Life is full of unexpected surprises. Some of them may be good, and some may be bad. Luckily, we are able to plan ahead for some of these bad experiences and surprises. Many individuals do not think of forming good relationships with local medical supply stores to be one of these planning strategies, but this process can provide a level of assurance that you will be taken care of in your time of need.
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From the moment it became a viable option for business and industry, Big Data has been solving a plethora of previously unsolvable Big Problems. From helping the healthcare industry run more efficiently to helping government sort through impassible mountains of paperwork and information, Big Data has always been a solution-oriented technology. Now Big Data is going to work on what is perhaps the biggest problem of all – the energy crisis.
The ability of physicians and internists to deliver quality healthcare can be determined by many factors. For instance, patients are more concerned about the increasing cost of healthcare versus the quality of medical care they receive. There are some things, which could change how internal medicine is practiced, and the way patients are able to get access to the right, comprehensive and coordinated care. Here are a few top trends expected to be witnessed in internal medicine in 2015.
Sooner or later, every successful team will find its own rhythm and flow. The temptation, then, is to allow routine to turn into complacency, which becomes “tradition” and “the way we do it” … both of which are the enemy of growth and change.
The American Cancer Society reports a 22% decrease in cancer-related deaths over the past 20 years. Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the body reproduce rapidly, crowding out normal healthy cells. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 14 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year, while 8 million die within the same time period. It is good news that the reduction in cancer-related deaths has resulted in an estimated 1.5 million lives saved, however considering 589,430 people in the U.S. alone will die from cancer this year, rates are staggering nonetheless.
In a rare show of bipartisan lawmaking, Congress has passed a bill to fix physician payments under Medicare. This bill - The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 - was indeed passed by overwhelming margins in both houses: 392-37 in the House of Representatives and 92-8 in the Senate, respectively. President Obama applauded both chambers and parties for their uncommon act of governance. Renee Ellmers, Republican Representative from North Carolina, put it, "I would say to the American people, don't look now but we are actually governing."
For people who have been waiting for computers to take over the world, their time may have arrived to see AI/Artificial Intelligence take its place alongside humans. At IBM, the supercomputer Watson has come a long way in recent years, from playing games to beating contestants on "Jeopardy!" to its newest challenge, the healthcare system. With Big Data set to take the healthcare system to the breaking point, IBM researchers are developing Watson to come to the rescue by assisting doctors with diagnosing patients and keeping track of the ever-growing numbers of complex healthcare records.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) passed in 1996 sets the protection standards of personal health information and medical records. The Office for Civil Rights that enforces the HIPAA Privacy Rule requires businesses to report Patient Safety Rule breaches. Violating HIPPA attracts hefty fines. The penalties for violating the act relate to the nature of negligence and range from $100 to $50,000 for each violation. Identical violations may attract a $1.5 million per year. Don’t put yourself in a vulnerable situation that may attract stiff action by The Office for Civil Rights. Follow the tips below to avoid HIPPA penalties:
Researchers have revealed a big breakthrough regarding the cause of Alzheimer's disease, which could open up development of new and more effective treatments.
For those that have been tracking health care costs as they continue to climb, it may seem somewhat odd that US hospitals, which have invested heavily in technology over the past decade, are still coming up short when it comes to having the technology that they need to successfully compete in tomorrow's health care industry.
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