AMA: Practicing Empathy May Lead to More Joy in Medicine
Doctors should take advantage of first few minutes of clinical encounter, give full attention to patients
Art Therapy, Clown Visits Cut Children’s Preoperative Anxiety
Intervention based on art therapy and clown visits can reduce pre-op anxiety at separation from parents
Hospitals Increasingly Employing Doctors, Effects on Care Uncertain
Switch to employment model not linked to improvement in any of four composite quality metrics
Average Premiums for Health Care Coverage Stable in 2016
Family premium 3 percent higher in 2016 than 2015; no change in share of firms offering health benefits
AAP Says Codeine Not Safe for Children, Urges Restrictions
Doctors should avoid giving drug to children undergoing tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy
Recommendations Developed for Cost-Effectiveness Analyses
Concept of reference case, set of standard practices that all analyses should follow is recommended
Value-Driven Outcomes Tool Can Cut Health Care Costs
Highest variability in costs identified for post-op infection and sepsis, lowest for organ transplant
Lean Processes Can Cut Wait Times at VA Hospitals
Drop in mean patient wait times for elective general surgical procedures; increase in operating volume
Pressure Recording Analytical Method Estimates Cardiac Output
MostCare PRAM is comparable to Fick method for cardiac output measurements in pediatric patients
Non-Drug Methods Effective for Treating Some Pain Conditions
Approaches such as acupuncture, massage, and tai chi may ease discomfort
