Medical billing services are one of those topics that can never be discussed enough if you are related to the healthcare industry. Hence, laying down opportunities for students to adapt and see themselves in the role of a medical biller and coder is a process we all should know.
Medical billing services are one of those topics that can never be discussed enough if you are related to the healthcare industry. Hence, laying down opportunities for students to adapt and see themselves in the role of a medical biller and coder is a process we all should know.
Britain called on Sunday (November 21) for international action on the issue of medical devices such as oximeters that work better on people with lighter skin, saying the disparities may have cost lives of ethnic minority patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Health secretary Sajid Javid said he had commissioned a review of the issue after learning that oximeters, which measure blood oxygen levels and are key to assessing Covid patients, give less accurate readings for patients with darker skin.
"This is systemic across the world. This is about a racial bias in some medical instruments. It's unintentional but it exists and oximeters are a really good example of that," Javid said during an interview with the BBC.
Asked whether people may have died of Covid-19 as a result of the flaw, Javid said: "I think possibly yes. I don't have the full facts."
He said the reason for the discrepancies was that a lot of medical devices, drugs, procedures and textbooks were put together in white majority countries.
The Fitness-to-Practise Committee of the General Pharmaceutical Council has issued a three-month suspension to Mohammed Roohul Haque (Reg No: 2226084), a
locum pharmacist, due to incidents of workplace sexual misconduct.
According to the determination document issued by the regulatory body, Haque undertook the position of a locum pharmacist at Hollowood Chemists on July 12. It was
during this period that he encountered the dispenser (referred to as the "complainant"), a 40-year-old co-worker at the pharmacy, for the first instance. Following
this initial meeting, he proceeded to engage in making explicit sexual comments.
During the lunch break of the pharmacy's second dispenser, Haque asked the dispenser, who had lodged the complaint, to review photographs displayed on his mobile
phone, depicting renovations being carried out at his residence. The initial images focused on the ongoing renovation activities. However, he later switched to
displaying a full-screen photograph of his erect penis, the document said.
Despite the fact that the dispenser promptly distanced herself, Haque persisted in discussing the photograph with her. He went so far as to apologise, and even
asked if she had managed to closely observe the picture.
Those of us who work in community pharmacy know there is a workforce crisis created in large measure by PCNs actively recruiting pharmacists and pharmacy
technicians from our sector. It is welcome, if long overdue, that this has now been officially acknowledged in a report commissioned by the English Health Secretary.
PCN hiring 'exacerbates pharmacist shortage' says DH-commissioned report, which states such recruitment has "on occasion exacerbated the problem of a general
shortage of pharmacists" which has compounded "the problem of community pharmacy closures."
We have been telling the government this for years only to be told "problem? What problem?"- but now that Steve Barclay has his own official report sitting on his
desk, he and NHSE cannot continue in denial mode. The facts are there for all to see. Time to act. No more dithering, delay or indifference. You asked if there was
a problem and you have been told there is.
In the absence of a holistic workforce strategy and cross-sector career pathways, PCNs poaching from community pharmacy is a zero sum game adding nothing to
improving patient care.
Digital transformation is sweeping across the healthcare landscape. Fuelled by ambitious government policy, exciting innovation and huge injections of funding,
it's hard for anyone in the sector not to catch a dose of digitisation fever.
But digitisation is not a universal tonic, and it certainly isn't always a 'good thing'. In fact, there's a real danger to digitising healthcare. Such a fundamental
change to the very nature of care delivery is an inevitably high-risk process: sometimes things or people get forgotten, vital processes stall, or new systems fail
to replicate the strengths of those they replace. Take, for instance, the digitisation of pharmacies.
Over recent years, the public's use of online-only pharmacies have boomed: in March it was reported that the number of items dispensed from distance-selling
pharmacies in England, UK quadrupled between 2016 and 2021.
These online providers offer an attractively convenient way for patients to receive their medicines; replacing a trip to a high street pharmacy with a package
delivered straight to their door. On the surface, this digital solution seems perfect not only for young patients with busy schedules, but also for older patients
or for those with restricted mobility who may struggle with in-person collection.
Pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb has become the first pharmaceutical company in the UK to be accredited as a 'menopause friendly workplace'.
The accreditation, awarded by an independent panel of judges, recognises employers who put diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at the centre stage of their business.
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) said it rung in the changes in recognition of the fact that nearly eight of 10 menopausal women are in work and that this is the fastest
growing demographic in the workforce.
Panel members described BMS UK&I's application as "outstanding" and acknowledged "the huge strides they have made to help normalise the menopause" by fostering an
inclusive culture.
Mental health issues are very common, and one in four people will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. Unfortunately, many people do not seek
treatment because they are embarrassed or ashamed. However, there is no need to be ashamed - mental health problems are just like any other medical condition.
Treatment options include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. In this blog post, we will discuss the top ways medications can help in treating mental health
issues. We will also dispel some of the myths about mental health medications.
MENTAL HEALTH MEDICATIONS CAN REDUCE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
Mental health medications can be very effective in treating mental illness. In fact, they can be just as effective as medications for physical health conditions.
Mental health medications can help to reduce symptoms, improve functioning, and prevent relapses. They are also legal psychedelic medicine that have been shown to
be helpful in treating mental illness. For example, ketamine has been shown to be effective in treating depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Some people worry that taking mental health medication will make them feel like a different person. However, this is not the case. Mental health medications can help
you to feel like yourself again. They can also help you to function better in your everyday life.
Treating your scalp the same way you treat your skin is one of the most crucial life lessons. This reasoning is supported by the fact that your scalp is composed of skin and functions similarly.
Thus, throughout the winter, the scalp experiences the same level of skin dryness as the rest of our bodies. Dandruff, flaking, and irritation develop as a result of your head. Winter dandruff, in contrast to summer and monsoon flaking, is a direct result of the scalp being dry from the chilly air. Add to that the fact that you always keep your head covered to stay warm. This creates a comfortable, warm environment for dandruff-producing microorganisms on the scalp.
You need to take care of dandruff as soon as you can since it may be very uncomfortable, especially when those bothersome white flakes appear on dark woolen winter clothing. Here are some suggestions to help you get rid of dandruff:
1. Neem with coconut oil.
The moisturizing benefits of coconut oil may be well known to you. These qualities come from its excellent fatty acid and vitamin content. Wouldn't the ideal defense against dandruff be created if coconut oil and neem, which has antibacterial and antifungal qualities, were combined? 4 teaspoons of coconut oil should be added to 1 teaspoon of neem powder. Depending on how long your hair is, change these amounts.
Read More : https://medium.com/@tribalblackoil/top-5-hair-masks-to-treat-winter-dandruff-2a03163bb4f2
Community pharmacies are located within the very hotspots of peoples' communities, yet a staggering 720 individual businesses have stopped trading since 2015.
It has been called a "national disgrace and a betrayal to the elderly and the vulnerable" by sector leaders.
The funding crisis has been compounded by a gruelling 18-24 months post-Covid, both have which have placed immense pressure on the retail pharmacy sector.
The population is aging and with this comes patients living with a range of long-term health conditions. Medication regimes are becoming ever more complex and as a
result, maintaining prescription and medication adherence services is challenging to say the least.
Yet the public feel great warmth towards their local pharmacy businesses, and this positive attitude only increased during the pandemic. In fact, in a recent report
launched by Omnicell on the Changing Role of the Pharmacist, a survey of public opinion found that a third (32 per cent) said they perception of their local
pharmacy had changed for the better since the start of the pandemic and nearly half (44 per cent) said they are more familiar with their local pharmacy services
since the start of COVID.
This has meant that the role of the pharmacist has also changed and evolved; in part due to a national need and drive for more patients to be seen and supported
clinically by pharmacists.
This change of service provider role has slowly been developing over the last couple of years. Pharmacists are currently carrying out 65 million consultations
a year - a staggering rise of 44 per cent in the last 24 months alone.
To help stop the pharmacists pay delay in Northern Ireland, the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) will present a motion on fairer pay to the ICTU
Biennial Delegate Conference, taking place from 5 to 7 July.
The PDA motion states, "…there are other employers within the health system, that echo Agenda for Change terms, despite the fact they are essentially private
businesses contracted to the NHS, not actually public bodies. While echoing the pay structure has some advantages, these employers also seek to unnecessarily
delay pay increases on the basis that the NHS changes are so delayed.
The Universities in Ulster Schools of Pharmacy are ranked as some of the highest in the UK. They are gifting our population with high calibre graduates destined
to provide excellent patient care. These pharmacists want to stay in a job that helps patients. They want to deliver the care that they have spent years of time
and often thousands of pounds to render themselves confident and capable."
Erection problems are common conditions that can affect adult men of any age. General awareness about erection problems has grown in recent years, and men's
partners and society at-large generally view it as a common condition. Indeed, 75% of men and their partners agree that they are a normal part of life for a man.
But despite progress to normalise the condition, the research points to the fact that men still feel responsible for erection problems.
The survey's key findings underscore the multi-faceted social pressure men feel to perform socially, professionally, emotionally, and sexually. 90% of men feel
expected to provide financial support, 80%+ feel they should be in control of their feelings, and 92% think it is expected of them to perform in bed.
Despite erection problems being commonplace, expectations about sexual performance complicate the situation and make a major impact on the lives of those it affects.
When men are confronted with erection problems, 60% expressed feeling disappointed. This disappointment, combined with the difficulty that 1 in 3 men have spoken
about it, has a strong impact on well-being. 36% of men feel their mental health has been impacted by erection problems and leads to a feeling of guilt, and 74% of
men feel responsible for difficulties in achieving or maintaining an erection.
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most important and valuable industries in the world. It is responsible for developing and producing medicines that
improve and save lives. However, there are some things you may not know about this fascinating industry. In this blog post, we will discuss six interesting facts
about the pharmaceutical industry!
1. THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF PHARMACEUTICALS IS HIGHLY REGULATED
All pharmaceutical products must go through a rigorous manufacturing process before they can be made available to patients. This process is heavily regulated by
various government agencies to ensure that the medicines are safe and effective. The pharmaceutical manufacturing process usually involves multiple steps, including
the preparation of raw materials, the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and the packaging and labeling of finished products. To ensure
patient safety, all pharmaceutical companies must adhere to strict regulations set by government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These
regulations are designed to protect patients by ensuring that medicines are safe and effective.
The Taskforce report recognises the important role of community pharmacy and pharmacy teams, and in particular, the fact that they often have most contact with
individuals who are receiving medication assisted treatment, commented the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) on the publication of the Scottish Drug Deaths
Taskforce's final report.
The final report published on Thursday (June 21) follows four years of work developing and implementing a programme of actions to tackle the rising number of drug
deaths in Scotland.
RPS, as pharmacy's professional leadership body in Scotland and the rest of Great Britain, has positively engaged with the Taskforce as it carried out its work.
Last year, RPS published 'Pharmacy's role in reducing harm and preventing drugs deaths (Scotland)' which contained 14 key recommendations. Many of the recommended actions within the Taskforce's report align with RPS policy.
Superdrug has reported more than 400 per cent spike in sale of the chickenpox vaccines in the UK.
To protect children against the disease during chickenpox season, nearly nine out of 10 patients (87 per cent) have taken their wards under the age of five for vaccination in the last eight weeks.
Chickenpox can be a seasonal disease with children usually catching it in the winter and spring, with UK peaks often between March and May.
The last two years of spending time in and out of various lockdowns have meant less interaction between people, and so less transmission across the general population.
Caris Newson, head of healthcare services at Superdrug, said: "One of the knock-on effects of Covid is that people have a greater awareness and understanding of the benefits that vaccines can offer.
"We launched the chickenpox vaccination service five years ago in 2017 and it's now that we're beginning to see greater interest in how it can support family health. In fact, our fully qualified nurses have told us that they've had more parents ask about the chickenpox vaccination service, and word of mouth has then spread amongst parents and schools."
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended abemaciclib also called Verzenios, made by Eli Lilly, for people with hormone
receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence who have had surgery to remove their tumour.
The clinical trial result showed that people having abemaciclib with hormone therapy had a more than 30 per cent better chance of their cancer not coming back
following surgery compared with people having hormone therapy alone.
Helen Knight, interim director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "Today's positive draft recommendation, which comes less than a month after abemaciclib
received its licence, is fantastic news. The fact that we have been able to produce draft recommendations so quickly is testament to the success of our ambition
to support patient access to clinically and cost effective treatments as early as possible.
"Until now there have been no targeted treatments for people with this type of breast cancer. Abemaciclib with hormone therapy represents a significant improvement
in how it is treated because being able to have a targeted treatment earlier after surgery will increase the chance of curing the disease and reduce the likelihood
of developing incurable advanced disease."
Lloyds Pharmacy's closure of all its 1,300 branches will wake-up the ministers and NHS officials to the reality of community pharmacy sector in England has
reached crisis point, expressed Nigel Swift Managing Director of Rowlands pharmacy and Deputy Managing Director of PHOENIX UK.
On Friday, The SUN reported that the UK's second largest pharmacy provider - is allegedly in the process of selling its entire estate of 1300 branches. Lloyds
Pharmacy will no longer be a High Street presence following its decision to put all its pharmacy branches at the risk of closure. In January it has announced to
close its 237 Sainsbury-based pharmacies.
Nigel highlighted the fact that community pharmacy is struggling due to insufficient government funding and immense pressures on GPs and A&E departments - an ongoing
issue which poses a very real threat to the sector.
Commenting on the announcement, he said: "It's not just Lloyds - an independent analysis by Ernst & Young estimated that 75% of community pharmacies will be in
financial distress in the coming years. £750 million has been taken out of the English contract due to inflation since it began."
One of the most challenging aspects of living a healthier lifestyle is trying to accomplish your goals while simultaneously dealing with a hectic schedule.
Life is often full of responsibilities, and things can get so hectic that it's difficult to keep track of anything else outside of one's work.
As a result, many people sacrifice their physical and mental health for work-which isn't worth it in the long run. While it might not be easy to manage a hectic
schedule, there are ways to ease the burden. Here are some of the most popular best-practice tactics when dealing with a busy schedule.
Write things down-even the things you'll do for fun
One way to help deal with a hectic schedule is to ensure you write everything down. While some might think that it makes everything feel robotic, the fact that you
can write down the things you plan to do for fun means you have something to look forward to.
It also has the added benefit of bracing yourself mentally for various tasks. It's not easy to be spontaneous with fun events if you're already tired from work.
Fortunately, writing things down and making them a part of your schedule can help your body adjust.
Hey there, folks! Ever find yourself caught up in the throes of pain, wondering if there's a better way to handle it? You're not alone. In fact,
according to recent stats, a whopping 93% of people worldwide grapple with pain annually. And get this: 1 in 3 folks deal with it every single day. Crazy, right?
But here's the kicker: despite pain being such a prevalent issue, many folks aren't tackling it head-on. Yep, you heard that right. There's a whole lot of
suffering going on, and not enough proactive pain management happening.
So, what's the solution? Well, that's where our Pain Management Webinar swoops in to save the day! Picture this: an hour jam-packed with enlightening insights,
carefully curated to arm you and your team with the tools needed to understand, manage, and ease pain in your patients' lives.
Diving Deep: What's Inside the Webinar
Alright, buckle up because we're about to dive into the juicy details of what this webinar has in store for you.
1. The Evolving Role of Pharmacists
First up, we're shedding light on the evolving role of pharmacists in the realm of pain management. Yep, you heard that right. It's not just about doling out
pills anymore. Pharmacists are becoming key players in the fight against pain, and we'll show you exactly how.
2. Decoding Pain Assessment
Ever struggle to figure out just how much pain your patients are in? We feel you. That's why we're dedicating some time to decode the art of pain assessment. By
the time you're done with this segment, you'll be a pro at understanding and quantifying your patients' pain levels.
3. #ListenToPain: A Campaign for Better Conversations
And last but certainly not least, we're shining a spotlight on Haleon's #ListenToPain campaign. This bad boy is all about fostering better conversations between
you and your patients. Trust us, folks, communication is key when it comes to pain management, and this campaign's got all the tools you need to nail those
conversations.
Tailored Jus
Thanks to increasing environmental awareness among people worldwide, there's a growing commitment to sustainable practices across industries. The healthcare
sector, including pharmacies, is no exception.
Recognising the fact that 'climate crisis is a health crisis', 124 countries signed a new Declaration on Climate and Health at the first-ever Health Day at the
United Nations climate change conference, COP28 Dubai, which was held on 3 December 2023.
The declaration acknowledged the need to prepare healthcare systems to cope with climate change and accelerate actions to protect communities.
Welcoming the declaration, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the need to build "climate-resilient and
low-carbon" health systems to protect the health of both the planet and people.
Pharmacies play a crucial role in providing essential medications and healthcare services to the community, but their operations can have environmental implications.
Mental health problems can be incredibly isolating and debilitating. It can be difficult to know how to get your life back on track when you are struggling
with mental health issues. In this blog post, we will discuss some strategies for overcoming mental health problems and getting your life back on track!
1. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP:
Mental health problems can be complex and difficult to manage on your own. If you are struggling with mental health issues, it is important to seek professional
help. A therapist can help you understand and manage your symptoms, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and work through any underlying issues that may be
contributing to your mental health problems. If you are not sure where to start, you can ask your primary care doctor for a referral to a mental health professional.
You can also go to a treatment center where their clinical team will help you with your mental health. This way you ensure that you're getting the help that you need
and not just from a family member or friend. You can also search for therapists in your area online or by calling your insurance company. There is no shame in
seeking help for mental health problems. In fact, seeking professional help is one of the most important things you can do for your mental health.
2. DEVELOP A SUPPORT SYSTEM:
When you are struggling with mental health issues, it is important to have a supportive network of people on who you can rely. This may include family members,
friends, therapists, or a support group for people with similar experiences. Having people to talk to who understand what you are going through can be incredibly
helpful. These people can provide support, advice, and practical assistance when you need it. Having a strong support system can make a big difference in your ability
to cope with mental health problems.
