There is one aspect of health care that greatly impacts patient care, yet is often overlooked: caregiver engagement. There are more than 40 million unpaid caregivers of adults ages 65 and older in the U.S., according to Pew Research. Of that group, nine in 10 are family members providing care for an aging relative, often a parent. Read More
Presbyopi-huh? Nearly all optometrists who responded to a recent poll—92 percent—agreed that most patients have no idea what the word “presbyopia” means. The poll of 143 ODs, conducted by Optometry Times and eye care company Alcon, was part of Alcon’s Project Presbyopia, a campaign to educate patients on the signs and symptoms of presbyopia and encourage them to see an OD to explore solutions including multifocal contact lenses.Read More
Patients are more proactive than ever about researching their treatment options and partnering with their doctors to receive the best care possible. The concept of shared decision making (SDM) in health care has been around for a long time, and so has the practice of using patient decision aids (PDAs) such as educational literature, videos, and interactive tools. Yet it’s only fairly recently that their benefits have been studied. “More than 100 published, randomized trials using PDAs have shown many benefits,” according to the Health Affairs blog. Read More
Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in the U.S. The most recent data show that 289,000 ambulatory procedures are performed annually in children age 15 and younger. The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNS) has released a 2019 guideline update on Tonsillectomy in Children. Read More
It’s almost upon us—that time of year when more than 50 million Americans suffer through their days with tissues and Benadryl at the ready: spring allergy season. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with an annual cost in excess of $18 billion, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Read More
What’s the best way to tell whether patients are satisfied with your practice? Positive online reviews? Lots of new patients requesting appointments? Good patient satisfaction survey scores? There are many ways to gather patient feedback. Here are some guidelines for how to approach the important issue of patient satisfaction—and a surprising factor you may be overlooking.Read More
