Less than 1% of all state medical-board disciplinary actions against physicians in the five most populous states were for spreading misinformation about topics such as vaccines and therapies during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with 29% for negligence, according to an analysis from the UNC School of Law. Yet two public health experts argue that, because of First Amendment rights and other factors, that's how it should be.
Amid new technologies, waning religions, shifting beliefs, fracturing healthcare systems, aging populations, and post-Covid healthcare worker burnout, chaplains are more important than ever. But they are often unappreciated.
Improving the customer experience is critical in healthcare, as it directly impacts patient outcomes, satisfaction and loyalty. Clear, compassionate communication—both in person and through digital channels—can help foster trust and ensure patients feel valued and well-informed.
Physicians' work often has a profound effect on their personal relationships, and that impact can signal a risk of professional burnout, according to a recently published study that also details how this phenomenon varies widely by physician specialty.
A new study led by UW Medicine researchers finds that nearly one-fourth of U.S. physicians with active licenses are aged 65 or older, raising concerns about patient safety and prompting some health systems to adopt policies assessing their fitness to practice.
The United States has the worst-performing health system among all high-income countries. Even the best-performing U.S. states lag international comparators like France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia. To move the United States from laggard to leader will require significant — but doable — changes in its healthcare system, including closing remaining gaps in insurance coverage, limiting debilitating out-of-pocket-expenditures, and reviving its failing primary care capabilities.