All articles tagged with #healthcare professionals
Maine Governor Janet Mills issued an order allowing all healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, to administer COVID-19 vaccines to all residents without a prescription, expanding access and coverage, with vaccines for children and adults recommended and available as supply permits.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs is facing severe staff shortages across its hospitals, with a significant increase in shortages of doctors, nurses, psychologists, and police officers, impacting veteran care. Despite official reports highlighting these issues, VA officials dispute the severity, while the department continues to reduce staff, claiming it aims to improve services without affecting patient care.
The number of academic clinician-scientists, healthcare professionals who dedicate a substantial amount of time to research, is declining, posing risks to the long-term health and wealth of countries. The characteristics of these professionals must be defined, and efforts should be made to nurture and support them. Clinical practice can enhance research in applied fields and provide insights into human variation. However, barriers such as rigid and prolonged clinical training and a shift in funding focus have deterred clinicians from pursuing research careers. Industry jobs are becoming more attractive, but autonomy and the pursuit of interesting questions are preserved in academia. Funders and regulatory bodies should support clinician-scientists, and current professionals should inspire and support trainees to ensure the continued contributions of this group to human knowledge and health.
Concerns have been raised over potential misdiagnosis of cancer in pregnant women, as signs of cancer are being mistaken for symptoms of pregnancy. Experts emphasize the importance of early detection for better chances of survival. Pregnant women's cancer concerns are often dismissed by healthcare professionals as pregnancy-related symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis and metastasis. The dismissal of symptoms in early stages is a significant issue in cancer and pregnancy. Greater awareness and education among healthcare professionals are needed to ensure timely and appropriate testing and referrals.
Concerns have been raised over potential misdiagnosis of cancer in pregnant women, as symptoms are often mistaken for pregnancy-related issues. Louise Beevers, who was diagnosed with breast cancer after being reassured that a lump was pregnancy-related, is now facing a terminal diagnosis and fears she won't be able to see her baby daughter grow up. Experts emphasize the importance of early detection and urge healthcare professionals to be more aware of the possibility of cancer in pregnant women. The charity Mummy's Star, which supports women dealing with cancer during pregnancy, highlights the dismissal of symptoms as a major issue. Greater awareness and education initiatives are needed to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.
The organizers of a recent retail pharmacy staff walkout are partnering with IAM Healthcare to launch "The Pharmacy Guild," a national push to unionize pharmacists and technicians in the U.S. The initiative aims to address concerns over unsafe staffing levels and increasing workloads in the industry, particularly at major drugstore chains like Walgreens and CVS. The Pharmacy Guild also seeks legislative and regulatory changes to establish higher standards of practice in pharmacies. The organizers hope to unionize 90% of pharmacists working for Walgreens and CVS within five years and are encouraging interested pharmacy staff to fill out a form on their website.
Neurologist Robert Lisak has been named a 2023 Giant of Multiple Sclerosis for his work in understanding the mechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and improving care for people with the condition. The award recognizes his continuous engagement with the MS community to keep patients and their families up to date on the most recent advances in MS research and providing them the best care. The Giants of Multiple Sclerosis award seeks to distinguish and celebrate MS healthcare professionals and advocates who have improved the lives of those affected by MS.
A new report by the Alzheimer’s Association finds that people are not telling medical professionals about symptoms that could indicate neurocognitive decline. The report emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer's disease, as research has made ground-breaking advancements in treating the early stages of the disease. Family members play a vital role in starting the discussion of symptoms with physicians, and the report recommends that family members accompany the individual to the doctor’s appointment. Unpaid family caregivers shoulder a large financial task to meet the demands of caring for someone who has dementia.