Patient data access
Patient data access, critical regulatory requirement, concerns the secure retrieval and use of individual health information, often via a patient portal or other secure means. In addition, adequate access to care and appointment scheduling, are mainstays of patient-centered care.
Top Stories
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02 Dec 2024
How Meharry teamed up with Oracle for health equity data
The Oracle partnership mostly centers on better health IT interoperability, which Meharry said will fuel health equity data access. Continue Reading
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29 Oct 2024
Oracle Health unveils patient portal tool for care management
The Oracle Health Patient Portal and Oracle Health Patient Administration tools aim to streamline care management and patient intake, the company says. Continue Reading
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24 May 2023
NIH Pushed to Recognize Health Disparities for People with Disabilities
UVA researchers are urging NIH and other federal agencies to acknowledge the disability community as a population impacted by health disparities, a move set to ignite crucial research. Continue Reading
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23 May 2023
Patient Trust in AI Chatbots, ChatGPT Has Room to Grow
Patient trust in AI chatbots like ChatGPT is only at around 50%, but encouragement from their providers can push more patients to use it. Continue Reading
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23 May 2023
Abortion Bans with Exceptions Still Limit Patient Care Access
Exceptions to abortion bans are often so rigid that patient care access, particularly for patients experiencing miscarriage, is still limited. Continue Reading
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19 May 2023
Rural-Urban Disparities in SUD Treatment Marked by Rising Inpatient Care
Due to limited SUD services, rural patients with substance use disorder are 4.5 times more likely to be put into law-enforced inpatient care, revealing stark rural-urban disparities. Continue Reading
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18 May 2023
ChatGPT Continues to Prove Useful for Patient Education
The AI chatbot, ChatGPT, can issue patient education about colonoscopy effectively and using language that is easy for patients to understand. Continue Reading
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18 May 2023
Health Inequities, Racial Health Disparities Cost US $451B
An NIH-funded study found that the economic burden of racial health disparities increased by 41 percent between 2014 and 2018. Continue Reading
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17 May 2023
Retail Health Clinics Gain Favor Amid Healthcare Consumerism Trends
More than half of adult patients would visit a retail health clinic in a pharmacy, underscoring trends of healthcare consumerism. Continue Reading
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16 May 2023
Reproductive Health Literacy Trends Down as Post-Dobbs Ruling Unfolds
Sixty percent of women rely on search engines and online forums for reproductive health literacy, exposing a significant patient education gap following the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Continue Reading
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15 May 2023
ADI and Infant Mortality Link Shed New Light on Maternal Health Crisis
Noting the link between neighborhood social vulnerability and NICU infant mortality gives another explanation for the nation’s maternal health crisis. Continue Reading
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15 May 2023
At-Home HPV Testing Kits Could Close Cervical Cancer Screening Gaps
The researchers said pairing the self-administered HPV kits with assistance in booking in-person appointments helped close cervical cancer screening gaps. Continue Reading
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12 May 2023
OCR Settles Patient Discrimination Case About Discharge Communication
MCR Health implemented new patient discrimination policies, settling accusations of violating patients’ rights with disabilities by not ensuring proper patient communication during post-discharge care. Continue Reading
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11 May 2023
Programs for Free Access to COVID-19 Tests Effective, Need Communication
The program for free access to COVID-19 tests sunset on May 11, but the researchers said the measure’s success indicates a need for renewal. Continue Reading
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10 May 2023
What Are The Top Social Determinants of Health Screening Tools?
Validated social determinants of health screening tools can be used on their own or be a jumping-off point for organizations developing their own customized surveys. Continue Reading
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09 May 2023
VA Facilities Parallel Non-VA Sites in Care Access, Safety, and Quality
Despite excelling in care access, quality, and safety across surgical specialties, VA healthcare sites fall short in cost-efficiency compared to non-VA facilities. Continue Reading
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09 May 2023
Can Patient Access to Midwife Care Eliminate Maternal Mortality Woes?
A Commonwealth Fund report indicated that by expanding patient access to midwife care, the US can address provider shortages and its maternal mortality and health equity crisis. Continue Reading
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08 May 2023
How One Medical Delivers Culturally Competent Chronic Disease Management
A team-based chronic disease management problem helps One Medical home in on the unique needs and preferences of patients, delivering on culturally competent care. Continue Reading
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05 May 2023
Language Barriers Imperil COVID-19 Vaccine Access, Worsening Outcomes
COVID-19 vaccine access fell short for non-English speaking patients facing language barriers, leading to an increased risk of poor outcomes twofold due to the patient-provider language discordance. Continue Reading
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04 May 2023
24 States Contest Texas Judge’s Ruling Against Title X Family Planning Program
The coalition urges the court to block the Texas ruling that threatens the Title X family planning program and medication abortion access, arguing it would worsen health disparities and impede reproductive care access. Continue Reading
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03 May 2023
16.8M Black People Face Subpar Specialty Care Access, Cardiology Deserts
Cardiology care deserts and places with limited specialty care access also happen to be the areas with greater cardiovascular disease risk, the researchers said. Continue Reading
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02 May 2023
1 in 5 Adults Derailed Care Access Amid Transportation Barriers
Boosting public transit investment and offering Medicaid-supported nonemergency medical transportation can kickstart care access stalled by transportation barriers, RWJF researchers said. Continue Reading
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02 May 2023
What Does The Weathering Hypothesis Mean to Healthcare?
The weathering hypothesis states that experiences of discrimination can have an adverse impact on healthcare, leading to racial health disparities. Continue Reading
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01 May 2023
Are AI Chatbots, ChatGPT the Solution to Healthcare’s Empathy Problem?
AI chatbots like ChatGPT can answer patient queries with accuracy and empathy, which could help providers answer secure direct messages on the patient portal. Continue Reading
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01 May 2023
CMS Cracks Down on Appointment Wait Times for Medicaid MCOs
A CMS proposal pitches the idea of maximum allowable appointment wait times for Medicaid providers, as well as secret shopper surveys to monitor compliance. Continue Reading
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28 Apr 2023
HHS Pledges $2.5M to Produce Prescription Programs for Food Insecurity
The investment under the Biden-Harris Nutrition Strategy will fund prescription programs promoting access to nutritious foods and reducing food insecurity among AI/AN communities. Continue Reading
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28 Apr 2023
Opioid Treatment Access Stalls Despite Buprenorphine Prescribing Flexibility
Buprenorphine initiation and retention rates stood still from 2016 to 2022, even amid policy changes to opioid treatment access and buprenorphine prescribing practices. Continue Reading
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27 Apr 2023
Workplace Discrimination, Weathering Key SDOH in Blood Pressure Control
The link between workplace discrimination and high blood pressure further emphasizes weathering as a social determinant of health (SDOH). Continue Reading
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26 Apr 2023
MI Repurposes COVID Test Sites for Community Health Worker Care Access
Michigan Health Department unveiled a program transforming COVID testing sites into patient care access points, using community health workers to tackle SDOH through on-demand referrals. Continue Reading
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25 Apr 2023
To See COVID Racial Health Disparities, Look at Premature Death Rates
Despite accounting for 40 percent of the total population, communities of color comprised 59 percent of the lost life years during the pandemic, exposing racial health disparities. Continue Reading
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25 Apr 2023
NY Gov. Commits $1.68M to Protect Reproductive Healthcare Access
In response to shifting abortion laws, New York State has established a grant program for nonprofit health centers aimed at ensuring reproductive healthcare access and abortion services across the state. Continue Reading
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24 Apr 2023
Which Social Determinants of Health Lead to Low Care Quality?
Social determinants of health, like social isolation, were linked to poor care quality and high costs, while others, such as food insecurity, were closely related to healthcare utilization. Continue Reading
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21 Apr 2023
SDOH Screening Campaign Offers How-To for Clinical Practice
The Physicians Foundation SDOH screening campaign seeks to help physicians develop skills around discussing SDOH and getting those screenings into clinical practice. Continue Reading
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20 Apr 2023
athenahealth to Measure How Consumers Use Patient Engagement Tools
The Patient Digital Engagement Index will help practices understand how consumers use patient engagement tools and compare themselves with other athenahealth users. Continue Reading
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20 Apr 2023
HHS Unveils Plan for COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Uninsured After PHE End
HHS has stockpiled doses of the shot to maintain COVID-19 vaccine access for the uninsured, leveraging partnerships with pharmacies and commitments from drugmakers. Continue Reading
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18 Apr 2023
YouTube Changes Medical Information Guidelines for Eating Disorder Content
The changes are intended to tamp down on the “imitable behaviors” described in some content about eating disorders, a step YouTube said will improve the medical information on the site. Continue Reading
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18 Apr 2023
Diverse Medical Workforce Improves Outcomes, But Diversity Is Still Rare
Researchers found that having a diverse medical workforce with more Black PCPs improves mortality-related outcomes, but it’s still hard to come by that diversity. Continue Reading
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17 Apr 2023
Humanizing Implicit Bias Training for Healthcare Organizations
Implicit bias training for healthcare organizations needs to be functional for a worker’s job description, helping to create a more usable framework. Continue Reading
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14 Apr 2023
Low Health Literacy Prevents Cancer Screening for Many Hispanic Patients
A Regenstrief Institute report exposes gaps in cancer health literacy among Indiana Hispanics; despite the mixed understanding of guidelines, adherence to cancer screenings remained relatively high. Continue Reading
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12 Apr 2023
Community Support Counters Racism Affecting Maternal Health Experience
A community support person during a childbirth hospitalization can reduce the racism that oftentimes taints many Black maternal health experiences, according to a recent study. Continue Reading
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12 Apr 2023
Understanding Crime, Violence as a Social Determinant of Health
Violence is a key social determinant of health that can have both physical and psychological well-being impacts. Continue Reading
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11 Apr 2023
Rethinking Alcohol Use Disorder Preventive Screening via Virtual Care
Experts urge primary care providers to use virtual care to fortify alcohol use disorder preventive screening after the pandemic disrupted access. Continue Reading
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11 Apr 2023
Healthcare Costs, Patient Care Access Challenges Folks with Long COVID
Patients with long COVID were more likely to report problems with healthcare costs, patient care access, and getting insurance approvals for prior authorizations. Continue Reading
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10 Apr 2023
Redlining Linked to Experience with SDOH, Higher Stroke Prevalence
Redlining may have created hazardous social determinants of health (SDOH) that ultimately have been linked to higher stroke prevalence in certain New York neighborhoods. Continue Reading
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10 Apr 2023
Immigration, Birth Status Predicts Limited Patient Health Literacy
The greater odds of limited patient health literacy among racial/ethnic minority immigrants should be met with more tailored approaches to social services, researchers said. Continue Reading
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07 Apr 2023
NYU Langone Tackles Implicit Bias in Clinical Algorithms for Health Equity
NYU Langone’s chief quality officer spearheads efforts to tackle implicit bias in clinical algorithms, shifting focus from race to social determinants for improved health equity. Continue Reading
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06 Apr 2023
Mixed Contraceptive Access Exposes Regional Reproductive Health Disparities
A Health Affairs study showed that even before the Dobbs decision, varying state-level Medicaid coverage led to reproductive health disparities, with contraception access ranging from 10 to 44 percent. Continue Reading
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06 Apr 2023
Are Patients Receptive to an Annual COVID-19 Booster Shot, Vaccine?
Receptiveness to an annual COVID-19 booster shot comes as the US gets serious about transitioning to an endemic COVID-19. Continue Reading
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03 Apr 2023
How Civic Engagement, Infrastructure Impact Community Health
Areas with histories of structural racism also have lower civic engagement and poorer community health, outlining part of some health disparities. Continue Reading
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03 Apr 2023
How Northwell Health Created a Staff Structure for Health Equity, DEI
A top-down, bottom-up staff structure help Northwell Health create a lasting model for health equity and DEI work that it says sets it up for upcoming quality measurement changes. Continue Reading
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31 Mar 2023
American Heart Association Offers Health Equity Training
The EmPOWERED Innovation Academy offers health equity training, as well as mentoring and funding, for innovators addressing SDOH challenges, the American Heart Association reported. Continue Reading
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30 Mar 2023
Retail Health Clinic Access Increased by 51% During Pandemic
Increases in retail health clinic access came as utilization of ambulatory surgical centers and emergency departments went down. Continue Reading
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29 Mar 2023
Patient Portal Messages Need Streamlined Delivery for Patient Activation
Patient portal messages aren’t always useful for patient engagement because it is too onerous to open, resulting in unopened messages that don’t change patient behavior. Continue Reading
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28 Mar 2023
Race Leading SDOH in Maternal Health Disparities Beyond Income
A study revealed that high-income Black women have similar maternal mortality rates to low-income White women, emphasizing the role of race as an SDOH impacting maternal health outcomes. Continue Reading
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28 Mar 2023
Social Vulnerability to Credit for Many COVID-19 Health Disparities
When vaccinated, most folks see good COVID-19 outcomes. But social vulnerability gets in the way of vaccination, leading to some COVID-19 health disparities. Continue Reading
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27 Mar 2023
HHS Slots $120M for Community Clinics to Boost Mental Healthcare Access
The federal grant will support two initiatives the expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, advancing the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to transform US mental healthcare access. Continue Reading
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27 Mar 2023
Designing a Referral Network to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis
State and regional referral networks improve access to psychiatrist consults, expanding access to care amid the youth mental health crisis. Continue Reading
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24 Mar 2023
Racial Health Disparities in Fentanyl Overdoses Worsened in 2020
In the District of Columbia alone, Black men saw 10 times higher fentanyl overdose death rates than White men, underscoring a nationwide racial health disparity. Continue Reading
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23 Mar 2023
Food Security: Key Dimensions of the Social Determinant of Health
Food security can affect overall patient well-being, plus diet-related chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Continue Reading
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22 Mar 2023
Eroding Black Patient Trust in Health Info Imperils Cancer Outcomes
Black patient trust in cancer health information has plunged by 53 percent, raising poor cancer outcome fears, but health equity frameworks and better communication with minority communities may rebuild trust. Continue Reading
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21 Mar 2023
Patients OK Test Results Via Patient Portal Even Without Doc Counsel
The researchers suggested that explaining to patients ahead of time that they may see their test results via the patient portal before their doctors will help ease any potential worry. Continue Reading
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20 Mar 2023
How Food Swamps, Food Security Led to Chronic Disease, Obesity
Researchers said federal and local policies that limit food swamps and create nutritious food security will be key to stemming the occurrence of certain chronic diseases like obesity. Continue Reading
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20 Mar 2023
Maternal Health Disparities Need Data-Driven, Community-Based Approach
Tapping community-based health partners will help researchers ask the best questions to understand the context of maternal health disparities. Continue Reading
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16 Mar 2023
US Maternal Mortality, Maternal Health Disparities, Worsened Since 2019
Maternal mortality and maternal health disparities are only getting worse in the US, even as the nation acknowledges a need for data-driven and community-based solutions. Continue Reading
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16 Mar 2023
How Does the Affordable Housing Crisis Impact Health Outcomes?
The affordable housing crisis prompts cost-driven moves, which are linked to higher stress, poorer general health, and lower neighborhood walkability. Continue Reading
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15 Mar 2023
US Approach to Primary Care Access Struggles Is Disjointed
Primary care access continues to dwindle, and the US is using a patchwork approach to filling in gaps with advanced practice providers and urgent care or retail health clinics. Continue Reading
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15 Mar 2023
Racial Disparities Arise From Inconsistent Newborn Drug Screening Policy
Black newborns are more than 7 percent more likely to undergo drug testing regardless of obstetrical risk; researchers attributed these racial disparities to an unclear drug screening policy and racial bias. Continue Reading
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14 Mar 2023
Financial Incentives Drive Healthy Behavior Change in Online Grocery Retail
By providing financial incentives and default options, such as a 50-percent discount, a healthy behavior change intervention improved the online purchasing of fresh foods and addressed food insecurity. Continue Reading
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13 Mar 2023
USPSTF Guidelines Effectively Boost Preventive Screening Access
After USPSTF expanded guidelines for colorectal cancer screening access to younger patients, preventive screening access soared, driven mostly by that younger population. Continue Reading
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10 Mar 2023
How Community-Based Strategies Reduced Opioid Overdose Deaths
Two-thirds of counties that used a community-based strategy for reducing opioid overdose deaths, compared to just under half of counties that used a standard approach. Continue Reading
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09 Mar 2023
Health Literacy Doesn’t Stand in the Way of Patient Data Access
Patients see value in open notes and patient data access, and factors like health literacy and threats to the patient-provider relationship are not significant, a survey shows. Continue Reading
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09 Mar 2023
6-Week Abortion Bans Could Limit Care Access for 90% of People in Need
Under Georgia’s six-week abortion ban law, only around one in 10 abortions would actually be permitted to take place, impeding care access for most people who need an abortion. Continue Reading
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08 Mar 2023
HHS, OCR Close Case on Medical Racial Discrimination, Care Access
The agreement means Florida’s Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue will implement new policies to prevent the medical racial discrimination that often causes poor care access. Continue Reading
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07 Mar 2023
Community Health Partnerships Key to Combatting Vaccine Misinformation
Experts recommend community health partnerships to combat COVID-19 vaccine misinformation through accurate messaging across multiple channels. Continue Reading
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06 Mar 2023
Structural Racism Fuels Racial Disparities in Surgical Outcomes
Historical healthcare inequities, driven by structural racism, play a role in the observed racial disparities in surgical outcomes and the higher surgical mortality rate among Black men after elective procedures. Continue Reading
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06 Mar 2023
Study Corroborates ‘Weathering,’ Links Racism to Racial Health Disparities
Study authors said that experiences of racism in high-stakes situations, like police interactions, can cause stress that stems into racial health disparities in cardiovascular disease. Continue Reading
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03 Mar 2023
Features to Build Consumer Trust in Patient Data Sharing
Consent, transparency, consumer oversight, and the ability to delete data, plus agreeing with the intended use of patient data, help build trust in patient data sharing. Continue Reading
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02 Mar 2023
Paid Sick Leave Improves Preventive Screening Rates by Up to 8%
Paid sick leave policies implemented between 2012 and 2020 resulted in preventive screening rates for breast and colorectal cancer anywhere from 4 to 8 percent. Continue Reading
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02 Mar 2023
Uncontrolled Blood Pressure Rates in Black Women Reveal Health Disparities
The racial health disparities in uncontrolled high blood pressure rates for Black women of childbearing age can guide equity strategies to mitigate adverse pregnancy outcomes, researchers said. Continue Reading
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01 Mar 2023
Most Popular YouTube Health Videos Might Contain Medical Misinformation
Although YouTube has filters to prioritize expert-led health videos, the most popular posts have qualities that make them vulnerable to conveying medical misinformation. Continue Reading
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28 Feb 2023
100M People Lack Primary Care Access, Usual Source of Care
Researchers said community health centers, sometimes called federally qualified health centers, are instrumental in filling in gaps in primary care access. Continue Reading
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27 Feb 2023
Adding Social Determinants to CMS’ Universal Foundation a Key Step Forward
The Physicians Foundation, which played a role in developing the social determinants and drivers of health measures to the Universal Foundation, said the addition is revolutionary. Continue Reading
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24 Feb 2023
How Community Health Workers Support Chronic Disease Management
Community health workers help promote cultural competence in chronic disease management and can fill language gaps for underserved populations. Continue Reading
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23 Feb 2023
$400K Grant Assists Community-Based Orgs in Addressing Social Determinants
The American Heart Association Social Impact Fund offers investments to community-based organizations to reduce social determinants of health barriers in under-resourced areas. Continue Reading
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22 Feb 2023
The Sequoia Project Homes in on Patient Data Access, Consumer Voices
A Consumer Voices Workgroup from The Sequoia Project will work to understand how patients and their caregivers experience patient data access. Continue Reading
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22 Feb 2023
Overcoming 5 Leading Obstacles to Achieving Racial Health Equity
Implicit bias, patient trust, care access barriers, unequal healthcare quality and patient experience, and racism in R&D and clinical practices are barriers to racial health equity. Continue Reading
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21 Feb 2023
Pandemic Tanked Cancer Screening Rates, But Cancer Diagnoses Didn’t Rise
Epic Health Research Network data confirmed that cancer screening rates went down at the start of the pandemic, but it mollified concerns about late-stage diagnoses down the line. Continue Reading
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17 Feb 2023
NIH Uncovers Racial Disparities in Long COVID Symptoms, Diagnosis Rates
The NIH studies about long COVID, which uncovered racial disparities in both symptom burden and diagnosis rate, are among the first exploring the illness. Continue Reading
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16 Feb 2023
Key Traits of Successful Pediatric Obesity Prevention Programs
Pediatric obesity prevention programs largely hinge on teachers, but researchers said those that also include school administrators, parents, and community members are more fruitful. Continue Reading
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16 Feb 2023
94% of Patients Want Patient Education Content, But a Third Don’t Get It
Researchers indicated that limited access to patient education content opens the door for patients to Google their questions and be exposed to medical misinformation. Continue Reading
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15 Feb 2023
Follow-Up Care Missing for Half of Kids with Mental Health Emergencies
Researchers found that only 56 percent of children receiving emergency care for mental health crises get necessary follow-up care, a concerning finding given the pediatric mental health crisis. Continue Reading
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15 Feb 2023
Odds of Hospital Readmission 34% Higher for Black Heart Attack Patients
Social determinants of health explained only 21 percent of the racial disparities in hospital readmission rates for Black heart attack patients, the researchers noted. Continue Reading
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14 Feb 2023
Do Online Symptom Checkers Work, Benefit Patient Triage?
Online symptom checkers have mixed success rates at providing accurate diagnosis and patient triage, but advances in AI may stand poised to change that. Continue Reading
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13 Feb 2023
How Mental Healthcare Access Can Improve to Meet Patient Needs
Mental healthcare access doesn’t quite meet patients where they need right now, but with policy changes in continuing education and telehealth access, it could. Continue Reading
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13 Feb 2023
Mental Healthcare Access for Rural Veterans Lower Than Urban Areas
GAO recommended VA look at mental healthcare access and utilization by region to better understand these geographic health disparities. Continue Reading
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08 Feb 2023
Building the Digital Front Door with a Patient-Centered Lens
Building the digital front door might help increase market share, but doing so with a patient-centered focus will help ensure the digital suite meets patient needs. Continue Reading
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08 Feb 2023
Epic MyChart Patient Portal Racks Up 6th Best in KLAS Award
On top of the MyChart patient portal solution getting a nod, the health IT vendor racked up its 13th Overall Software Suite award. Continue Reading
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07 Feb 2023
Poor Health Payer Coverage Fuels Rural Maternal Health Disparities
Rural pregnant people are less likely to have health payer coverage, leading to greater rural-urban maternal health disparities, researchers said. Continue Reading
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06 Feb 2023
Nutritional Value Key Factor in Food Security’s Impact on Outcomes
Researchers found that nutritional value of food options—viewed as whether a region is a “food swamp”—can impact risk for adverse health events like stroke. Continue Reading
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06 Feb 2023
Racial Disparities Apparent in Benefits to Walkability, Neighborhood SDOH
Institutional racism, like redlining policies, has created an inverse impact of walkability and neighborhood SDOH for Black, Hispanic, and Asian people. Continue Reading
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06 Feb 2023
How Technology Streamlines Referral Management, Specialty Care Access
Digital tools that automate patient outreach can streamline the referral management process and speed up specialty care access for patients. Continue Reading
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03 Feb 2023
Medication Adherence Rates Sink, Renew Calls for Cost and Policy Change
Despite patient-level fixes like mail-order pharmacies and medication management programs, medication adherence rates remain suboptimal among patients with diabetes. Continue Reading