A recent New York Time article discussed the reasons behind lower rates of women participating in the workforce around the turn of the century, after 50 years of steadily increasing numbers. The consensus seemed to be the fact that women primarily care for children, and many of them have left the…
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Rural Roads and Motor Vehicle Accidents
While you might think of motor vehicle accidents being more likely to occur on traffic-packed, narrow urban streets, the opposite is actually true. Despite the prevalence of rush hour traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists that may be more difficult to see in urban areas, the majority of highway fatalities from car…
What Should I Do if I Am Pregnant and Involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident?
Being involved in any motor vehicle accident is frightening, but being pregnant and involved in a car crash can be even more distressing. Car accidents pose unique threats to pregnant women that may not be present for other drivers and passengers. As a result, if you are pregnant and involved…
Most SNF Residents Eligible for Palliative Care Don’t Receive It
Palliative care is specialized medical care for individuals who have been diagnosed with a serious illness, with the goal of providing them with a better quality of life. According to a study conducted by researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF), almost 70% of nursing home residents are eligible for palliative…
The Dangers of Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving, which is also commonly referred to as road rage, encompasses driving behaviors that are motivated by anger, regardless of safety concerns. Some typical kinds of aggressive driving behaviors include tailgating, speeding, failing to use turn signals, flashing headlights, weaving through traffic, and cutting off other drivers. Aggressive drivers…
Elder Abuse in Native American Communities
Elder abuse in Native American communities, at least in some respects, does not differ from elder abuse in other communities. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, neglect or abandonment, and spiritual abuse all can occur in Native American communities. While readers may be familiar with most of these types of…
FMCSA Withdraws Proposed Rule to Prevent Sleepy Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has spent over two years working on a proposed rule that would address the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea among truck drivers, which is a significant cause of preventable truck accidents each year. This proposed rule is in line with FMCSA’s mission, which…
HHS Announces Effort to Fight Antibiotic Resistance in Nursing Homes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a fourth phase of its National Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections: Road Map to Elimination. The goal of this plan is to prevent the emergency of antibiotic resistant bacteria and prevent the spread of health care-associated resistant…
OPTIMISTIC Project Cuts 1 in 3 Preventable Hospitalizations
In 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the OPTIMISTIC project, or “Optimizing Patient Transfers, Impacting Medical Quality and Improving Symptoms Transforming Institutional Care.” The purpose of this federally-funded program is to reduce rehospitalizations among nursing home residents. Under the OPTIMISTIC project, nurses and nurse practitioners were…
Social Isolation Increases Risk of Medical Problems
A new study by the AARP Public Policy Institute, Stanford University, and Harvard University reveals that socially isolated adults are more likely to get sicker and die sooner, and have higher health care expenses. Overall, the researchers estimate that Medicare spends $6.7 billion per year on seniors who are socially…