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How many patients can a healthcare provider treat while still delivering adequate care? Some patients would be surprised to learn that their physician might see up to 2,500 patients a year. During each visit, the physician must deliver all recommended preventive, chronic and acute care services. Nurses face the same pressure from a different angle, with short-staffing driving rising nurse-to-patient ratios across Illinois hospitals. The strategies available to each group differ, but the risk at the end of both roads is the same. It’s…

Illinois is one of the most sought-after states for physicians, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) medical license application process reflects that demand. Depending on your credentials, practice history and how quickly supporting documents arrive, the IDFPR recommends submitting your application at least 8 to 10 weeks before your intended start date. That window assumes a clean application; deficiencies will extend your timeline further. Here are the key steps to follow and common pitfalls to avoid. [Related: What Legal Options Do You…

In 2019, there was a substantial drop in the number of physicians meeting with pharma sales reps. According to a report conducted by the Decision Resources Group, just over half of physicians polled met with a pharma sales rep. Certain practice areas are also seeing an increase in the number of physicians not interacting with sales reps. What’s the cause and what are physicians turning to instead? The main factor affecting sales rep contact is a lack of time. Between caring for patients…

In recent years, the nursing field has undergone unprecedented growth that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. This growth is occurring alongside healthcare needs which are becoming increasingly complex. The result is a widening array of specializations in which nurses are able to practice. Specializations may involve either a narrowing and deepening of some focus or a combination of aspects of different areas with a simultaneous narrowing of focus. Common areas of focus include psychiatry, obstetrics, and geriatric nursing,…

A rising trend in the nursing world is taking on travel nurse opportunities. Travel nurses are RNs that work for independent staffing agencies, taking on assignments in different care areas on a temporary basis in order to fill short-term employment gaps. Due to nationwide nursing shortages, health care facilities turned to travel nurses to fill the void. Through the use of travel nurses, nurse-patient ratios have balanced out, which leads ultimately to patient safety and lower patient mortality. The position of travel…

A relatively new health care option that is changing the way patients interact with their doctors and nurses is telehealth. Telehealth is the method of providing healthcare services from a different location than where the patient is through the use of technology. Telehealth has provided patients with a sense of control over their own health care, resulting from easier access to their medical documents and doctors/nurses from home. What common forms does this take, what are the perceived pros and cons…

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 nursing profession has never lacked its challenges, headaches and hurdles. Two issues have increasingly defined the work environment for nurses across Illinois and the country: short-staffing and extended working hours. Together, limited staff and long hours create conditions that are difficult to sustain. Fallout from those conditions can put your nursing license at risk. [Related: Reasons Your Nursing License Can Be Suspended] How Nursing Shortages Harm Both Patients and Nurses Short-staffing is one of the most pressing concerns in nursing today. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 189,100 registered nurse…

Illinois physicians face increasing scrutiny from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) over opioid prescribing practices. The repercussions are serious. IDFPR disciplinary outcomes can include formal complaints, consent orders, probation, suspension and revocation, any of which can affect your ability to practice. In response to the national opioid crisis, the IDFPR announced a new requirement in October 2019. Prescribers renewing their Controlled Substances Registration in 2020 were required to complete 3 hours of continuing education on safe opioid prescribing practices. The requirement…