Avoiding The ER: Paramedics Link Patients To Local Mental Health Treatment By Shefali Luthra and Ana B. Ibarra November 21, 2016 In California and other states, these first responders are learning to identify people with mental illness and get them help — or sometimes just chat and check in over snacks.
Syncing Up Drug Refills: A Way To Get Patients To Take Their Medicine By Shefali Luthra August 8, 2016 A study published in Health Affairs concludes that the idea of coordinating prescription refill timelines for people with multiple chronic conditions could improve their medication adherence and health outcomes.
Women And The Zika Virus: Smart Questions And A Few Solid Answers By Shefali Luthra July 29, 2016 Here’s a breakdown of what women should know, and what is still unclear, regarding how Zika is transmitted, who is at risk and how to take precautions against it.
Medical Marijuana Linked To Modest Budget Benefits For Medicare Part D, Study Finds By Shefali Luthra July 13, 2016 A Health Affairs study determines that Part D spending went down slightly on prescription drugs for which medical marijuana is viewed as a possible alternative.
By Sharing Painkillers, Friends And Family Members Can Fuel Opioid Epidemic: Study By Shefali Luthra June 14, 2016 New research also highlights the public’s lack of knowledge regarding the proper ways to store and dispose of these highly addictive prescriptions.
Lights Out: Some Children’s Hospitals Take Steps To Ensure A Good Night’s Sleep By Shefali Luthra June 2, 2016 Because of the important role sleep plays in healing, a trend is emerging in which children’s hospitals are reorganizing their workflow to help their young patients sleep through the night.
Doctors Struggle With Medical Marijuana Knowledge Gap By Shefali Luthra and Ana B. Ibarra August 23, 2016 Some states are beginning to require physicians to take courses to learn how and when marijuana might work for their patients. There is no such requirement in California.
Expectant Moms: You Have Nine Months For Delivery Decisions, You Better Shop Around By Shefali Luthra May 9, 2016 A nonprofit patient safety group devised nationally standardized measures to help pregnant women gauge hospitals on quality of maternity care.
Managing Depression A Challenge In Primary Care Settings, Study Finds By Shefali Luthra March 9, 2016 Primary care physicians see many patients with depression. New research finds they continue to struggle to apply the treatment strategies used for other chronic illnesses.