Category: Dr. Clancy
Health law at 3: Coverage, cost, quality improvements – Viewpoint
In its 3-year history, the Affordable Care Act has made big strides in expanding coverage, reducing costs for patients, and improving safety and quality of care. While plenty of work remains, it’s exciting to see how far we’ve come.
New tools help health providers reduce patients’ risk of falls
For older adults, falls are serious, whether they take place in the home or in a health care setting. More than one-third of adults over age 65 fall each year. Falls can cause bone fractures, disability, and even death. Among people 75 and older, falls are far more likely to cause admissions into a long-term care facility than for adults 10 years younger.
Make good on your resolution to quit smoking
The START plan: Set a quit date. Tell others about your plan to quit. Anticipate the challenges you’ll face. Remove cigarettes from your home, car and workplace, and Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit.
Seven Pillars: Admitting medical errors to improve patient safety
System requires hospital staff to communicate when an error occurs, even if no harm was done; apologize and “make it right” by waiving hospital and doctors’ fees; and fix gaps in the system that can cause things to go wrong.
Avoid broken bones: Learn about low bone density
The U.S. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality has created an easy-to-use online resource to help you reduce your risk of a bone fracture due to thinning bones.
New processes help hospitals spot—and stop—drug errors
Errors involving drugs are the most common type of medical errors, harming about 1.5 million people each year. A recent example shows how easily these errors can happen . . .
Five-year campaign seeks to use prevention to cut heart disease
The 5-year Million Hearts Campaign hopes to help millions of Americans improve their heart health by preventing and treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and tobacco use.
Baby boomers trigger jump in knee replacement surgeries
Whether it’s music, lifestyles, or a refuse-to-age outlook, Baby Boomers think of themselves as trailblazers. Now, that generation born between 1946 and 1964 can claim credit for another “first”—a dramatic increase in knee replacement surgeries.
Questions are the Answer: How to get doctors and patients talking
Good doctor-patient communication is a key to improving the quality of your care, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research says. and so the agency is providing free tools online for patients and providers to get the conversation started.
How to get a good value when choosing a health plan
Whether you’re covered by an employer’s plan, by Medicare, or you are self-employed or unemployed, doing homework during “open enrollment” can help you get the best value for your money.
Guides to help women make informed treatment choices
What’s screening tests should a woman have? And what are the benefits and risks of different treatments? New guidebooks provide research-based advice.
Resources to help you be a better caregiver
Many of us are—or will become—a caregiver to a parent, spouse, child, or other loved one. Are there resources that can help us meet that challenge?
Resources to help you be a better caregiver
There are resources that can help you meet the challenges of caregiving. But finding them can take time and effort at a time when you already have a lot on your plate. Local connections—your friends, church, or workplace—are an important place to look for help.
Campaign urges Hispanics to talk with their doctor
Hispanics are less likely to see a doctor regularly than other ethnics groups. In fact, half of adult Hispanics reported that they did not see a doctor in 2008.
Creating a culture of safety can improve hospital care
Doctors, nurses, and other health care workers are learning that a positive safety culture can improve patient care. What does safety culture in a hospital look like? — Dr. Carolyn Clancy explains.
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