A new study shows that fluctuating weight with yo-yo dieting can raise your risk of heart attack or stroke. The term "yo-yo dieting", also known as weight cycling, originated from Kelly D. Brownell at Yale University. It refers to the cyclical pattern of losing and then regaining weight, analogous to the up-and-down motion of a yo-yo.According to new research published in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, yo-yo dieting can wreak havoc on your body – … [Read more...]
Speech Language Pathology
Physical Therapy for Pain: National Pain Awareness Month
National Pain Awareness Month happens every September to bring awareness for issues related to pain and pain management; along with all of the benefits of physical therapy for pain and its management. The first Pain Awareness Month was in 2001, when the ACPA led a coalition of groups to establish September as Pain Awareness Month. ACPA established Partners for Understanding Pain and 80 organizations, both health care professionals and consumer groups, including the NAACP … [Read more...]
Staff Shortages in Healthcare
How many times in your career have you heard the sentence, “Sorry, we are short-staffed today,”? Unfortunately, you’re likely to hear this again. Staff shortages in healthcare facilities are a growing problem, and here’s why… Ongoing staff shortages in healthcare is a real problem that makes providing patient-centered care a daunting task. As per a recent report by CNN, the United States will need to hire 2.3 million new healthcare workers by 2025 to be able to take care of … [Read more...]
Lack of Resources in Healthcare
What can clinicians do about a lack of resources in healthcare facilities? A lack of resources in healthcare settings has serious consequences for the quality of patient care and the professional work environment for nurses, therapists, and other healthcare providers. Having more health system resources available and making better use of the resources are two approaches that can suffice the needs of workers and meet patients’ expectations.As per data released by the … [Read more...]
How to Stay Informed on Upcoming CMS Changes
What can therapists do to be fully informed and prepared when upcoming CMS changes are lurking ahead? One of the biggest challenges to the healthcare community is keeping up to date with current regulatory requirements, particularly when it comes to rules on coverage, coding, billing, and payment for services provided to patients under Medicare or Medicaid. As the old adage goes, “The only thing that is constant about healthcare is it is always changing!”As a therapist, … [Read more...]
Caregiver Mental Health: When Caring Takes Its Toll
Caregiver mental health is often overlooked, but caregivers have an elevated risk for developing depression, anxiety, and grief-related illnesses. Caring for a family member with a physical or mental ailment is hard work! The pressure of taking care of a loved one affects not only caregiver mental health but also impacts the physical, social, and emotional health of the caregiver.Statistics on Caregiver Mental HealthAccording to the Family Caregiver Alliance, there … [Read more...]
15 Major Issues in Healthcare Employment
If you work with patients, chances are you have faced one or more of these major issues in healthcare employment. Regardless of the industry, employees work best when they can practice at their peak performance. And, while every workplace has common challenges – interpersonal conflict, communication problems, office politics, technology gaps, poor management, etc. – working in healthcare has its own set of obstacles. Among the major issues in healthcare employment, working … [Read more...]
Children’s Mental Health Awareness
Children’s mental health awareness means giving kids and teens the opportunity to flourish in their academic, personal, and social lives. While mental health is often discussed in the adult patient population, it is sometimes neglected in kids and teens. But, children’s mental health awareness is critically important! As part of their growth, children need to develop positive relationships with other children and adults. Therapists, nurses, parents, community members, and … [Read more...]