Nursing Degree

How a Master’s Degree Can Boost Your Nursing Career

As with many professional careers, experience and education are essential for advancement in nursing. Many nurses enter the professional as a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse, but to progress into leadership roles, become a nurse practitioner, or specialize in many different areas of the profession, an advanced degree is often required. Getting a master’s in nursing (MSN) degree is one of the best ways to find more opportunities for growth in your career and take it to where you would like it to go. We’ve put together some of the main reasons why it’s worth investing in an MSN and what you could do with it.

 

Work as a Nurse Practitioner:

If you want to enjoy a higher level of responsibility and autonomy in your nursing career, then you might want to consider training to become a nurse practitioner. These advanced practice nurses are in high demand right now as in many states, they do not need to work under the supervision of a primary care physician and are permitted to diagnose conditions, prescribe medications and more independently. Due to the national shortage of doctors, nurse practitioners are hired to fill this significant gap, particularly in rural areas. If you want to work as a nurse practitioner, an MSN degree qualification is required as a minimum. Visit the Malek School of Nursing to find out more.

 

Further Career Opportunities:

Gaining a master’s degree in nursing will open up several further opportunities to you when it comes to your career. Nursing is a professional pathway that offers a wide range of career opportunities whether you are looking to work with a certain demographic of patient, in specific healthcare settings, or in a leadership or management role. If you’ve decided that you want to move further from being a registered nurse and have a specialist career goal in mind, it’s likely that a master’s degree will be needed for you to achieve this. The job market for advanced nurses is set to grow even further in the future, meaning that nurses who hold a master’s degree are going to be in higher demand for a wide range of career positions.

 

Specialize:

If you are passionate about a particular area of healthcare or nursing and want to focus on it solely in your career, a master’s degree will help you take your career in that direction. Depending on where you want to specialize, a master’s degree might be required while in some cases, professional certification and on-the-job training will suffice. When getting your master’s degree in nursing, you can often choose to focus more on one area of nursing such as pediatrics, gerontology, or neonatal care throughout the program.

 

Improve Your Skills:

Along with diving deeper into certain aspects of nursing and improving your knowledge and expertise as a nurse, a master’s degree in nursing is also designed to help you develop a further range of skills that will be essential to your career. Getting a master’s degree can be one of the best ways to develop and fine-tune your professional skillset, giving you the chance to master new techniques and equipment that you did not cover during your undergraduate education.

 

Leadership and Management:

If you want to move your nursing career away from the front line of healthcare and spend more time behind the scenes managing healthcare environments and teams, a master’s degree could be your ticket into a nursing management or leadership career. Nurse executives and managers will often serve on the board of hospitals and other healthcare environments, or work in a prominent role within the healthcare organization managing teams and overseeing patient care.

 

Teach Nursing:

With a master’s degree in nursing, you are a step further towards nursing academics, where you could be teaching the next generation of nurses what you know and shaping the future of the profession. A doctorate in nursing is usually required to go on to teach nursing at the college or university level, although some nursing tutors are only required to gain a master’s degree depending on where and what you would like to teach.

 

What to Consider When Choosing a Master’s Program:

If you’ve decided that you would like to get a master’s degree in nursing, there are various factors to consider which will help you make the right decision for you and get a degree that ultimately supports your overall career goals.

 

Consider the following:

What You Enjoy:

While you can get a generic master’s degree in nursing, there are also options to specialize with your degree if you enjoy a certain area of nursing more than others. If you’ve decided that you enjoy pediatric nursing, for example, a master’s degree in pediatric nursing will help you learn things that are relevant to this specialty and improve your chance of finding a position.

 

How to Study:

How you want to get your nursing master’s degree is always worth considering. For many nurses looking to advance in their careers, it’s important to find a degree program that is flexible to fit around their current working hours. If you plan to continue working full-time as a registered nurse while you study, an online program could be the best choice for you. Online programs are flexible and self-led, allowing you to fit them around your current commitments easily.

 

Your Career Goals:

What do you want to eventually do with your career as a result of getting a master’s degree in nursing? If you want to become a nurse manager or leader, for example, a general MSN degree might be ideal, or you could look for a master’s degree with a strong emphasis on management. On the other hand, if you aspire to become a family nurse practitioner, you may want to consider a program that is developed especially for students who would like to get into this advanced career role upon graduation.

A master’s degree in nursing can open up further opportunities for your career and help you take your work to the next level. If you want to move on from being a registered nurse, a master’s degree in nursing can turn your career goals into reality.

Medical career

7 Considerations When Pursuing a Medical Career

Look at your interests and goals. Does the future appeal to you? Do you want to experience challenging situations? Do you have a passion for science? Are you interested in body processes? Would you like to care deeply in resolving the pain of others? Are you interested in studying medicine? Do you like learning new things? Are you attracted to the way treatment has improved people’s lives in the past?

If you answered “yes” to most of the following questions, your personality possibly matches a career in medicine. Having an intense and long journey is an essential part of pursuing a career. Several studies show that a quarter of students decided to get into medical school before they graduate from high school.

The number of candidates applying to medical school exceeds the number of available places, which means that the recruitment procedure needs to be fair and relevant. Nevertheless, even within one country, there are wide deviations when it comes to recruiting and selecting medical students.

There are things that a medical school applicant should consider before pursuing a medical career and it should also be for the right reason.

 

1. Know Your Motivation

How do you hope to benefit from this? Did you grow up in a family that valued their abilities? Do you have a strong interest in math and science? Are past professional experiences inspiring? Are you motivated solely by money? What motivates you? Answering these questions will help you understand the reason why you want to pursue a medical career.

A medical career is extremely rewarding but can be stressful as well. This profession requires great commitment, hard work, and endurance.

If you’re considering healthcare because of someone you care deeply or trust, like your family, you’re welcome to do that. You just have to make sure that your goals and the objectives that you set are compatible with theirs. Ultimately, you’ll have to live with the decisions that you make. Knowing your motives beforehand will help keep you persevering until later.

 

2. Commitment to Public Service

Medicine is a service-oriented field, which tends to attract students who want to contribute to their community. However, not every student feels a need to contribute so much to society. Therefore, students must first examine whether a career in medicine is something that they see themselves even in the long term.

An inclination to care about the individual will enable one to look beyond the strain and strenuous working hours of a job, leading to a rewarding and fulfilling career. It’s imperative to emphasize that you must place your desires behind your decision to seek a healthcare vocation. You should feel great about your decision if your family and friends support you, but try to stay true to your decision! It’s recommended you read some resources about the different fields of medicine which can either be Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). You should choose which among them best suits you.

 

3. Financial Implications

There’s no way around the fact that it’s costly to study and train for most healthcare occupations. Buying a healthcare-related education may seem like a solid investment, but there are many hidden costs.

Financing for your medical tuition isn’t an easy feat. If you’re lucky enough, you may have financial support from family or perhaps you can invest early in life and acquire an educational plan. You could also make the most of the tuition fee discount programs offered in your chosen university. If you’re thinking about applying to study for a healthcare profession, you’re required to be prepared financially.

Is there at least one of your living expenses to be funded by student loans? Are you planning to work and study? Are you planning to avail a scholarship? Consider assessing your finances and see how to go about all the medical education fees.

Healthcare degrees aren’t just financially demanding but usually take an enormous amount of work and dedication. Are you dedicated to finishing your degree course regardless of your motivation for pursuing a healthcare career?

 

4. Long Years of Education

Education is an essential component when entering the field of medicine. You’ll have to undergo four years for an undergraduate program first and foremost. Next, you’ll be enrolled in medical school which will take about four years. Then, for residency, it’ll take another three to seven years, including training. Hence, being a doctor takes an average of 14 years of school time and residency training, and other jobs take at least 6–8 years to become educated for. The time it takes to become educated enough to apply for an appointment must be reflected in the calculations.

Some graduates choose to specialize in their careers in their 30s. The profession has always required these professionals to constantly learn, evolving their practices as technology developments become the field.

 

5. Specification of Study

What are you passionate about? A medical career can provide an outlet for you, no matter what your area of interest is. Nurses or doctors are among the professions you may have already considered. Those who are interested in cardiology can work as a cardiologist, cardiac technician, or cardiovascular nurse, for example. You may be a great pediatrician if you love to work with kids.

Within each medical field, a wide array of jobs and specialties are available for students of any education level, from a high school diploma to a master’s degree. When you finally start your profession as a doctor, you may apply practical ways to attract new patients to your office and begin to spread word of mouth through your excellent medical service and commitment.

 

6. Career Plans

What kind of environment would you find the most comfortable? Which do you think will offer you the most excellent chance of success? It’s probably not a good idea to be a surgeon or a nurse if hospitals seem too big or too cold. Hospice care can be depressing for those who are prone to depression. Many patients spend their last days in that kind of setting.

In case you feel uncomfortable dealing with people, you may enjoy working in a laboratory or even as a pathologist. These job positions will appeal to you if you’d rather not have direct contact with patients and people. You might consider military jobs, ship jobs, or maybe even submarine jobs. When you finally understand what environment you feel most comfortable working in, it’ll make an impact on your choice of specialization.

 

7. Assessment of Strengths and Skills

Every medical care job requires different skill sets. Doctors also need to have critical traits. However, some common attributes must be present in every health care occupation at some level. A strong work ethic, good interpersonal skills, and technical or mathematic capabilities are essential for most roles. Your patient’s well-being and the quality of their health may depend on how you perform your work. Consequently, most medical jobs require great responsibility and maturity.

Healthcare professionals must learn continuously because the industry is constantly evolving with new technology, new procedures, emerging medications, and even new ailments.

 

Conclusion

A good rule of thumb is to consider what your ideal lifestyle would look like shortly and compare that with the healthcare professions’ reality. Do you have a suitable work schedule for long hours? Would you be willing to relocate for a job? You can consider the above factors before investing your time or money into obtaining any healthcare qualification.

It’s a rewarding and challenging career to pursue. Students will find themselves in a field that offers excellent opportunities for personal development and professional development. To understand whether this will be a good fit for a student, research is required, so introspection is crucial.

Medical Claims

How to Appeal a Health Insurance Claim Denial

If you’re now facing a dilemma regarding your health insurance claim denial, this article will help you go through it. You likely feel frustrated and upset because your insurance company no longer covers an expensive medical procedure you recently underwent. However, it’s best to stay calm and find solutions to your predicament. The decision on your plan might still be reversed.

Getting health insurance means fighting for your rights sometimes. Denial of a claim for reasonable grounds could happen, but errors are also possible. Find out the reason for the decision being denied before appealing the case. Some health insurance claims have been dismissed because the claims were entered incorrectly or an agent messed up or lacked information about the medical situation.

Members can challenge a claim denial with appeal processes provided by all health insurers. It’s possible to win an appeal against a denied health insurance claim by knowing how to fight it. However, if you need assistance with the entire process, there’s no need to worry. Search online, and you can find reliable lawyers from sites like  www.raphaelsonlaw.com

What Is A Health Insurance Denial?

When your insurance company denies you a claim for treatment or medication, that’s referred to as a denial. When you can’t follow a prescription, cannot continue medication, or have to pay the entire health care cost for your treatment, it can be frustrating and at times frightening. There’s good news, though: you can file for an appeal of the decision. Many health insurance denials may be resolved with the insurance appeals process, but it can be stressful and energy-wasting on your end.

What to Do When Your Claim Is Denied

Even if your claim is rejected the first time, don’t lose hope just yet. Here are the steps in appealing a health insurance claim denial:

1. Read the Denial Letter and Review Your Policy

If you followed the guidelines for choosing a health insurance plan yet your claim was still denied, you must review your policy again. Read your insurance documents to understand what your insurance ultimately covers. What’s covered must be outlined on the paperwork. Also, it must include and emphasize all exclusions and limitations.

Next, check your insurance plan’s letter confirming that your policy was denied. The claim denial letter should tell you the reasons why your claim got rejected. This denial letter should also contain the necessary procedures and requirements to appeal the decision.

2. Call and Speak to The Key People Involved in Your Case

This second step is to ensure that you communicate with the people involved in the situation. Those include your insurance company, doctor, and even the HR department in your company.

  • Call Your Insurance Company

If you have any questions about why your insurance claim was denied, call your insurance company. You need to inquire about whether the claim was refused because there was an error on the billing statement, or maybe you might not have given all the required information. Ask the representative to walk you through the appeal process if you think it’s appropriate or at least send you a step-by-step guide on how to appeal.

  • Call Your Doctor’s Office

Your next step is to keep in touch with your doctor’s clinic if you suspect that your doctor is missing some information or is not using the appropriate code. Please ask your doctor’s staff to rectify this error and submit the paperwork to your insurance company again.

  • Call Your HR Department’s Office (If You Have Coverage from The Company)

Get in touch with the pensions and health benefits manager. They may know some vital information and give you sound advice. The HR manager or the assigned staff can contact someone who can explain why your claim is valid. Insurance companies might reverse their decision and compensate the claim if that happens.

3. Write an Appeal Letter

Your health insurance appeal letter should communicate the correct information to your insurer for your claim to be considered quickly. If your claim was denied, it might be difficult for the insurer to review your appeal if you don’t know why your claim was denied. Hence, it’s primarily vital to know the reason firsthand.

Get in touch with your insurance company to determine why the denial was made, and be familiar with how their appeal process works. The best way to prevent delays is to follow their appeal procedure and provide the necessary information to the correct department or the person in charge of your case.

Afterward, you should write an appeal letter. These are its essential parts:

  • Opening Statement

This includes the medical service or therapy that was denied to you, along with the insurance company’s reasons for the denial.

  • Background About Your Medical Problems

Explain why the treatments are medically necessary for you to get. If you’ve tried other treatments before, mention them and discuss why the treatment you most recently received could be more adequate and effective.

  • Include Your Doctor’s Supporting Information

Make sure to submit your doctor’s prescriptions and documentation stating that the medical services you’re receiving fall under a treatment plan established and handled by your insurance company.

4. Undergo an Internal Review

Employees of the insurance company who weren’t a part of the original decision will take a second look at your claim. You can request an expedited appeal if your medical condition is urgent, requiring your medical insurance company to decide within three days after the appeal.

A letter or phone call from your insurance company about its decision will follow the internal review. You’ll be covered for your care if the insurance company reverses the decision in your favor. There are still options if the decision is upheld.

In this situation, you may ask for support or assistance from your medical doctor. In case you’re dissatisfied with the company’s decision, your doctor can challenge it by doing a one-on-one insurance review with the medical reviewer. A primary appeal seeks to establish that the treatment you’re received is covered by your insurance and has been mistakenly rejected.

5. Resort to An External Review

A physician with the same specialty as your doctor and an independent reviewer from the insurance company will evaluate your appeal and determine whether to authorize or deny coverage. Many people turn to an external review if there’s no way to appeal internally or if an internal appeal fails.

6. Prevent It from Happening Again

When you follow these steps before getting any medical treatment, you’re less susceptible to having your claim denied:

  • Make sure you understand what your policy covers. Before you receive treatment, ask your insurer for your insurance coverage details and the overview of your benefits.
  • Keep your health plan’s rules in mind. Some insurance companies will require you to get pre-authorization for specific kinds of care or therapy. Have this checked before receiving treatment.
  • Make sure you know what your benefits include. How many home health visits can you have in a year, for instance? Check your insurance policy carefully. Know how to use your insurance, and be familiar with all the details involved to prevent misunderstandings later.
  • You should find out if your medical provider is included in your plan’s network. Your insurer may not compensate you for the care you receive from providers who don’t have a partnership with them.

Conclusion

If you submit your request within the time limit, make sure it’s by certified mail so you have proof that it was sent before the deadline. It’s vital to understand why your claim for health insurance was denied so you can appeal it. And, of course, you should work with a reliable attorney so the process will be much smoother for you. 

Gender equality

10 Steps Towards Gender Equity in Healthcare Business 2021

The term ‘gender equality’ has been around for some time already. It’s circulated since the genesis of the suffrage movement that took place amongst Western societies in the latter half of the 19th century. Demands for equal pay, equal opportunities for professional success, and equal political power are being realized, albeit somewhat slowly.

What is emerging as a new, and more appropriate, philosophical framework is that of gender equity. It encompasses the basic desires of gender equality, but calls for a slightly varying approach in balancing the scales. Essentially, equity entails the fair treatment of both sexes based on their respective and distinct needs. The end goal remains the same but, for men and women to have a fair and equal chance, the means to get there will vary.

As a healthcare business, there are various policies and strategies that you can adopt to work towards gender equity. These are:

1. Bolster Leadership Opportunities for Women

Ensure that you’re placing an equal number of women in leadership roles as you are men. Studies show that there are more women in supervisory or managerial positions than their male counterparts. However, when it comes to leadership roles, the scales tip in obvious favor of men.

Be wary of prejudices surrounding the professional capacity of women in a healthcare business and instead focus on their merit and drive. It may surprise you how much our unconscious biases influence promotion processes in the workplace.

 

2. Be Mindful in Meetings

When you and the other members of your healthcare business gather for a meeting, it’s a relatively rare occasion of intentional and focused togetherness. These moments have the potential to act as a fertile soil in the process of cultivating a culture of gender equity.

Be conscious of whether male or female voices dominate and be sure to distribute praise equally. Be aware of the language that is being used—are the pronouns ‘he/him/his’ dominating the conversation?

 

3. Re-evaluate Recruitment Processes

As much as we would like to believe otherwise, recruitment processes are oftentimes riddled with biases—gendered, racial, and otherwise. Ask for feedback from those who experience your recruitment process and always assume that you have more to learn and fine tune.

After all, your recruitment process forms part of your brand as a healthcare business. It’s therefore imperative that you ensure you’re promoting the message of gender equity to the public.

 

4. Pledge Gender Equitable Pay

This seems fairly obvious and is almost always at the top of the list of demands when there is a call for gender equity. Men are statistically more likely to negotiate for a better salary than women and are therefore more likely to receive it. Ensure that your salaries get determined by merit and not swayed by assertiveness or a lack thereof.

While you rethink the salaries of potential future employees, you should also re-evaluate existing salaries. By doing so, everyone in your healthcare business can reap the benefits of gender equity. In making your employees feel considered and appreciated, you bolster company loyalty and cohesion. 

 

5. Flexible Working Hours

Although times are changing, research shows that women are still responsible for the majority of childcare duties, and this has huge impacts on their hours of availability. This does not mean that they are any less capable than men, it simply means that their working hours will vary, and this deserves respect.

If you employ mothers, understand that they cannot work into the evenings as they might have to fetch children from school and perhaps cook dinner. Early morning meetings are unsuitable for the same reasons. Negotiate a working schedule that is optimal for both you and your employee and never penalize anyone for meeting the needs of their family—within reason, of course.

 

6. Prioritize the Process

It’s not enough to want gender equity to be a characteristic or feature of your healthcare business. It has to be a priority. The notion of gender equity has to factor into every decision and policy. Every step of the way you need to be asking yourself whether this or that factor advances or hinders your mission for gender equity. 

An important tool in this process is having mechanisms of measurement in place. In order to track the progress and efficacy of your policies, results need to be monitored, understood, and reflected upon. This allows you to refine policies and practices for optimal results.

 

7. Paternity and Maternity Leave

With the birth of a baby, men generally are the ones discriminated against. They are not typically granted any form of paternity leave, which inhibits them from being present in this precious time. This also adds to stress levels as they feel they cannot support their partner adequately. That said, maternity leave for new mothers is often grossly inadequate and needs serious restructuring.

 

8. Accountability Culture 

To work towards true gender equity, there need to be mechanisms of accountability in place. When it’s made clear that noncompliance is unacceptable and appropriate measures for success are in place, it becomes everyone’s responsibility to work towards a shared goal of gender equity.

 

9. Encourage Ongoing Training

Rome was not built in a day, just as gender equality is not achievable overnight. Minority groups and women are still facing challenges in almost every business sector. The process of change requires your healthcare company and all its employees to commit to an ongoing re-evaluation of its values and how it strives to realize its goal for gender equity.

You can foster an environment in which everyone is open to the training that’s required to bring about a sustainable change in the workplace. Interactive workshops, group discussions, and seminars are a great place to start.

 

10. Lead by Example

Remember that at the end of the day, if you do not embody the values of your healthcare business, then you are ultimately undermining the sincerity of its ethos. People are not generally inspired by words and promises as much as they are by action and results.

When you ensure your personal deeds advance gender equity, then your colleagues are more likely to follow suit.

 

The Takeaway

Moving towards gender equity in health care businesses requires a multi-faceted approach. By implementing these 10 steps, you’ll be well on your way to balancing the scales.

 

Digital GP

Is the Switch to Digital Healthcare Here to Stay?

In some ways, it’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since the pandemic forced us into the first national lockdown. In other ways, it feels like it’s been much longer. One thing we know is that it has changed many of our habits.

Online shopping rose by 50% within two months, while many of our usual appointments were either postponed or held virtually. 2020 was the year of video calls, with work meetings, pub quizzes, family gatherings, and even GP appointments held online or over the phone. This shift to virtual healthcare appointments in particular represents a huge change in one key area of our life.

We’re not out of the pandemic woods yet, so many GP and hospital consultations are still being held remotely. This allows patients to seek medical help in a risk-free environment, while also ensuring the safety of our NHS staff. Remote appointments also have the potential to save time for patients, who won’t have to travel to the surgery unless necessary.

This move to remote consultations saw interest in digital and online GP appointments skyrocket. As we navigated the pandemic and multiple lockdowns, our healthcare needs evolved. But is digital healthcare set to stay, and if so, is that the best option for ourselves and our families?

Health cash plans provider Westfield Health has analysed Google search data throughout the coronavirus pandemic to find out if we’re ready to fully embrace digital healthcare, and what a shift to digital means for you and your family.

 

The way we managed our healthcare changed

It’s no surprise that, as the first national lockdown forced surgeries to close their doors, we were required to seek online alternatives. While 99% of GP practices had the capabilities to hold video consultations in place, NHS data shows that these appointments actually dropped by 77.24% between January 2020 and April 2020. In the same timeframe, telephone appointments more than doubled.

For many, however, telephone appointments weren’t ideal. How can you accurately show or tell your doctor your problem if they can’t see you? Patients in Scotland reported frustrations with telephone appointments not meeting their needs. This is particularly impactful on certain groups of people, including parents of young children, as children may not be able to verbalise exactly what is wrong. Video appointments are certainly a better option, but they may still not allow GPs to accurately treat a child without a physical examination.

 

Searches for online GP support soar in first lockdown

As expected, searches for a number of terms related to online GP appointments and consultations hit their highest peak when the first national lockdown was announced in March 2020. The term ‘NHS online GP’ increased by 650% from the previous year from 720 monthly searches to 5,400. ‘NHS online consultation’ rose by a huge 2,614.3% year on year, from a modest 70 searches a month to 1,900 at its peak, as people sought out alternatives to telephone appointments.

All searches related to digital and online GP support experienced a 71.87% increase in searches year on year in March 2020, reaching a total of 85,400 searches. This number dropped slightly but remained strong in April 2020. Searches centred around online and digital GP services were still up 63.51% year-on-year in April 2020 as lockdown measures continued.

 

The easing of lockdown

Our shift to seeking digital healthcare support may have been forced upon us, but was it a positive change that continued?

Many surgeries offered an eConsult option to patients during the pandemic, which guided users through a form about their health concern. The form is then submitted to their GP, the patients receive a reply and, if necessary, a video, telephone, or in-person consultation. A report by the Health Innovation Network South London found that 75% of patients who had used the service would do so again, with 64% reporting that it saved them time. A BMJ report also states that GP surgeries report high levels of patient satisfaction with video consultations.

But as lockdown measures first began to ease in May 2020, so did our interest in digital GP services. Despite outstanding levels of satisfaction with digital services, online interest began to drop in line with lockdown restrictions lifting.

While interest remained higher than the previous year, searches decreased by 15% between March and May 2020, and a further 16.48% from May to June. When restrictions were at their lowest levels in the summer, with the exception of local lockdowns in Leicester, search levels were closer to their 2019 levels. They remained at a lower level for the rest of 2020. This suggests patients reverted to their “normal” routines when it comes to healthcare, favouring in-person appointments.

 

New lockdown, renewed interest

As we entered a new lockdown in January 2021, interest in online GP services rose once again; searches for these terms rose 18.32%. Interest didn’t reach the levels of March 2020, but this may be due to the fact that people were registering more for digital NHS services throughout last year.

NHS Digital data that shows usage of its digital solutions increased across the board in 2020. The number of people using the NHS App increased by 912% between December 2019 and December 2020, rising from 192,676 to 1,951,640. The NHS App can be used for booking in-person, face-to-face or telephone appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions, and viewing your medical record, perfectly blending digital and traditional healthcare.

 

Is digital healthcare the way forward?

Despite the fact that interest in digital healthcare dropped as it became less of a necessity, satisfaction with these services is high. So, why aren’t we turning to these options more?

While we’ll never fully eliminate in-person appointments, the option of digital healthcare offers many benefits both to the NHS and patients. The biggest benefit, which users of the eConsult service have noted, is time saving. In the same way that we’ve adopted working from home and seen a better work-life balance, we’ve recognised that virtual GP consultations also offer this benefit. We may also be more likely to book 10-minute phone appointments knowing that we only need to allocate those 10 minutes, instead of factoring in travel and waiting times. This additional time investment can be off-putting to those with busy lives or family commitments.

This not only benefits patients, but it can also allow doctors to prioritise high-risk and vulnerable patients. These digital options are fantastic and meet a number of needs, but they must be blended with face-to-face appointments. We could even see a scenario where high-risk patients and parents are prioritised for in-person appointments because it would be difficult to receive adequate treatment over the phone or online.

We were forced to change the way we deal with our healthcare needs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic last year. GP surgeries shut their doors to almost all patients, consulting remotely instead. This pushed us to seek digital support, and while we can see from search data that this was largely an enforced change, it was certainly a useful one.

Interest levels rose and fell in line with lockdown restrictions, so for many, digital services were a means to an end. However, these options offer benefits to both patients and doctors. While we’ll never see digital replace traditional healthcare and GP treatment, the blending of the two services is the way forward.

Medical insurance

9 Things to Know About Medical Insurance

Health should be everyone’s priority, but most people don’t consider medical insurance a crucial investment. Not everyone is keen on discussing hospital coverages, and some find the topic intimidating. Medical insurance can help you deal with expenses when you get sick to the point of hospitalization. Before dealing with this type of insurance, here are some things you need to know: 

 

1. Medical Insurance and Health Insurance Are Different

Some people interchangeably use medical insurance to refer to health insurance and vice versa. In that case, people don’t realize that they do have differences, albeit slight. 

Health insurance has a broader range of coverage—medical, dental, vision, hearing, surgical, and prescription drugs. It is offered publicly through federal funding and is customizable through private companies. Companies may offer health insurance to entice customers or for prospective employees to apply to them. 

Medical insurance, on the other hand, only has limited coverage for treatment and hospitalization in general. Government insurance such as Medicare uses Medigap to fill in benefit gaps. There are also other well-established insurance companies, such as Transamerica Medigap insurance review, that offer various Medicare supplement plans suitable to the needs of their policyholders.

 

2. Medical Insurance Coverage

Now that the difference between health and medical insurance has been made clear, let’s cover the purpose of medical insurance. Basic private medical insurance typically covers day-care surgery and in-patient treatments that include diagnostics as well.

While its primary purpose is to pay for medical treatment (intensive and critical care), some providers may add higher premiums for outpatient surgery (including specialists), ambulance services, and the number of nights you need to stay in a National Health Service (NHS) hospital.

The cost may also be more affordable than other policies, but it will depend on the benefits availed of. For instance, your smoking habit may also make premiums higher. One of the reasons is that smoking causes dental problems. Hospital or medical insurance does not cover dental issues. You’ll most likely be compelled to get dental insurance and add more to your existing premium.

 

3. What Private Medical Insurance Does Not Cover

Medical insurance doesn’t cover the conditions mentioned below:

  • Medical conditions that are already pre-existing
  • Sports injuries and injuries related to war or hostilities
  • Organ transplants
  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  • Diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, and other related illnesses

Some companies would offer coverage for sports injuries and mental health conditions.

 

4. Eases Out-Of-Pocket Expenses

The cost of hospitalization and treatment can leave deep financial trouble for individuals and families who earn less salaries. Hospital indemnity insurance can serve as a supplementary insurance policy when your health or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) benefits are not enough. It covers co-pays, deductibles, care services, and, depending on the plan, can also include hospitalization.

It also helps enrollees avoid exhausting their savings due to the high cost of treatments. Hospitals also tend to charge more depending on the duration of the patient’s stay. Medical insurance may also cover the cost of rooms. 

 

5. Affordable Option for Employers

Employers often offer hospital or medical insurance because it can offset the high costs of deductibles. It provides a win-win solution since it makes hospitalization affordable for the employees, and it’s cheaper to provide on the part of employers.

While employers offer them, individuals can purchase them privately. There are affordable monthly payments that will pay out a specific amount to help cover surgery, diagnostics, or ambulance transport. Enrollment is also easy as there are no medical inquiries or examinations required. 

 

6. Partner Medicare With Private Medical Insurance

If you’re paying for Medicare, you already know that Plan A covers hospital care. But Medicare doesn’t cover everything, since you may still need to pay out-of-pocket for specific expenses such as deductibles. In this case, you can make Medicare your primary insurance and take on another separate policy.

As the primary payer, Medicare can coordinate with your other medical insurance company to compromise as to which of them gets to pay first. Regardless, this cooperative effort eases the out-of-pocket expenses of the policyholder. 

 

7. Medical Insurance Is Family-Friendly

Families can benefit from hospital insurance as infants make up the majority of minors who need hospital care. The expense of hospitalization can take a toll on a family’s economic well-being, especially when young children and infants require intensive and emergency treatments.

Either of the spouses can also use this even when they don’t have children. Room admittance can cost thousands of dollars, especially in confinements that take several days. Additionally, pregnant women can also make use of medical insurance from admittance to post-childbirth. Seniors can use hospital or medical insurance when they get hospitalized for age-related illnesses. 

 

8. Waiting Period

No matter the reason, hospitalization is an urgent matter that insurance companies should prioritize. In actuality, if you have an illness that is not considered life-threatening, you may have to let 30 days pass before receiving a check.

Injuries by accidents are a different story as you may not have to wait at all. Medical insurance providers generally send the money directly to the policyholder, similar to other supplemental insurance policies. Before purchasing this type of insurance, always know the waiting period. 

 

9. Private Medical Insurance

Private medical insurance eligibility applies only to those with issues that the NHS can’t cover with drugs and treatment. These include injuries from playing sports activities and surgeries. If you prefer being admitted to private hospitals for treatment rather than in NHS facilities, you’d want to avail yourself of private medical insurance instead.  Other benefits of private medical insurance are as follows:

  • You’re free to choose your surgeon and hospital
  • You can get a private room
  • You can take as many scans as you need
  • They can lower the waiting time for treatment, if more than six months
  • You can get second opinions from specialists
  • You have access to physiotherapy sessions
  • You have access to specialist treatment and drugs

 

Conclusion

Medical insurance can serve as separate coverage or supplementary insurance, even for Medicare policyholders. Knowing how it works will help you get the most out of it. It likewise helps ease your potential out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles and co-payments. Remember that it pays to know the coverage of your policy, your rights, and the benefits you can reap from it. You may ask the insurance company in case confusion arises and when you need assistance.

Medical school

The Advantages of Pursuing a Graduate Degree Before Medical School

If you are intent on becoming a doctor, you should know that there is no guaranteed way to become the best doctor. There is also no rule that states you have to go to graduate school before enrolling in medical school. However, getting your graduate degree beforehand does have some distinct advantages. Here are just a few of them.

 

Learn Medicine Based on Evidence

One of the greatest skills medical students can possess is the ability to find, control, and use peer-reviewed and published medical data. This is the bedrock to making informed decisions on a clinical basis. Students entering into a graduate program before they enroll in a medical school will be exposed to, and become adept at, all of the facets of evidence-based medicine well before those who go straight to medical school. Students who complete master’s programs will sufficient knowledge in such things as epidemiology, data analysis, and biostatistics to transfer and apply it directly after entering medical school.

 

Ease of Payments

The process of paying for graduate school is essentially the same as paying for undergraduate school. After any avenues of free money are exhausted, apply for a private student loan to cover the remaining amount of expenses. Repayment plans can generally be tailored to be flexible for a healthy budget. One of the last things you should be worried about during graduate school is where the money is coming from and a private loan is definitely a solution for that.

 

Develop Research Skills

Many budding medical students state that they have a desire to pursue medical research during their training. Since residency programs are highly competitive, it is a good idea to keep up with what everyone else is doing. In fact, many students are entering medical schools with research projects already in the works. This is something that is highly impressive to admissions officers. To make sure you are on the same level of playing field, you need to be prepared for this as well. Students who have completed a master’s program have already developed the skills to analyze large amounts of pertinent data and to ask questions concerning novel forms of research.

 

Networking

Just as with virtually all other forms of business, medical students need to network within their chosen professions. Students who have gone through a graduate program have already developed a solid network of peers that they can rely on for peer review even possible collaboration on future projects. The sooner you can develop a network, the better off you will be. When you have a pre-built peer network, it is much easier to get papers published or to gain assistance with certain types of project funding.

 

Resume Booster

If you can show admissions officers that what you studied in graduate school has a direct bearing on your future medical career, then that degree acts as a huge boost to your resume. Not only does it show drive and determination, but it also displays the additional knowledge gained that others who skipped medical school may not currently possess.

Hospital emergency

5 Deadly Events That Burden American Hospitals

Thousands of people are admitted to hospitals in the US every day. Hospital beds are being filled so rapidly that makeshift ones need to be made. Many events that lead people needing to be hospitalized can be avoided. It doesn’t help when a pandemic is thrown into the mix too. When hospitals are inundated with patients, it strains the health care system and can stop professionals from performing their job to the standard that’s needed.

Some events happen less frequently, like terrorist attacks. Others occur daily, like car crashes. These occurrences put a strain on hospital staff and resources by requiring emergency surgeries and more beds. It’s important that everyone does their best to help lessen the burden and help hospitals to be functional and efficient. Here are five events that lead to American hospitals being overwhelmed.

 

1. Terrorist Attacks

Every year around 21,000 people die from terrorist attacks worldwide. In 2017, they were responsible for 0.05% of all global deaths. The biggest terrorist attack to occur in the US, and the world, was 9/11. During that day and the days that followed, 2,977 people died and 6,000 suffered serious injuries. Hospitals in New York and the surrounding area were inundated with people needing serious medical attention. There weren’t enough beds for everyone who needed help, and not enough medical professionals to give assistance to those with injuries.

Deaths caused indirectly by the explosions may not even be counted in the figures. The dust and debris from the explosion may have caused people in the area to develop cancer or other serious illnesses. If you know someone who suffered from this, these helpful resources will guide them in understanding and assessing their legal options.

 

2. Covid-19

Covid-19 is a leading cause of death in US today. The country has seen a total of 29.5 million cases and 534 thousand deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. The hospital system is being overwhelmed by the number of people needing medical attention from the virus. However, the number of patients is going down. In January 2021, there were over 100,000 people in US hospitals with Covid, and in March 2021 it was under 40,000. Good hygiene, mask wearing, and social distancing will help to lower this number even more and lessen the burden.

The overcrowding of hospitals means that it’s harder for doctors to perform their jobs to the highest standards. There isn’t enough equipment, such as ventilators, to support every patient, and medical professionals may become stressed and burned out.

 

3. Car Crashes

Car crashes have led to a high number of deaths for decades. In the US, it’s the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 54. Every year, 38,000 people die from car related incidents and 4.4 million are seriously injured. The majority of these people are admitted to hospitals and require medical help. The main causes of car crashes are easy to avoid:

  • Speeding
  • Driving under the influence
  • Fatigue
  • Distraction

Speeding is the leading cause of road accidents because it’s harder to maneuver a speeding car and has more force upon impact with another object. Injuries from car crashes vary from head injuries to loss of limbs. Emergency surgeries are often needed after major accidents and they put extra strain on hospitals. By driving at the speed limit, keeping alcohol consumption low, and staying focused, motorists may help lessen the amount of people who need admitting to hospitals from car crashes.

 

4. Workplace Injuries That Lead to Deaths

During 2019, a worker died from a workplace injury every 99 minutes in the US. Deaths related to work-related injuries can be avoided by following the proper safety procedures. Different industries have different guidelines that need to be followed. For example, in construction, safety equipment, like hardhats and sturdy shoes, need to be worn. Whereas in the office, desks need to be set up ergonomically and stress levels managed. However, in most cases where death has occurred in a workplace, it’s from manual labor. Roughly 20% of fatally injured workers were employed as a truck driver or sales worker.

Work-related injuries and deaths also include suicide related to work stresses and unintentional overdoses. In 2019, there were 307 suicides and 313 overdoses, which was a slight increase from the previous years. These can be reduced by employers ensuring that employees are happy and coping with their job. Less workplace incidents will mean less hospital beds taken up by injuries that can easily be avoided and more medication for other patients. Following the occupational health and safety guidelines will help lessen the number of hospitalizations from workplace injuries.

 

5. Hospital Mistakes and Errors

Some deaths that occur at hospitals aren’t from external factors but are from mistakes made in the hospital. It’s estimated that every year around 22,000 people die from mistakes made by medical professionals. For example, diagnosing someone wrongly or failing to manage their condition properly. Wrongly diagnosing someone can lead to their medications causing more issues and may increase their chances of dying.

In most cases where these deaths occur, the patients are already ill and have a life expectancy of three months. For patients who were previously healthy and die from hospital error, the rate is around 7,000 every year. These mistakes can burden hospitals by making medical professionals second guess their decisions and wasting medication on the wrong diagnosis. While these mistakes may not be completely eliminated, following hospital procedures and thorough testing may lessen the number of deaths.

 

Conclusion

There are a lot of events that lead to hospitals being overwhelmed with patients. Events such as terrorist attacks can lead to an influx of patients when it happens, and more admissions years after. Other events, like car crashes and workplace injuries, are more consistent and happen every day.

At the moment, Covid-19 is resulting in US hospitals being overcrowded and burdening the health care system. Emergency surgeries and resources, such as medications, are needed more when these events occur. Hospitals can run more effectively and offer better care to patients when they’re not overwhelmed.

Asbestos

South East of England Has Suffered the Most Asbestos-Related Deaths

As we’re spending more time inside our homes, many of us are starting our own refurbishment projects. We’re making our living spaces more liveable and improving the design, whether out of necessity or sheer boredom. But the downside? Many news outlets, as well as Sky News, have reported a shocking surge in fly-tipping asbestos material over lockdown. Homeowners are irresponsibly dumping this waste that can have lifelong adverse health effects. Asbestos is potentially hazardous and in need of specialist and expensive removal by experts.

 

What is asbestos and why was it used if it was dangerous?

Asbestos was used widely across the world as a building material throughout the 1950s through to the 80s. It is strong, cheap, insulating, and widely available. However, the dangerous health effects weren’t known like they are now. Sadly, this means that this dangerous fibre was integrated into most industrial buildings until it was banned in 1999. Although it is removed when identified through asbestos surveys, there is still some of this material existing today. These fibres are so big that they can’t be broken down by the body, translating to around 5,000 deaths a year. Worse, 94 per cent are preventable.

Research shows that severe or even fatal diseases can be incurred when asbestos fibres and released and inhaled. These illnesses have a long latency period, meaning symptoms of these diseases may not be evident until 30 to 40 years after exposure. Those who have come into contact with asbestos are at risk of cancers, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as asbestosis, a serious lung condition caused by long-term exposure, reduced respiratory function, and death.

Because of the delayed health effects, from the period 2010 to 2020, we witnessed a surge in mesothelioma deaths. The Guardian reported that in 2017, deaths reached record levels after such heavy asbestos usage in the 60s and 70s. Rates of mesothelioma, which almost always results in fatality, increased from 1,317 cases in 1995 to 2,523 in 2017.

According to the Guardian, experts estimate that a similar number of people die from asbestos-related lung cancers. However, this can’t be accurately measured because there are many reasons someone may develop lung cancer. As a result, cause and effect cannot be established.

 

Asbestos deaths

We took data by the Health and Safety Executive to explore which regions in Britain have been affected the most by asbestos deaths as a cause of mesothelioma from the period 1981 to 2018. In total, there have been 61,178 during this period in the UK, with 53,424 occurring in England.

 

Death in men

There are significantly more asbestos-related deaths in men. This isn’t surprising, considering men were primary workers on construction sites back when asbestos was used. The South East of England is affected the most with 8,656 asbestos-related deaths from 1981 to 2018. The breakdown by region shows that Medway in particular had the highest deaths at 454, followed by:

  • Portsmouth (433)
  • Southampton (392)
  • Isle of Wight (255)
  • Brighton and Hove (169)
  • Milton Keynes (168)
  • West Berkshire (128)
  • Windsor and Maidenhead (116)
  • Wokingham (110)
  • Reading (96)
  • Bracknell Forest (89)
  • Slough (67)

The top 10 locations for highest male deaths is Plymouth with 578, North Tyneside with 534, Medway with 454, Portsmouth with 433, South Tyneside with 404, Southampton with 392, West Dunbartonshire with 289, Barrow-in-Furness with 285, Hartlepool with 179, and Gosport with 149.

 

Men

Women

Area

Deaths

Deaths

South East

8,656

1,505

North West

6,329

1,061

East of England

5,414

1,044

South West

5,145

790

London

4,706

1,112

Scotland

4,636

715

Yorkshire and the Humber

4,412

920

North East

3,811

631

West Midlands

3,496

591

East Midlands

3,207

594

Wales

2,073

330

 

Death in women

Again, the region for the most deaths for women is South East with 1,505. Again, Medway had the highest deaths at 65 followed by:

  • Southampton (54)
  • Portsmouth (42)
  • Isle of Wight (36)
  • Milton Keynes (35)
  • West Berkshire (23)
  • Windsor and Maidenhead (23)
  • Brighton and Hove (22)
  • Bracknell Forest (21)
  • Wokingham (18)
  • Reading (13)
  • Slough (12)

Although women weren’t working on construction sites, deaths have still occurred as a result of asbestos-related illness due to wives washing men’s work gear when they got in from work and being exposed to the dangerous fibres—known as secondary exposure.

The top 10 locations for the highest deaths in women are Leeds with 293, Sunderland with 153, Newcastle upon Tyne with 87, Barking and Dagenham with 85, Havering with 81, Newham with 72, Medway with 65, Blackburn with Darwen with 42, West Dunbartonshire with 37, and Barrow-in-Furness with 28.

It isn’t surprising to see so many of the same towns and cities in the top 10 locations for deaths across both genders as men’s clothing likely brought asbestos home to impact women.

Because of the devastating impacts asbestos can have on lives, families, and friends, leading scientist Dr Carsten Hansen argues that ground breaking research into asbestos-related cancer needs to be continued after disruption from lockdown due to the one-year life expectancy of these cancers.

Sterilisation

Why Is Sterile Preparation Important in The Healthcare Industry?

There’s no other industry where a sterile environment and tools are of utmost importance than in healthcare. After all, you’re actually dealing with people’s lives. If you want to learn more about the sterile preparation process and the reason behind each step, then keep on reading.

At the end of this post, we can assure you that you will understand almost all the things about sterile preparation, especially its importance.

 

What is Sterile Preparation and Why is it Important in the Healthcare Industry?

Sterile preparation is the process of ensuring that there’s no microbial contamination on anyone or anything involved with healthcare practices, like surgeries and drug manufacturing. In a practical sense, sterility should offer a means to statistically determine that preparation is less likely to carry microbial burdens to cause harm to the patient.

Knowing this, sterile preparation is extremely important in the healthcare industry as it ensures the safety of the patient. As we all know, the majority of sick people are very prone to bacteria and germs, and that they have a very poor immune system. Thus, by ensuring the everything is sterile, there is a lesser chance that people may put in danger, especially with the current COVID-19 issue.

Aside from protecting the patients, the safety of medical professionals is also guaranteed with sterile preparations. On the other hand, a sterile preparation will minimize the development of organisms.

Medical professionals, especially pharmacists who did not adhere to sterile preparation when making medication, will do more harm than good. While compound pharmacies have helped, a non-sterile practicing pharmacist will only increase the risk of microbial contamination that can induce deaths.

A contaminated preparation area poses the greatest threats to possible danger, especially in medication having access to the eyes, joints, circulatory system, and central nervous system. Medications may become dangerous after healthcare providers fail to guarantee the sterility of the air quality, their bodies, as well as the surrounding hard surfaces.

Keep in mind that one simple mistake made by a health care provider can end a person’s life. Fortunately, sterile preparation comes into existence, saving the lives of many people.

 

Can Sterile Preparation Be Outsourced?

Yes, sterile preparation can be outsourced. Some of the common reasons why people choose to outsourced are the following:

  • Insufficient number of personnel to meet the needed production
  • Reduce or eliminate the preparation of hard-to-prepare and time-consuming products.
  • Meet the regulatory requirements
  • Lessen waste
  • Streamline the workflow.

However, when you have decided to outsource sterile preparation, you need to be careful since not all service providers can be trusted. Some of them can do more harm than good.

To ensure that you will end up with a company that can give you quality service, you will need to take into account the following factors.

  • The reputation of the company
  • Experience
  • Online reviews
  • The cost of the service
  • Vendor proximity
  • Equipment and devices
  • The company’s personnel

By considering these factors, we can assure you that you will end up with a service provider that can offer you quality sterile preparation.

If you are looking for sterile preparation and related services, you can visit fagronsterile.com. In case you didn’t know, Fagron Sterile Services is trusted by more than 7000 healthcare facilities. It is also offering quality 530B sterile outsourcing services. Having said that, you can be certain that you will get the best service possible.

 

The Rules and Guidelines of Sterile Preparation

To ensure the safety of everyone, there are rules and guidelines imposed for sterile preparation, and here are the following.

 

1. Dress Code

When it comes to dress codes, health care professionals should wear cotton-free gowns. Their hair must also be covered properly. Before doing any procedure, one needs to wear a pair of gloves. In some cases, professionals will need to wear an eye shield or protection and a mask.

 

2. Keep an Eye on the Cleanroom

In sterile preparation, the cleanroom refers to the area in which a PEC or primary engineering control can be found. As a matter of fact, this area is where various activities can be conducted, such as sterile preparation, staging, and compounding.

One more thing, the cleanroom should offer enough space for the primary engineering control and should include limited amounts of shelving.

 

3. Cleaning and Disinfecting

Cleaning with water and a germicidal detergent will get rid of noticeable dirt before the disinfection. With this process, microbial contamination will be eliminated. It is important that the right water and germicidal detergent be utilized to clean the surfaces of the buffers as well as ante areas in addition to all primary engineering controls.

On the other hand, extra care is necessary to prevent the HEPA filters from getting wet when cleaning. When a germicidal detergent is used, it leaves residues that need to be eliminated from the work surfaces.

In fact, the residues are best eliminated by utilizing sterile 70% isopropyl alcohol. However, the choice of cleaning as well as disinfection items must be approved by the right authority of the organization, for instance, the Infection Control Committee. Procedures, as well as policies, should be developed to guarantee a consistent practice, like dilution of cleaning items.

 

4. Skills of Personnel

When it comes to sterile preparation, all personnel or health care professionals must be proficient in the following competencies.

  • Proper use of different compounding devices
  • Gowning procedure
  • Handwashing procedure
  • Disinfection and cleaning
  • Aseptic manipulation
  • Management of a needle stick injury
  • Labeling and packaging
  • Right cleanroom behavior
  • Moving materials in and out
  • Maintenance and cleaning of equipment and devices

 

Conclusion

Without a doubt, sterile preparation is extremely important. So, if you or someone you know works in the healthcare industry, make sure not to neglect such preparations. As you can see, sterile preparation is important as it protects not only the medical professionals and health care providers but also the patients. Feel free to leave a comment if you think there is more you can share about why it is important for sterile preparations in the healthcare industry.

Medical scrubs

5 Reasons Medical Scrubs Are More Essential Than Ever

Amid a global pandemic, best sanitation practices have come to the forefront of public conversation. People are now more concerned with what to do to prevent contracting and spreading the COVID-19 virus. 

The conversations are more pronounced among healthcare practitioners, who are deemed the ‘front liners’ in the fight against the pandemic. These modern-day heroes are exposed to contagious environments almost every day with little rest. A study has demonstrated that bacteria can remain active on a practitioner’s clothing 48 hours after their shift has ended.

These findings take on a new kind of importance to doctors, nurses, and other support staff. Not only are they exposed to the virus on a regular basis, but also might remain exposed to it through their clothes even when they’re away from the front lines. It won’t be just them who are in danger, but also anyone who comes in contact with their contaminated clothing within that 48-hour period. 

The good news to this rather gloomy account is that this is why medical scrubs are there and why they’ve become even more important than ever before.

 

Why Medical Scrubs are Essential

Medical scrubs were born out of a need to limit cross-contamination, as doctors in the 1940s grew more aware how wounds could get infected easily. Since then, they’ve been an integral part of a healthcare professional’s arsenal in fighting deadly outbreaks. Aside from reducing infectious spreads, here are several other functions.

 

1. Providing Comfort and Range of Movement

Medical professionals have one of the most demanding jobs on the planet, spending non-stop hours making their rounds. And with the current pandemic, these hours have grown to the point of taking their toll on their physical and mental health.

A surgeon might spend an entire shift on their feet, while a nurse might only get to sit for very short intervals. For a job of this nature, medical scrubs provide comfort to the wearer who has to spend long hours of standing and sitting. Their movement is not restricted, which makes brisk and constant movement much more comfortable than in any other form of clothing. 

They’re also tailor-made to fit whoever is wearing them because of the differences in shapes between medical scrubs for men and women.

 

2. Identification Purposes

Anyone who works in a hospital or has seen how one works will know that personnel have to be fast on their feet. If a severe case enters the emergency room in all haste, it’s always convenient to be able to identify the right healthcare professionals in a room or hallway by what they wear. They’re typically wearing scrubs. 

Scrubs work well in helping identify doctors or other personnel qualified to deliver urgent and proper care. You may find nurses wearing a different color of scrubs from the surgeons, while non-medical personnel wear casual clothes, if not a hospital’s prescribed uniform.

People are either seeking treatment for the coronavirus or trying to get tested for it in addition to the regular hustle and bustle of hospitals. Easy identification is a must to allow visitors to get assisted quickly.

 

3. Fostering Convenience

In designing medical scrubs, convenience always takes priority. Whether checking up on patients or delivering urgent treatment, a healthcare professional must have easy access to necessary tools. Some of these don’t have to be medical equipment, such as a pen or smartphone.

Medical scrubs typically come with a couple of pockets to store things safely. Some even come with zippers to secure the professional’s valuables, so they’re within reach in a fast-paced environment. Regular clothing doesn’t provide the same storage capacity as medical scrubs, not to mention the comfort they offer the wearer during a non-stop shift.

 

4. Economic Efficiency

If you get medical scrubs, it might be safe to assume you won’t need to replace them anytime soon. Scrubs are made from some of the highest quality materials around. They can withstand even the most rigorous washing processes so they last longer. 

Because of the benefits these scrubs bring, one would probably expect them to come at a steep price, but it’s quite the opposite. They’re some of the most economically priced forms of clothing, given that they’re essential in delivering adequate healthcare. With their wide range of uses and benefits, their average price is quite a bargain. 

 

5. Improving Sanitation and Reducing Cross-Contamination

Their number one function is still that of sanitation. High-quality scrubs are made from a thick fabric, ensuring your body is blocked from contact with bodily fluids. At the end of a day’s work, your scrubs will likely have a lot of stains, some of which might include blood. The job of your scrubs is to make sure that this blood or any other liquid doesn’t touch your skin. 

If you work in the medical field, getting stains on your clothes is probably the least of your worries. You’re more exposed than the average person to contracting the COVID-19 virus or any other infection for that matter, so it matters that what you wear helps in significantly reducing that exposure. 

When dealing with cross-contamination, it’s not just a concern that starts and ends within the medical facility. The risk extends to the community as well. If you use public transportation, pass through the supermarket to grab a few things for dinner, and a lot of other ‘regular’ activities, then you’ll have exposed a lot of people to any bacteria or virus you might be carrying.

Medical scrubs are very useful in curbing this risk. Because ideally, you wear and remove your scrubs within the confines of the medical facility.

 

Conclusion

These are precarious times. A virus, unlike any other most have seen in their lifetimes, is still raging. Vaccines are promising a breakthrough, but a full victory isn’t here just yet. The virus remains a thing to avoid through all means possible. 

If you work in the medical field, you probably understand how fatal the virus has proven to be over its lifespan. Wearing medical scrubs can protect you and significantly improve your work experience.

Pharmacy

Why Community Pharmacies are a Vital String in the Bow of UK Healthcare

The importance of community pharmacies in the UK has perhaps never been clearer than during the current coronavirus crisis. Around 200 pharmacies are currently playing a vital role in Britain’s impressive Covid-19 vaccination programme which is the envy of many European countries including Germany and France. 

While the last couple of months have demonstrated pharmacies’ ability to take significant pressure off the NHS and in fact extend its reach and offering, questions surrounding their long-term future still exist. 

With Lloyds Pharmacy having closed 99 branches in just over 12 months and recent analysis of NHS data revealing if the current rate of closures continue there could be no pharmacies left in England by 2067, it is easy to see why doubts around their longevity remain. 

Mads Mikkelsen, CEO and co-founder of travel health specialists Practio, discusses the crucial role pharmacies continue to play in the healthcare system and explores the adaptations they will have to make in order to thrive post-pandemic. 

 

The role of community pharmacies  

When Boris Johnson announced ambitious plans to vaccinate 15 million people in the UK’s top four priority groups by the middle of February his target was met with plenty of scepticism. Not only has the target been met, the UK is also on course to vaccinate the whole of the adult population by the end of July. 

Key to the success of Britain’s express rollout has been the country’s ability to extend the programme beyond hospitals and GP surgeries. Involving community pharmacies has not only allowed more jabs to be administered but also made the whole process more convenient for those being vaccinated. 

Community pharmacies have always played an important role in our local communities. They dispense medicines, advise patients on self-care and even treat patients for some minor illnesses. There also exists the potential for them to play an even greater role in the provision of frontline patient services.

Although some pharmacies are more limited in the clinical services they can offer, since the NHS Long Term Plan was published in 2019, steps have been taken to ensure branches provide the best and most extensive offerings possible, as well as recognising their potential to give patients more efficient access to the healthcare they need . This has involved pharmacies showing a willingness to embrace additional technology – making processes such as the dispensing of medicines more efficient – as well as them establishing stronger relationships with GPs. 

 

The future of community pharmacies

With the latest analysis of NHS data revealing more than 1,000 pharmacies have closed in England since the beginning of 2019, the overall trend relating to branch closures is bleak. The healthcare sector isn’t the only industry which has been hit hard by shifting attitudes towards the high street though and in the last few months pharmacies have shown an impressive ability to adapt their services – something they must continue to do if they are to operate successfully in the years to come. 

Not only has the inclusion of pharmacies in the Covid-19 vaccination programme reconnected them with their local community, it has also created a pathway for improved collaboration with the NHS. The momentum this has created must not be relinquished when the rollout ends, instead it must be used as impetus for further change. 

One of the key ways pharmacies can build on the success of the vaccination programme is by maximising the basic care they supply to patients. As qualified healthcare professionals pharmacists can offer clinical advice on a range of minor illnesses from common colds to skin rashes. 

Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of the extensive support pharmacists can provide or simply don’t know how to take advantage of this service. It is therefore crucial pharmacies not only ensure they are well equipped to offer this kind of care but also actively encourage people in their community to use them as a first point of contact. 

This would help to take a lot of pressure off of increasingly stretched GP surgeries and hospitals while providing patients with improved and more convenient access to healthcare. 

Although the UK may be leading the way in Europe for the Covid-19 vaccination, when it comes to embracing technology within pharmacies it is lagging well behind. An estimated 30 to 40 per cent of pharmacies in mainland Europe use automated dispensing whereas less than 10 per cent of UK pharmacies currently use this tech. 

Automated dispensing systems are machines which manage the production and distribution of medicines enabling pharmacists to spend more time with patients. In recent years they have become much more affordable and pharmacies in the UK must begin to recognise the value they can bring to their stores. 

Not only will incorporating technology enable pharmacy teams to place a greater focus on the clinical services they provide, it will also allow branches to provide customers with a more bespoke offering. For example, pharmaceutical 3D printers can tailor prescriptions depending on how many pills an individual needs to take each day of the month. 

While the vaccine rollout has begun to reconnect pharmacies with their local communities, the emphasis is on them to further develop their services and re-emerge as the go to place for basic clinical care. Should they embrace the opportunity they have been afforded, community pharmacies will have a bright future and play a vital role in supporting GP practices and NHS hospitals in the years to come.