“Women Who Work for a Salary See Slower Memory Decline in Old Age”
“Women who engaged in paid employment between ages 16 and 50, whether mothers or non-mothers, had better memories in late life than women who did not work, the study found. The rate of memory deterioration was fastest among women who never earned a wage…Mayeda and her team found that average memory performance between 60 and 70 declined 61 percent faster for married mothers who never worked than for married mothers who did work…for a wage at some point [in their life]” (Washington Post). Read More
“Industry Voices-Are Surgery Centers Ready for High Deductible Health Plans?”
“The average HDHP deductible stands at $1,350 today, or more than triple the 2006 figure for a traditional plan… Physicians may have been worried about how they would be paid by the uninsured; now it’s the patient responsibility portion of any HDHP policyholder that’s keeping them up at night… ASCs—36% never discuss a patient’s ability to pay before delivering services—need to take a greater role in patient education. Proactive communication about co-pays, deductibles and coinsurance well before a patient’s procedure is critical… HDHPs may be a wrench thrown into the dynamic surgery center environment, but given the “get-it-done” culture of most ASCs, HDHPs aren’t anything they can’t handle” (Fierce Healthcare). Read More
“Can Music Reduce Pre-Op Anxiety, Improve Patient Experience?”
“Minor outpatient surgeries – procedures such as arthroscopic knee or hip surgeries and hand or elbow surgery – often require a sedative to help relax patients…The sedative is not for blocking pain – care teams usually use a peripheral nerve block for this – but rather to keep patient nerves at bay and make them feel more relaxed during the care encounter… The music that the researchers played for patients was specifically designed to have a calming effect on listeners…
That music was largely successful at supporting good care experiences, the researchers said. After assessing both patient cohorts for anxiety levels during surgery, the team observed that both groups achieved similar levels of relaxation. There was scant different between those who listened to music and those who received a sedative” (Patient Engagement HIT). Read More
Becker’s ASC Round-Up
What ASCs Should Expect from CMS’ Payment Rule Changes
The Future of Cardiology in ASC’s: Physicians Surgery Centers’ Jeff Dottl Weighs In
3 Things to Know about Cardiology in ASCs: ‘The Total Joints of Tomorrow’
Total Joint Replacements 40% Cheaper in ASCs, Study Says