week. Here they are.

I am grateful for chairs, couches, benches, tables, floors, and any other solid surface I can sit on at the end of a long day. People who don’t work in healthcare don’t know. They take sitting for granted. —Ashley N.

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I am thankful for the opportunity to care for individuals with incredible strength and resilience in very difficult circumstances and to have worked with healthcare professionals who shared compassion and provided good care in very difficult times. —Sarah C.

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I appreciate peace and quiet like no other. —Julie Q.

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I’ve been a nurse for over twenty years. In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with so many patients. I’m thankful for them, the trust they’ve put in me, and that I’ve had the chance to help them. —Michelle M.

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I’m thankful for the people I have met throughout my career, from my coworkers and mentors to the people who have trusted me to care for them. This line of work isn’t always easy, but it sure is worth it. —Felicia V.

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My team. I am so thankful for my team. The way we work together and get stuff done. I wouldn’t be nearly as successful without the people who work alongside me. —Danielle T.

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My job has taught me that life is precious. I’m thankful to be alive way more now than before I was a nurse. —Monica D.

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I’m grateful for COMFORTABLE SHOES! —Brenda J.

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My husband. I am so dang thankful for him and the way he holds down the fort at home. He puts up with a lot, that’s for sure. —Tracy H.

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I’m thankful for patients who don’t complain. 😉 —Michael U.

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No matter what you are thankful for this year, we are thankful for you and all you do. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

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.

This Year, Therapy Professionals Are Thankful For…

We asked and you answered: what has your career in therapy made you most thankful for? Here are ten of our favorite responses.

We asked and you answered: what has your career in therapy made you most thankful for? We received a lot of great responses, and we picked our top ten favorite answers to feature this week. Here they are.

My job isn’t always sunshine and roses, but seeing the look on a patient’s face when they do something they thought they couldn’t, that makes it all worth it. I’m grateful I get to be a part of that. —Regina T.

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Honestly, I’m just grateful that I get to help people. There isn’t enough of that in this world, I think. —Charlie R.

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I am thankful for every patient success I have been a part of, big and small. Knowing I can make a real difference for people is very rewarding. —Kelli W.

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Helping others is what drew me to this career, so I’ll always be thankful I get to do that every single day. —Maryanne G.

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Working in therapy isn’t always easy. I’m in debt. I’m tired more than I’m not. Not every patient gets a win. It’s hard. I’m grateful for my family, friends, and coworkers who support me through it more than they’ll ever know. —Christina J.

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I’ve seen a lot of suffering, a lot of pain in this job. To know I’ve helped people recover from that is truly satisfying. I’m very thankful and very blessed to be a PT. —Elizabeth T.

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I work with some truly exceptional people. I’m grateful for my team, the bonds we’ve formed, and the lives we’ve been able to touch along the way. —Jessica D.

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I get to hang out with some pretty awesome kids AND help change their lives. I love my job and I’m thankful for it. —Sarah R.

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My hardworking “work family” is the best and I’m really thankful for them. —Frank B.

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This past week I had a patient tell me that they didn’t think they’d ever get to live without pain and thanked me for “saving [their] life.” I don’t know what’s more rewarding than that. I’m so thankful for our profession and the people we are lucky enough to serve. —David K.

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No matter what you are thankful for this year, we are thankful for you and all you do. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

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.

This Year, Advanced Practitioners Are Thankful For…

We asked and you answered: what has your career in healthcare made you most thankful for? Here are ten of our favorite responses.

We asked and you answered: what has your career in healthcare made you most thankful for? We received a lot of great responses—some heartwarming, some hilarious, all valid reasons to be grateful—and we picked our top ten favorite answers to feature this week. Here they are.

This job isn’t always easy, but to know that I have been able to change lives for the better will always be something I will be thankful for. —Valerie P.

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I am grateful for my colleagues for keeping me sane and constantly pushing me to do better. —Erika B.

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I am proud to be an NP and help change and shape what healthcare looks like in my community and across the country. I’m definitely grateful for that. —Ariel L.

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I’m continually learning in my job and I’m thankful for that. It’s never boring and it always keeps me on my toes. —Katherine H.

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This year and every year, I am grateful to do what I love, alongside people I respect and admire, and that I get to enjoy every day at my job, even the hard ones. —Courtney K.

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My job is never boring and I’m grateful for that. Even if it seems like it would be nice to be bored sometimes. It sure beats the alternative. —Coral C.

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I’m grateful for the bonds I’ve been able to form with the people I work with and my longtime patients. —Michael R.

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I’ve seen patients in some truly bad spots in life. I’m grateful to have been able to help them go on to lead better, healthier lives. That’s rewarding as hell. —Paula P.

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I took on my first travel assignment this year and I’m so thankful I did. What a blessing that has been. So glad I chose a profession that lets me do this. —Jordan C.

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Let’s be honest here: I’m thankful for my salary. —Jamie P.

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No matter what you are thankful for this year, we are thankful for you and all you do. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

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.