Health

5 Major Concerns Of Healthcare Industry In 2020

Published

3 years ago

June 29, 2020

What more can tell you about the healthcare industry’s importance than being in the middle of a pandemic? As we try to find a way around the COVID-19 virus, these healthcare workers always manage to give us a glimmer of hope with their valiance and determination. Without extensive effort they make to save lives, we could have been facing a much bigger disaster. However, as a society, we should give these warriors something back apart from the performative rituals of salutations that are common these days. The best way to start is to hear their concerns and alleviate their problems. We have already listened to the issues about the lack of personal protective equipment, which should be the government’s priority to save these assets.

We must realize that becoming a healthcare worker is not easy, and everyone who is a part of it struggled to get here. Maybe that be doctors or the nurses, they burned the midnight oil, spent days to gain the relevant experience before they were able to start practicing medicine. We have seen a profusion of new medical colleges appearing on the horizon, but they are still quite tough to get into due to the massive demand. Many medical workers acquire higher degrees during their jobs, such as masters in nursing online, to brush up and enhance their knowledge. It only makes sense that we listen to these people’s problems, and in this article, we will discuss some of the significant issues in the healthcare sector.

Table of Contents

Cybersecurity

You would be surprised to see this, but online information security is among the biggest challenges for the medical industry. The cyber ransomware attack on the National Health Service (NHS) of the UK was an alarming indication for the need to improve their security. This attack virtually paralyzed the country’s health system and put millions of lives at risk of not receiving the necessary care. Patient data is usually sensitive and is a private contract between the doctor John Doe and the patient, so its security affects everyone. Unfortunately, cybercriminals still make breaches into such data, and the information remains mostly available due to a lack of security infrastructure. Medical providers must realize that without providing security to this data, they will be fined heavily for violation of medical regulations that govern patient confidentiality.

Invoicing and payments

We are in a digital world with increasing invoicing requirements as not only the technology advances, but our needs also expand. The patients now face hefty bills, and they usually require payment to be a straightforward process to worry about to have one less thing. Gone are the days when people carried stashes of cash to hand out at the counters where they would waste several minutes just counting it.

The world is now moving to a cashless currency with credit cards and other digital solutions now replacing them. However, the healthcare industry has been slow in adapting to the changes, which is one of the patients’ significant concerns. The medical sector finds it difficult to do as they will have to maintain partnerships with multiple credit companies and banks. On the other hand, they also shy away from the running cost of maintaining such technologies. On top of everything, healthcare organizations have the additional responsibility of patient data confidentiality, which trumps it all.

Price transparency

Patients are usually confused about the factors that contributed to the bill. That results in a lack of trust between the patient and the healthcare provider. The lack of confidence stems from the feeling that someone is ripping them off when this feeling could quickly subside if someone can inform them what each procedure cost. Healthcare systems now make their services price accessible, and patients should have all the necessary information. Patients are now wary of this, and before going through medical procedures, they ensure that they know all the pricing details. Any hospital that does not provide elaborate information gets dropped, so it is in favor of hospitals too to provide the billing information beforehand.

Patient experience

The medical insurance business is flourishing, but now patients are more aware of the services they demand from these companies. Patients now expect services they want from any other consumer companies, which makes the competition very fierce among healthcare providers. A patient experience involving easy access to information, flexible appointments, post-procedure care, and comfort and ease of paying bills is something everyone demands. Healthcare networks must have centralized systems with information easily accessible to all their employees to ensure such an experience.

Effective payment model

Apart from access to billing information, patients now also demand better payment models with incentives. The Healthcare industry reduces the costs by basing the payment on the patient outcome instead of service quantity, and this increases the financial incentives, as a study suggests. Patients also prefer preventive care, so they can foresee future events and utilize their time more efficiently. Many care providers now collaborate to ensure that the patients get access to patient-oriented care, shared savings, and global payment models.

Key Takeaways

Although the healthcare industry is burgeoning at a meteoric pace, it faces the concerns that any modern service providers would face. Today, the world is all about data and information, and healthcare providers must be responsible for protecting patient data from cyber-attacks. Much like any other consumer service, the patients expect the provider to provide the details about the pricing to keep the system transparent. Another challenge that faces the industry owing to the higher competition is enhancing the patient experience. It is safe to assume that healthcare providers will focus more on these issues with time, which is beneficial for the patients.

Health

Global Warming: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

Published

2 months ago

March 25, 2023

Trent Warner

During the last few decades, the phenomena of global warming has drawn attention from all across the world. It describes the gradually rising average temperature of the planet as a result of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. Global warming has wide-ranging implications on the environment, people’s health, and economy all across the world. An overview of global warming’s causes, impacts, and potential remedies is given in this article.

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Causes of Global Warming

The primary cause of global warming is the increase in greenhouse gases, primarily carbon-dioxide, in the atmosphere. The increase in carbon dioxide levels is mainly due to human activity, including burning fossil fuels for transportation, electricity generation, and heating. Other human activities, such as deforestation, also increase carbon dioxide levels. However, a non-profit organization SQM is working on reducing global warming from the environment.

Effects of Global Warming

The effects of global warming are widespread and far-reaching, impacting the environment, human health, and economies worldwide. Some of the effects of global warming include:

Rising sea levels

Glaciers and ice caps melt as the Earth’s temperature rises, causing sea levels to rise. This can lead to flooding, erosion, and loss of habitats for marine life.

Increased frequency of natural disasters

Global warming can increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.

Modifications to climate patterns

Variations in climate patterns brought on by global warming may result in more frequent and severe heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather events.

Solutions to Global Warming

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the primary solution to global warming. Some of the ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions include:

Transition to clean energy sources

Transitioning to clean energy sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy conservation

Conserving energy by using energy-efficient appliances and buildings can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Planting trees

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making afforestation and reforestation essential tools in the fight against global warming.

Conclusion

Global warming is a significant environmental issue that requires global action. The causes and effects of global warming are far-reaching and impact the environment, human health, and economies worldwide. However, solutions are available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of global warming. We can work towards a more sustainable future by transitioning to clean energy sources, conserving energy, planting trees, and adopting sustainable agriculture practices.

FAQs

What is global warming?

Global warming is the gradual rise in the planet’s average surface temperature that is mostly the result of human activities.

What causes global warming?

Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil releases greenhouse gases, principally carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, which is the main contributor to global warming.

What are the effects of global warming?

The effects of global warming are widespread and far-reaching, impacting the environment, human health, and economies worldwide. Some effects include rising sea levels, increased frequency of natural disasters, changes in weather patterns, loss of biodiversity, and human health impacts.

Health

Caring Community: Top Tips For Helping Someone With A Disability

Published

2 months ago

March 21, 2023

Trent Warner

As a disability support worker, you grow to better understand your participants’ individual needs. Whether they live largely independently or require a little extra assistance, each individual is different and, consequently, there are different roles for each participant.

However, there are some general top tips that you, the carer, can incorporate to optimise your awesome service. It may be that your participant requires one, a couple, or none of these bits of advice, but they are here as a references if you need them:

Table of Contents

Help them to live independently

When it comes to the best disability home care Wollongong has, it is important to help your participant live as independently as possible. An unfortunate drawback for participants in this service is that they may sometimes feel unempowered, especially if the carer works too hard to do everything for them.

As such, we promote helping your participants live as independently as possible wherever they see fit. This may include things like facilitating their financial matters, helping them organise social catch ups without assistance, go do their own grocery shopping – wherever they want to live independently in a suitable manner is always a good thing for your participant’s self-confidence!

Be sure to ask before giving assistance

Coming back to the last point, one of the key ways to ensure you’re not running the risk of becoming overbearing is to ask your participant if they need any assistance before offering it. It may be that they feel and are perfectly capable of handling a particular role by themselves, so it’s always a good idea to ensure they actually require any assistance before stepping in!

Encourage social events

Wollongong is a city that is replete with fun social events in which to partake. Whether it’s in the arts, community activities, sports or something completely different, our city is one that has plenty going on at all times of the year.

If your participant would like to try something new – like a new hobby or social event – then feel free to assist them in making this happen! Whether that means helping them find and sign up for a new activity, assisting them to the event or helping them practise in their own time, there are plenty of ways you can help your participant start their journey to a new and rewarding venture!

Help them around the home

It can be that a person living with a disability has a difficult time completing a certain role around the house. Whether that is cooking a meal or a particular cleaning duty, there can be certain limitations that inhibit the individual from completing a particular task.

As such, one of your primary roles as a caregiver is to provide assistance with such duties around the home. Whether it is tackling the gardening, making a particular meal or assisting in cleaning duties, there may be some particular roles that require a little extra assistance.

Treat your participant as you would anyone else!

Your role is primarily to offer assistance where suitable, as such you don’t need to treat your participant any differently than you would other people! There is no need to be patronising or overly-sympathetic in this role: it’s just about helping your participant get by wherever they may need some assistance.

These are five simple tips to follow when providing care for your participant. Feel free to use them as a reference if you ever feel the need!

Health

6 Significant Developments in the History of Life Sciences

Published

3 months ago

March 17, 2023

Trent Warner

Human life expectancy has reached an all-time high with the support of modern treatments and medicines to overcome many health challenges. A recent resource developed by Avantor walks you through a journey of life sciences and the key developments that helped us get to where we are today. Here are six critical developments that have pushed our healthcare industry into the modern era.

Table of Contents

1909: The First Pharmaceutical Treatment

The medical industry we had one hundred years ago pales compared to today’s industry. The early medical discoveries of the 1900s helped lay tremendous foundational work for the development of today’s advanced medical field. One of the first discoveries that ushered in a new era of medical advancements was the development of the first pharmaceutical treatment designed for Syphilis. Syphilis is a disabling sexually transmitted disease that could be fatal if left untreated. Paul Ehrlich developed this cure accidentally while attempting to discover a drug that could kill germs upon entering the body.

1918: The Spanish Flu

The widespread Spanish Flu set the groundwork for future pandemics but also showed us how little we know about the disease and how to combat viruses. This was the first outbreak that mandated a widespread ‘lockdown’ to combat the spread of the disease and saw people wearing masks in public as it was made illegal to spit, cough, or sneeze in public. The Spanish Flu outbreak pushed the medical world towards rapid innovation as researchers worldwide attempted to fight the disease and began experimenting with new treatments and vaccines.

1928: Penicillin

The discovery of penicillin was integral for the future of healthcare. Penicillin was accidentally discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming when he left Petri dishes out that grew mold, which fought certain bacteria within the dishes. The development of penicillin is essential in our fight against infectious diseases. Penicillin wasn’t mass-produced until the 1940s.

1952: Cardiovascular Pacemaker

The mid-1900s saw many improvements in previously discovered treatments and the development of more in-depth research and care methods. Creating the first cardiovascular pacemaker was a crucial moment in our healthcare history. This was one of many developments in medical engineering during this period. The pacemaker could be implanted and run automatically without needing an out-of-body hand crank to power up the machine. Pacemakers remain an essential part of cardiovascular care and treatments today.

2000s Stem Cell Research

Stem cells have been used in medical research since the 1980s, but it wasn’t till the early 2000s that they began being used in treatments. Stem cells can be used in regenerative medicine to heal previously irreparably damaged cells and can even be used in cancer treatments. Stem cell research has the potential to help us cure many degenerative diseases and much more.

2008: mRNA Vaccines

The development of mRNA vaccines is profound in the life sciences. Messenger RNA can be deployed to help program the body’s immune system to fight certain diseases. This technology was first used in 20008 to treat melanoma patients. Avantor notes that the vaccine method was “so successful in fighting a tricky disease like cancer that we will see this advancement in vaccine technology used again, over a decade later.” The COVID-19 pandemic presented a new opportunity for mRNA technology to develop new vaccines rapidly.

The modern healthcare system would not be what it is today without these critical developments in the life sciences. Via Avantor, you may learn about many more significant events in the history of the life sciences as well as individuals like Anne McLaren who made significant contributions to science in a variety of ways. Understanding the history of our healthcare system and the timeline of discoveries can help you make informed decisions about your health and gain insight into the research currently being developed within the healthcare industry.