For American consumers, healthcare prices are rarely clear or consistent. According to a 2016 report published in Health Affairs, the ratios of average state prices to national costs can vary significantly across regions. Florida, the study notes, has a ratio of 0.79, while Alaska tops the high-price list with prices over double that of the [...]
While there has been considerable discussion around the issue of physician burnout and mental health, there has been comparatively less for animal health providers. The problem is significant. In the fall of 2018, the CDC released a report noting that from 2003 to 2014, veterinarians died of suicide at a rate roughly twice that of [...]
Artificial intelligence has a way of capturing public interest. Newspaper headlines and startup pitches alike present visions for the future that seem, at times, only a step removed from science fiction. Take the aviation sector as an example. Last year, writers for Bloomberg reported that multiple companies -- from industry powerhouses like Boeing to tiny [...]
Dental care access in the United States has ebbed to problematic low. According to Pew Trusts, more than 73 million people currently lack dental insurance, while nearly 57 million reside areas without a proportional supply of dentists. Recently-published data from the Health Resources and Service Administration further indicates that there are 6,772 designated dental health [...]
Perceptions of hospice have undergone a pervasive and remarkable change in the last few decades. Twenty years ago, the word would almost invariably prompt backlash from patients and their families, who felt that their doctors were giving up on their care. It was a negative experience both for the patients who had to come to [...]
Access to preventative ophthalmic care is not as widespread as it should be, particularly among lower-income communities. Recent statistics indicate that one out of every five children in the United States has vision problems. However, according to a 2016 report from Project HOPE, an international healthcare organization, children in less-affluent households are significantly less likely [...]
Recent advancements in ophthalmologic research have allowed for significant innovations in surgical procedures and care. Not all of these developments are yet FDA-approved, however, they do show promise to help patients retain their sight when confronted by vision-destroying diseases. Below, I highlight a few of the most interesting advancements in current ophthalmology research and practice. [...]
There is a clear opportunity for care delivery innovation in the field of women’s health. The field encompasses a spectrum of gender-specific needs that a woman will encounter over her lifetime; however, common understanding and practice can incorrectly limit women-specific healthcare to the reproductive system. Critical biological and behavioral differences between genders often impact [...]
The cost of healthcare fragmentation is a steep one, both in cost and patient outcomes. When most laypeople plan for specialized care, they anticipate a straightforward process. If a patient has a heart condition, they can make an appointment with a local cardiologist; if they have a mental health concern, they can reach out to [...]
Historically, most pet owners viewed the veterinarian’s office as a one-stop shop. Unlike human patients, who might see one specialist for their irregular heartbeat and another for their itching eyes, veterinary general practitioners were expected to handle the majority of pet health concerns in-house. Referrals were rare; visits to specialists were even fewer. Today, our [...]