by Rob Berton | Sep 28, 2017 | Blog |
What the Future of the Medical Field Could Mean for You
Changes in the population of the United States, advances in technology and updates to the medical insurance system have the potential to make considerable changes to the medical field as it is known today. An increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, a growing and aging population, and increases in the cost of healthcare could mean that the medical system 10 or 20 years from now will be much different than it is today. When you are searching for jobs in medicine, keep these four issues about the future of medicine in mind.
Rapid Growth in Many Medical Specialties
Many jobs in the healthcare field are growing at a much faster pace than other types of jobs. For example, occupational therapy assistants can expect a rate of job growth of 43 percent between 2014 and 2024, and physical therapy assistants will experience an estimated 41 percent growth between 2014 and 2024.[1] Job growth for nurse practitioners is expected to be 35 percent, and physical therapist jobs should grow by 34 percent between 2014 and 2024. Home health aides, occupational therapy aides, physician assistants, genetic counselors, audiologists and optometrists will also have job growth of 20 percent or more between 2014 and 2024. Some of this growth is related to retirement of people in those jobs, but a lot of it has to do with an increased demand for such services from an aging and growing population.
More Patients Can Access Specialty Care
Advancement in technology means that more patients can access specialty care. For example, telemedicine makes it possible for a person located in a rural area to visit a general practitioner but receive a consultation from a specialist from an urban hospital hundreds of miles away. This increased access to care is mostly due to widespread and fast internet connections that allow for real-time video and audio conferencing, transmission of imaging studies and other services. For patients, it means that they can get the care they need without traveling across the state or across a region.
Increased Efficiency in the Delivery of Healthcare
Technology also makes it possible for nurses, doctors and related medical professionals to increase their efficiency in the delivery of healthcare. Instead of perusing a thick medical chart, a doctor can access critical information through an electronic medical record. Rather than waiting for a doctor’s office to fax a lengthy medical record or series of laboratory tests to a specialist’s office or hospital, the transmission can be accomplished through secure internet connections. Health information technology allows nurses to collect a patient’s vital signs and monitor symptoms in real time.[2]
Improved Management of Patient Health Data and Outcomes
Technology also has the potential to improve the management of patient health data and outcomes. For example, powerful statistical analysis software allows statisticians, researchers and scientists to examine different types of treatment for a condition and determine which treatments work better under certain circumstances. Using technology to manage patient health data could also help doctors to predict potential side effects, complications or interactions for an individual patient. This could lead to a more customized treatment plan that makes it easier for a patient to adhere to. When clinicians and healthcare facilities adopt the technology, patients will see a wide variety of health benefits.
References:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm
- http://healthinformatics.uic.edu/resources/articles/3-ways-technology-has-changed-healthcare/
by Rob Berton | Sep 28, 2017 | Blog, Locum Tenens |
Apps May Revolutionize Health Care
If you’ve ever been to an appointment with your health care provider, you know that it’s easy to forget part of the discharge instructions. Studies have shown that, on average, only “14 percent of written information is remembered correctly.”[1] This has the potential to lead to increased re-admissions or illnesses getting worse. Communication using Apps have been gaining popularity with physicians and patients seeking to improve their care, and the future is looking bright.
Amwell
Amwell is a popular app that a potential patient can use to connect to a physician remotely. The app has several features, such as a virtual waiting room, online documentation, payment collection and e-prescribing tools. Doctors can connect with their current patients as well as new patients with the app’s Online Care Group function. Each staff member gets in-depth training, clinical guidelines and peer support.
CareZone
The app CareZone allows patients to have all their paperwork in one place. This is beneficial because patients have a tendency to forget 80 to 90 percent of what they’re told at their appointments.[2] A patient can update all of their medications and keep them in a location that they can access with their smartphone. You are also able to set appointment reminders and prescription refill reminders. There is a journal that will update with physician’s notes after each visit. You can use this app for your own health care needs or a family member’s information.
Doctors on Demand
Doctors on Demand uses a $40 pay-per-visit model to let patients connect to physicians virtually on their smartphones, tablets and PCs. The app offers both medical and pediatric care, and you can connect in minutes to a board-certified physician. You are also able to sign up for 25- or 50-minute psychology sessions with a licensed psychologist. Doctors on Demand accepts both cash and various insurance for payment. The mental health aspect of this app is crucial because “6 out of 10 young people who have depression and who are most at risk of suicidal thoughts, difficulty in school and difficulty in relationships with others do not get the treatment needed to support them.”[3] This app has the potential to make access to mental health help easier for anyone who needs it.
Patient IO
The Patient IO app allows primary care physicians to input tasks for their patients to complete remotely. These tasks are tailored to the patient’s current treatment plan, and this app also allows the doctors to track which tasks the patient follows. This information is relayed to the patient’s care team, and they can make changes or improvements based on the data they get. This app will also send push notifications for important tasks to the patient’s phone for an added convenience. The care team and the patient are able to send and receive secure messages with each other about continuing care as well.
Apps for physicians and patients to communicate are expanding, and more are being developed each year. These apps can be extremely useful for keeping patients on track once they leave the doctor’s office. They can also be used to ensure patient compliance with discharge instructions. The future for these apps looks bright, and as the popularity of smartphones increases, these apps may become implemented more as time goes on.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539473/
[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/davechase/2012/10/14/doctors-success-hinges-on-transactor-to-teacher-transition/#77eb7010772d
[3] http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/mental-health-america-access-care-data
by Rob Berton | Sep 21, 2017 | Blog |
Four Benefits of Working in Government Medicine
Practicing medicine is often seen as a lucrative career with the potential to earn a considerable income. As a physician, you will have many options for employment. Many people are surprised to discover that government salaries for physicians are competitive with those of private hospitals and clinics, especially when the full range of government benefits is included in the comparison. Consider these four benefits of working as a physician for the local, state or federal government.
Enjoy the Paid Medical Malpractice Insurance
Many physicians employed by the government have their medical malpractice insurance paid for by the agency where they work. By having the medical malpractice insurance paid for by the government, these physicians are able to reduce their expenses of practicing medicine. In addition, the 1946 Federal Tort Claims Act stipulates that physicians working or volunteering for the government cannot be directly sued by a patient. This further protects a government physician against economic harm.[1]
Experience Opportunities to Care for Under-served Populations
Many physicians employed by local, state or federal government agencies are able to care for under-served populations. For example, working as a physician at a local health department could give you the chance to provide essential medical care for children and pregnant women from low-income households. Working as a physician in the Veteran’s Medical Administration would allow you to provide medical care to the men and women who have served and protected the country. The Veteran’s Medical Administration provides a full range of services, so you could find employment there no matter your area of medical expertise.
Conduct Research or Work on Unusual Diseases
The federal government has many research institutions, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. These facilities employ physicians who are able to conduct research and work on unusual diseases. If you are interested in tropical medicine or diseases that are only rarely seen in the United States, working as a government physician doing research and occasionally traveling to the places where such diseases occur could be a thrilling opportunity for your career. Your work as a medical researcher for the federal government could lead to the recognition of new diseases or the development of new treatments for diseases that cause disability, hardship or death.
Receive a Full Government Benefits Package
Working in federal government medicine entitles you to the federal employee health benefits program. This program includes medical, vision and dental insurance. You will also be able to fund a flexible spending account of up to $5,000 per year to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses.[2] This money is tax-free and could be used for services such as doctor’s office co-pays, durable medical goods, orthodontic care and more. Government physicians are also entitled to a retirement plan, Social Security, childcare and dependent benefits, life insurance and other programs.
References:
- http://healthblog.ncpa.org/doctors-who-work-for-the-government-already-have-medical-malpractice-reform/#sthash.cQcsmD5Z.dpbs
- http://www.gogovernment.org/government_101/benefits.php
by Rob Berton | Sep 21, 2017 | Blog, Locum Tenens |
What You Need to Know About Nurse Licensure Compact
Nurses obtain a license in order to practice their chosen profession, and the license typically covers a particular state where the nurse can perform his or her duties. However, there are many entities that believe the nursing profession can take one step forward if there is a way for the licenses to be accepted in multiple states simultaneously with the Nursing Licensure Compact.
In 2016, the Nursing Licensure Compact consisted of eight states. With the NLC, a person who has obtained a nursing license in one specific state will have the ability to practice his or her profession in the other states. By 2018, there should be an alliance of 26 states. [1]
Why an NLC May Be Beneficial for Nurses
According to the director of the NLC, who also happens to be the director of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, telemedicine served as the impetus for creating the NLC. [2] There are under-served populations for medical care who can benefit from multi-state licensing.
If the licenses are approved for practice across state lines, the registered nurses, as well as licensed practical nurses, will be able to deliver medical service or advice through the use of phone or through the internet. With the help of NLC, it is possible for the nurses to work at a healthcare agency in more than one state without many problems. If the nurses see an opportunity to visit another state to serve people who require medical care, the NLC may allow them to do so.
Another reason why the NLC can be useful for nurses is the fact that nursing licenses obtained in several states can be quite expensive. However, the use of a multi-state licensure program takes out the redundancy of work while eliminating pressure from a licensing board in any state that may have an issue with overloaded work.
The NLC helps nurses relocate with ease from one state to another with the help of a multi-state license. They can use this opportunity to work at a place where they may be comfortable or where they know demand is heavy.
Hospitals may also benefit from the NLC. Because it allows multi-state licensure for the nurses, a hospital that receives a lot of patients at once can get the help it needs. For instance, a flu outbreak during winter may cause the hospital to be slammed with more patients than it can handle. With the help of the NLC, a hospital system can turn to nurses from a nearby state, and they can lend a hand with the overload of patients. A multi-state licensure program can also be beneficial during hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters where there is usually a high injury count.
A problem on the shortage on the number of nurses in many states can be solved with the help of the NLC. A single state license may be problematic in motivating more people to join the healthcare industry. In California and Nevada, there are only about 600 nurses for every 100,000 people. [3] Ideally, there should be 1,000 nurses per 100,000 people. However, the national average is below 800 for every 100,000 residents, making it clear that there is a huge shortage of nurses in the U.S. [4]
With the Nurse Licensure Compact, these problems may be solved, and the benefits may be even clearer when practicing medical care can be performed with the help of technology.
References:
[1] https://www.ncsbn.org/compacts.htm
[2] https://www.annanurse.org/download/reference/health/activities/2_3_14.pdf
[3] https://www.beyond.com/articles/i/ad5369/blogs/Many-States-Suffer-Severe-Nursing-Shortage.htm
[4] http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/human-capital-and-risk/which-states-will-have-the-biggest-nursing-shortages-by-2025.html
by Rob Berton | Sep 13, 2017 | Blog |
Can the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Affect Telemedicine?
More medical practitioners are starting to understand the benefits of telemedicine. Despite its popularity, it still faces a number of challenges, including the existing medical licensure system. One of the reasons why telemedicine has become useful in the medical field is because it helps eliminate geographic barriers when it comes to providing care and service to patients. However, this will not really be achievable unless doctors can deliver their service across state lines.
Overcoming State Medical Licensing System’s Limitations
The medical credentialing system that we have today is used to ensure that healthcare providers meet an important set of standards. However, there are many cases where it would be much easier for medical professionals if the licensing requirements were standardized in all states throughout the country.
Telemedicine has indeed grown, which is why more healthcare providers, telemedicine companies, legislators and even patients have been trying to get past this issue. In recent years, there have been several bills related to telemedicine, including the Telehealth Promotion Act of 2015. [1] Other bills that have been proposed were the TELE-MED Act of 2013 and the VETS Act. All these bills aim to remove the geographic restrictions for providing telemedicine services. These bills can make it easier for doctors to give service to patients anywhere in the United States.
IMLC and Telemedicine
In breaking down the barriers relating to the geographical locations of patients and hospitals, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact is one of the proposed solutions for telemedicine. The IMLC aims to streamline various medical licensing processes so that healthcare providers can find it much easier to treat patients across different states.
In January 2017, there were already 18 states that enacted the laws, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho and Minnesota. Arkansas, Nebraska, Washington and North Dakota hope to participate in the IMLC.[3]
How IMLC Works
The IMLC is an agreement that is associated with the licensing procedure of medical practitioners across state lines. The role of IMLC is to create a faster pathway for state licensure so that experienced physicians can apply for and receive their licenses in other states where they are not licensed.
It is important for the state to join the compact first before it can approve or hand over licenses to physicians from another state. In order for a state to join, it should pass a bill first to authorize the state in participating. The governor of the state should sign it. [4]
With the help of the IMLC, the application process for healthcare providers in other states will become much easier. Processing is expedited, and there is less paperwork. However, the compact still requires the providers to obey the rules and standards of the state. There are basic requirements that a physician should meet before applying for the expedited licensure process. Here are some of them:
- You have a medical license in one of the states participating in the compact.
- You have received a specialty certification.
- You have passed the USMLE or the CMLEX.
- You have completed a GME program.
If you believe that you are eligible, you can proceed with your application. Once approved, you will receive the state licensure in the member state you are seeking licensure for. This allows you to participate in telemedicine across eligible state lines.
References:
[1] http://mss.fsmb.org/FSMBJournal/2014-V100_N2.pdf
[2] http://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20150601interstatelicense.html
[3] http://www.aappublications.org/news/2017/02/14/Licensure021417
[4] https://www.fsmb.org/Media/Default/PDF/Advocacy/Interstate%20Medical%20Licensure%20Compact%20(FINAL).pdf
