David May, MD, PhD, FACC, secretary of the American College of Cardiology and managing partner of Cardiovascular Specialists in Dallas, Texas, discusses transitions of care strategies that healthcare professionals should consider to help improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of unnecessary hospital readmissions.
Dr May explains how hospital readmissions are costly in clinical and economic terms, and notes that many cardiology-related hospital readmissions are potentially preventable.
Although unanticipated issues may arise during transitions between levels of care, Dr May suggests that educating the patient and his or her family about the challenges that are likely to occur can help mitigate their need to seek further medical assistance.
Dr May discusses how scheduling doctors’ visits within the first 7 days following discharge is likely to comfort patients and lower the rate of unnecessary readmissions to hospitals or visits to more expensive sources of care.
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
Survey Results Reveal Potential Factors Slowing the Decline in Cardiovascular Mortality Rate
April 23rd 2024Research indicated that worsened glycemic, blood pressure, and obesity control, as well as increased alcohol consumption, leveled lipid control, and persistent socioeconomic disparities may have contributed to the decelerated cardiovascular mortality decline in recent years.
Read More
Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon
April 2nd 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, about prior authorization, price transparency, the impact of health policy on the upcoming election, and more.
Listen
Commonwealth Fund Report Details Pervasive Racial and Ethnic Disparities in US Health Care, Outcomes
April 18th 2024Using 25 health system performance indicators, the Commonwealth Fund 2024 State Health Disparities Report evaluated racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health outcomes both within and across US states and highlighted the urgent need for equitable health care policies and practices in the US.
Read More
The Biden administration recently launched the Global Health Security Strategy, a new effort to combat the spread of infectious diseases; lawmakers zeroed in on the risks of massive consolidation in health care during the first congressional hearing on the Change Healthcare hack; the FDA recently announced the recall of a pair of heart devices linked to numerous deaths and injuries.
Read More