Nursing homes face staff, equipment shortages during pandemic
Roughly 20% of nursing homes in the U.S. have faced severe shortages of personal protective equipment and staff during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study.
Opinion: Pandemic shows that ‘visiting’ the doctor online works just fine
The coronavirus pandemic has forced much of primary care medicine online—and that’s a good thing, according to health policy expert and primary care physician Michael Barnett. “It took a pandemic to get there, but COVID-19 is giving us…
Telemedicine use surging in coronavirus pandemic
As people avoid hospitals and doctors’ offices to slow the spread of coronavirus, they’re increasingly using telemedicine—virtual connection with medical professionals via mobile devices or computer—according to a March 19, 2020 WGBH story. Several large telehealth companies are…
Will coronavirus boost prominence of telemedicine?
Only about 10% of Americans have actually used telemedicine for virtual visits with their doctors. But the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, could change that, according to a March 3, 2020 Time article.…
Strong link found between auto plant closures and spike in opioid deaths
Auto plant closures were associated with a dramatic increase in opioid overdose deaths across the U.S. South and Midwest, according to a recent study. The study looked at opioid-related deaths from 1999 to 2016 in 112 counties near…
Study finds recent legislation improving access to treatment for opioid use disorder
A federal policy aimed at improving access in rural areas to buprenorphine, a key medication for treating opioid use disorder, appears to be working, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Known…
℞ for an Epidemic
A surge of opioid prescriptions launched an epidemic of substance use disorder in the U.S. Harvard Chan School researchers are piecing together how it happened—and how to stop it from happening again.
If a doctor writes an opioid prescription, patients should ask why
While there is heightened awareness on the dangers of opioids, it’s still common for doctors to prescribe the drugs even when they are not necessary, according to reports. A September 19, 2019 article in Elemental discussed what patients…
Docs more likely to give opioids later in the day and when behind schedule
The time of day has a notable impact on clinicians’ opioid prescribing decisions, according to a new study. Conducted by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of Minnesota, the study examined prescribing…
Industry payments may sway doctors toward prescribing pricier pills
Doctors who receive payments from the pharmaceutical industry are nearly twice as likely to prescribe brand-name gabapentinoids—a class of pain drugs that have the potential to be misused—than similar generic drugs, according to new research. The findings are…