Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Examining What Hospice Care Really Is; Streamlining Health Care With An All-Payer Claims Database
The Tennessean: Debunking Three Myths: The Common Misconceptions Of Hospice Care
In my years working of in hospice care, I’ve always been amazed by the courage and resiliency of our patients. It is hard not to be inspired by someone who’s facing the end of life but continues to find joy in everyday experiences: taking a bath and going for a walk are simple pleasures that can mean everything when time is running out. You realize how precious every moment really is. (Callie Rumsey, 11/9)
Cincinnati Enquirer: Making Health Care More Efficient, Responsive And Affordable
Few issues debated in Congress and state capitols are as divisive as health care, yet there are still areas where broad consensus exists. We saw a great example of that late last year, when Congress passed a law to stop families from receiving surprise medical bills that arise when out-of-network care is provided either during an emergency or at an otherwise in-network provider like a hospital. Patients have little control over these bills, but many have been forced into bankruptcy just the same. Thankfully, that will be less likely to happen starting in January. (Cherlynn Stevenson, 11/8)
Scientific American: Many Neuroscience Conferences Still Have No Black Speakers
In the few years before the spring and summer of 2020, there were warning calls concerning race in science and medicine. Many of these warning calls were reminders of the long-standing racial troubles in science and medicine involving Black individuals, such as the pseudoscientific legitimization of Black inferiority and, by extension, slavery owing to the shape of the skulls of Black people; the disregard for consent from persons abused under the Tuskegee Syphilis Study experiments; and disregard for ethics and privacy when obtaining and monetizing tissue samples from Henrietta Lacks. (Lewis A. Wheaton, 11/10)
Stat: Overrepresented? I'm Always The Only Hmong Scientist In The Room
I grew up in a small, low-income community surrounded by diverse groups of people, including other Hmong like myself, and Lao and Cambodian refugees. My neighbors were my classmates, and I felt like I had community — a place of belonging — because it was never hard to find another Hmong person. The demographics of those who pursue postgraduate training like me, however, are a sharp contrast to the people I grew up with. (Kao Lee Yang, 11/11)
Newsweek: History Is Repeating The Marginalization Of Black Nurses
The history of Black nurses in the United States is fraught with rejection and perseverance due to segregation and racism. Still, these nurses have consistently proven care to the Black community from slavery to the current pandemic. During the antebellum history of the United States, enslaved women and men would diagnose maladies, treat illness and injuries and deliver babies without the presence of a physician. These unsung nurses were responsible for the health care of slaves on plantations, their families and fellows, and often provided care for the plantation owners and families. (Denise Dawkins, 11/10)
Modern Healthcare: We Desperately Need The Civica Rx Model For Digital Health Transformation
My office is full of travel mugs, brightly colored pens and various tchotchkes that I've accumulated from digital health companies over the last five years as chief innovation officer at Presbyterian Healthcare Services. It's not because I can't manage to keep my office clean. Rather, it's a symptom of a broken market, one that is burdened by a laborious implementation process that delays the adoption of new digital health tools. (Dr. Ries Robinson, 11/10)
