The Triple Aim of healthcare refers to three goals: enhancing the patient experience, improving population health, and reducing costs. However, in the past decade, physicians and healthcare leaders have realized that we can only accomplish the Triple Aim if the … Read More
Public health
Doctors: use your vacation time
There’s growing awareness of a counterintuitive healthcare problem: many doctors don’t use their vacation time. About half of doctors experience burnout, citing long hours and too many bureaucratic tasks as key reasons. Most physicians get three to four weeks of … Read More
The state of physician burnout in 2024
Physician burnout is a significant problem that harms providers, patients, families, and healthcare systems. But exactly how many physicians are burned out? How many are depressed? Which physicians are most affected? And what causes physician burnout? This article will answer … Read More
Is COVID endemic?
Most public health experts agree that infection from SARS-CoV-2 is now at endemic, rather than pandemic, levels. However, calling COVID “endemic” risks encouraging a lackadaisical public response to a disease that still has serious consequences. Let’s review the state of … Read More
Smartphone hygiene in healthcare: When did you last clean your phone?
As a healthcare worker, you wash your hands frequently throughout the workday. But when was the last time you cleaned your phone? Most people know smartphone hygiene matters, but it’s easy to overlook during our busy workday. Why should you … Read More
Physician work-life balance: six tips for doctors
It’s no wonder work-life balance has become a hot topic in recent years. Three-quarters of working Americans have experienced burnout at their jobs, and a recent Harvard report called physician burnout a public health crisis. Physician work-life balance isn’t a … Read More
How to make telehealth accessible for all patients
Virtual care and remote monitoring have been critical assets for the initial healthcare response to COVID-19. But as medical practices reopen, it’s important to develop long-term telehealth strategies for continuing to operate during a pandemic. One important consideration is how … Read More
The impact of COVID-19 on primary care practices
The U.S. healthcare system is changing fast as institutions and providers scramble to keep up with evolving circumstances. One of the biggest challenges has been the impact of COVID-19 on primary care practices. Here are 10 facts that help explain … Read More
Why vital signs matter at every appointment
Vital signs are a critical component of patient care, and they matter at every appointment. Taking vitals regularly can help assess a person’s general physical health, give clues about possible diseases, and show progress toward recovery. Taking vitals is routine … Read More
Flu season reveals a growing role for digital health
It’s been a bad year for the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just announced that flu-related hospitalization rates are exceeding milestones set during the 2014-2015 season. If trends continue, analysts are predicting 36 million flu cases … Read More