The crackdown on opioid-related cases was reported as part of the Justice Department’s annual announcement of health care fraud enforcement efforts.
from STAT
Federal law enforcement agencies announced today what they called “the largest opioid-related fraud takedown in history” with the arrest of 120 people across the country, including doctors allegedly running pill mills and the operators of fraudulent treatment centers.
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.
Curious about locum tenens work as a PA? Here’s a handy list of things you might want to know.
from All Things Physician Assistant
Danielle Kepics, the PA-C at the helm of All Thing Physician Assistant, has received a multitude of questions about being a traveling or “locums” PA. As a result, she has compiled an extensive FAQ to address these questions and share her experiences with others who are curious about or interested in becoming a traveling PA. Are you interested in locums PA roles?
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.
In 2017, more than 89% of NPs were prepared in primary care programs.
from Clinical Advisor
Nurse practitioners are choosing primary care at a higher rate than physicians and physician assistants, according to data from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
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 Petya ransomware attack is only one of the five major issues hospital IT, privacy, and compliance pros should understand this month.
from HealthcareITNews
Hackers and cybercriminals continued tapping into new techniques last month to essentially break into IT networks, if not cripple some of those. It’s not just Petya following in WannaCry’s footsteps, either. But since that ransomware turned wiper malware certainly grabbed the spotlight, it took the top slot in HIMSS roster of threat, vulnerability and mitigation issues in the June 2017 Healthcare and Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Report.
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.
There’s not only a health gap widening between urban and rural areas, but also a growing gap between the way systems of health work in different areas of the country.
from Health Affairs Blog
About 60 million Americans live in rural areas. And almost every health statistic shows they’re falling behind their fellow Americans who live in urban areas. Rural residents are less likely to have health insurance coverage through a job, have lower incomes, and have higher rates of death from heart disease and stroke.
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.
Slowly but surely, technology is invading every workplace in America. Now it’s nursing’s turn.
from Forbes
Demand is growing rapidly for nurse informaticists, a role that combines traditional nursing with expertise in systems, analysis and design and has an average salary of more than $100,000. The explosion of tech in healthcare has spawned this surge in demand.
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.
A look at how well-developed critical thinking skills in nurses can positively impact patient outcomes, as well as their colleagues.
by Srinidhi Lakhanigam, BSN, RN, CCRN, CMSRN
One of the most commonly heard phrases, right from day one of nursing school, is “critical thinking”. The common consensus is that everyone has to develop sound critical thinking to be a safe and effective Registered Nurse (RN). This necessity is magnified when it comes to critical care areas, where one decision by the RN can drastically change the patient’s outcome. Nursing has changed from a simple, caregiving job to a complex and highly responsible profession. Hence the role of nurses has changed from being task-oriented to a team-based, patient-centered approach with an emphasis on positive outcomes. A strong critical thinking ability results in the greatest impact on patient outcomes.
So, what is critical thinking and how do we develop this? A precise definition of critical thinking was proposed in a statement by Michael Scriven and Richard Paul, at the 8th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking and Education Reform, Summer 1987. “Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness,3” reads the document.
Simply put, critical thinking in nursing is a purposeful, logical process, which results in powerful patient outcomes. It involves interpretation and analysis of the problem, reasoning to find a solution, applying, and finally, evaluation of the outcomes2. It can be said that critical thinking is the result of a combination of innate curiosity, strong foundation of theoretical knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, disease processes, normal and abnormal lab values, and an orientation for thinking on the feet. Combining this with a strong passion for patient care will produce positive patient outcomes. The critical thinking nurse has an open mind, and draws heavily upon evidence based research and past clinical experiences to solve patient problems.
How does one develop critical thinking skills? A good start is to develop an inquisitive mind, which leads to questioning and a quest for knowledge and understanding of the complex nature of the human body and its functioning. Learning from those with a strong base of practical experience in the form of preceptors/colleagues helps develop critical thinking ability in a new nurse. An open minded nurse can learn valuable lessons from the critical thinking ability of others and will be able to practice for the good of the patients2.
Critical thinking is self guided and self disciplined. Nursing interventions can be reasonably explained through evidence based research studies, and work experience. A strong sense of focus and discipline is also important for critical thinking to work. If thinking is unchecked, nurses can easily be misguided and deliver flawed patient care. It is possible to ensure discipline with a constant acquiring of knowledge through continuing education and looking critically into situations, considering their background, and making an assessment, before making recommendations1.
Last, but not least, a constant comparison of practice with best practices in the industry will help guide a nurse to think critically and improve care. This makes it easier to form habits which continue to have a positive impact on patients and colleagues. Every decision a critical thinking nurse makes affects not only the patient, but also their families, coworkers, and self.
References:
Srinidhi Lakhanigam, BSN, RN, CCRN, CMSRN is a member of the NeuroScience ICU at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, CA.
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.
Dr. Noel Lumpkin discusses a practical how-to guide into the world of locum tenens.
from Your Career in Healthcare
Most doctors have heard of locum tenens, but very few actually know how it works. Dr. Noel Lumpkin, author of the book Road Warrior Physician, wants to change this awareness issue for physicians. Together with the host of Your Career in Healthcare, Tim Rush, she will discuss the necessary steps, benefits, and career landscape for this decision, both for doctors and hospital systems.
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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.
New research yields surprising similarities in attitudes and priorities for both doctors and patients.
from KevinMD
The “doctor-patient” relationship is tightly woven into the culture and history of medicine. But that special bond is under enormous pressure today. And to keep it from fraying, we need periodically to examine the fabric. Last month, the Council of Accountable Physician Practices (CAPP), representing 28 of the nation’s largest and best medical groups in the U.S., did just that.
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.
A meeting with a nurse practitioner prior to discharge could improve the discharge process for patients.
from FierceHealthcare
A meeting with a nurse practitioner prior to discharge could improve communication between hospital staff and primary care providers, easing the transition after hospitalization and improving patient outcomes.
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.
