Recent blog posts

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 1.1 million new registered nurses will be needed by 2022. These new nurses will replace the expected 500,000 retirees and fill the 100,000 new RN positions created each year. With this need for new nurses comes a need for nurse educators to provide proper training. Nurse educators play the crucial role of ensuring that new nurses are prepared to meet the growing demand for their services. There has been a shift in thinking…

When seeking out medical treatment, the most important relationship that arises is between the doctor and the patient. One of the main problems threatening that relationship is third-party payer interference. Third-party payers have seen a rising power in the exam room over the actual doctors treating patients. While the medical field has sought to empower patients in making their own medical decisions, third-parties are interfering with this ability. How have third-party payers acquired such influence? Even though doctors are taught to recognize the…

The nursing profession has never lacked its challenges, but two major issues have increasingly affected the quality of work environments for nurses: short-staffing and extended working hours. What negative effects are resulting from these problems? Short-staffing of hospitals has become a top concern for nurses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that, by 2022, there will be a need for more than 1 million registered nurses due to occupational growth and replacement hiring. What is viewed as the most dangerous concern for short-staffing? A lack of sufficient patient care….

In October 2019, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced a new requirement for prescribers renewing their Controlled Substances Registration in 2020: the completion of 3 hours of continuing education on safe opioid prescribing practices. The requirement applies to individuals that are prescribers under the Controlled Substances Act, which includes such licenses for dentists, optometrists, physicians, and veterinarians. The change does not come as much of a surprise given the continuing spotlight on opioid addictions and overdoses turning into a nationwide…

Patients have the right to keep their health records private and to know if their information is shared with others. Generally, a healthcare provider may only release an individual’s information with written consent, unless the information is critical for any treatment the patient will receive or if necessary to protect the public at large. In today’s technological world, the majority of patient data is stored in hospital or clinic systems and software. While certainly an efficient manner of securing information, technologies’…

Illinois is one of 33 states that has legalized medical marijuana. While such legalization has expanded the ways to address patient pain, it has left physicians in the tricky position of determining whether to prescribe a substance that, while legal at the state level, still faces a federal ban. The question physicians face now is whether their license may be put in jeopardy, even if cannabis is approved for medical use. The answer, of course, is “it depends.” The risk to physicians…

The quick answer is yes, but you must follow strict guidelines as set forth in your Act and Rules. We take no position on whether veterinarians should allow chiropractors, physical therapists, medical orthopedic or plastic surgeons to “crossover” into veterinary medicine. Instead, veterinarians should be aware of the risks and responsibilities of asking a healthcare provider, who is licensed to treat only human ailments, for assistance in a veterinary medical case. There are six sections of the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 (“Act”) and the…

Electronic health records (EHRs) make information related to patient-centered records available instantly and securely, containing patient medical history, diagnoses, medications, and treatment plans that greatly assist with overall diagnosis and treatment. However, missing, incomplete, or ineligible documents may hurt patient care and be used as evidence if a patient claims negligent treatment. In order to best protect yourself, here is advice on how to ensure properly maintained EHRs: Understand How the Data is Tracked Each time someone at the practice or hospital goes into…

Health professionals will likely have to deal with difficult patients throughout their careers. They are the ones patients look to when experiencing high levels of stress or anxiety over the health issues facing their day to day lives. Such interactions can test the limits of health care professionals who have a duty to remain respectful and composed, so as to not compromise the integrity of their relationship with the patient. Then how should one deal with disrespectful patients? The most obvious answer:…