In a time when more patients than ever are seeking digital touchpoints, those in the primary care sector would do well to consider how digital tools could be used in conjunction with in-office care to support female patients’ everyday health. In recent years, direct-to-consumer solutions have significantly expanded women’s access to contraceptives, fertility tracking, and [...]
In recent years, American veterans’ need for high-quality mental healthcare has become painfully apparent as rates of veteran suicide have reached new and troubling heights. The suicide rate for veterans currently stands at 1.5 times higher than that for non-veteran adults, even after adjusting for population differences in age and sex. According to statistics provided [...]
The treatment of musculoskeletal pain is a ten billion dollar problem in the United States; one that all but cries out for a shift to value-based reimbursement. Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common care complaints in the world, affecting an estimated 60 to 80 percent of the global population. Instances of [...]
Maternal mortality rates in the United States have reached an alarming high. According to a Center for Disease Control (CDC) report published in the spring of 2019, over 700 women die each year due to complications relating to a pregnancy -- and 60 percent of those fatalities, they estimate, could have been prevented. The rate [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]