Page 55 - Mployee Wellness Programs News Today

A hearing healthcare veteran consultant, who has significant hearing loss, describes 7 market-tested best practices. Understanding the consumer-patient journey is crucial to developing strategic priorities for companies across hearing healthcare, from hearing aids to cochlear implants to gene/drug therapy.

Cytovale, a San Francisco-based medical diagnostics company, raised $84 million in Series C funds to advance the commercialization of its diagnostic test for early sepsis detection. Using standard blood draws, the test provides results in under 10 minutes. It is meant to detect sepsis in patients who present to hospital emergency departments.

At a conference last week, AdventHealth CEO Terry Shaw discussed how his organization fosters a culture in which its workers feel heard and supported. Some of his advice included making necessary changes based on employee feedback and providing ample opportunities for career advancement.

There are several ways to know if a digital mental health solution is working, including whether it has proven clinical outcomes or if it's improving access to care, executives said during a panel discussion.

In reality, the healthcare sector is, in many ways, the ideal place for AI to be used. After all, it’s one of the few industries with access to a treasure trove of precisely the kind of high-quality data with which AI operates best.

Navigating the complexities of HIPAA compliance requires a multifaceted strategy that combines efficient processes, continuous training, technological innovation, and proactive engagement with regulatory bodies. While meeting compliance benchmarks is non-negotiable, the ultimate goal should be to provide high-quality, patient-centric care.

Casgevy, from Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, is now approved in the United Kingdom for treating the blood disorders sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. It’s the first regulatory approval in the world for a CRISPR-based therapy.

Knowing that many tech solutions end up being not as effective as health systems would have hoped, two health system executives gave examples of tools they believe have made a significant impact on staffing issues at their organizations. One is a wearable patch that continuously monitors inpatients’ vital signs, and one is a platform that allows providers to fill open shifts with local nurses.

Dr. Brian Clear, an addiction treatment physician and chief medical officer of Bicycle Health, believes that telemedicine is one way to improve access and reduce the inequities inherence in addiction treatment. The other is education.

Providers must abandon paternalism and treat patients like partners in the decision-making process when drawing up care plans, according to Chris Waugh, Sutter Health's chief design and innovation officer. Instead of prescribing a major lifestyle overhaul without considering a patient's unique life circumstances, providers should "recognize that it's about the tiny things and the accumulation of marginal gains,” he said.