Latest news with #patientcare
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Davis Chiropractic Launches New Website to Better Serve Patients in Omaha, NE
Davis Chiropractic, a trusted provider of holistic health solutions in Omaha, has officially launched a redesigned website to enhance the patient experience and make access to chiropractic care easier than ever before. Davis Chiropractic, a trusted provider of holistic health solutions in Omaha, has officially launched a redesigned website to enhance the patient experience and make access to chiropractic care easier than ever before. The new site, Davis Chiropractic, delivers a streamlined user experience and improved functionality across all devices. Visitors can now more easily learn about services, request appointments, and explore wellness resources tailored to their needs. Designed with both current and prospective patients in mind, the platform offers clear navigation and faster load times while showcasing the clinic's commitment to education and compassionate care. 'This upgrade was all about accessibility and convenience,' said Dr. Matt Davis, founder and lead practitioner. 'We've served the community for years, and this website ensures our patients can find the answers and support they need from a chiropractor in Omaha right at their fingertips.' In addition to enhancing the digital experience, the clinic remains focused on delivering personalized, non-invasive care for individuals and families throughout the Greater Omaha area. Whether patients are dealing with chronic back pain, sports injuries, or seeking preventative care, Davis Chiropractic offers a comprehensive range of services to support long-term wellness. As part of their ongoing mission, Davis Chiropractic continues to prioritize patient education. The new website includes resources that explain treatment options, frequently asked questions, and what to expect during a first visit—making it easier for individuals new to chiropractic care in the Greater Omaha areas to feel confident about taking the first step toward recovery. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit Davis Chiropractic in Omaha. Media Contact Company Name: Davis Chiropractic Contact Person: Dr. Matt Davis Email: Send Email Phone: (402) 736-6933 Address: 12100 W Center Rd Suite 208 City: Omaha State: NE Country: United States Website:
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Former nurse, 84, removed her own eye cyst after years of waiting
An 84-year-old retired nurse removed a cyst from her own eye after waiting years for treatment, a report has account was revealed in a citizen experiences report presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, which looked at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in north found some frustrated NHS patients were taking matters into their own hands, with another patient carrying out their own tooth filling with a kit from the health board said it acknowledged that "significant work" remained to address challenges in a "sustainable, long-term way". The woman, who is still waiting for an eye operation, initially waited three years to be seen after being placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in had some procedures but said they "did not help", so was eventually driven to carry out the dangerous procedure herself, according to the report."She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly," it said."As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own."The report described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd were found to be waiting up to 36 hours and "overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort" were also common public consultation had been part of a "listening and understanding" initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times the main focus. Another case was a man who wanted to join the Army, but was unable to because of the health of his report said the man had not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a "chronic shortage" of dentists in north Wales, and private dentists quoted a minimum of £3,000 for conversations highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and was found to have had a "catastrophic impact" on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured "continual bleeding". Llais, the body which gives people a "voice" when accessing health services, also gathered data which found people had "significant challenges" accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested sometimes in "unsafe or distressing" ways, including one patient "filling their own tooth with a kit from the dentist". Another patient reported waiting "12 hours in a corridor on a trolley".Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also "a major concern".A meeting to discuss the report heard that despite many people highlighting "dissatisfaction or frustration", many other participants had also expressed "gratitude" and praise for the "professionalism and compassion" by hospital staff, members and report said measures had been taken by the board to address calls for dental care, this included creating contracts worth more than £1.5m to expand NHS dental provision and a new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping "simplify and centralise" access to procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled more than £ to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been neuro-developmental services, it said a child and adolescent mental health improvement programme was in place to provide mental health support for children and young people.
Medscape
a day ago
- Health
- Medscape
GPs Voice Top 10 AI Concerns
A review of queries received by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) last year has highlighted the top concerns of GPs about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical practice. The MPS told Medscape News UK that all AI-themed queries came from GPs. No questions were raised by secondary care doctors. Key Concerns Identified The assessment revealed 10 main areas of concern for GPs: Patient safety Data protection Patient consent Liability Indemnity Transcribing tools Generation of fit notes Clinical prompts Processing of laboratory results Generative AI GPs Wary of AI Risks Medicolegal advice on these themes has been published on the MPS website. "We know members are keen to explore and adopt AI tools, which may enhance patient care and help to facilitate more efficient working," Dr Ben White, MPS deputy medical director, said in a press release. However, calls to the medicolegal advice line showed members were wary of potential risks. Particular concerns included liability and defence society cover, safety for patients, data protection, and patient consent. Such concerns echo a survey by Medscape last year which found that one in five respondents were apprehensive about using AI in clinical practice. More specific advice was sought on the medicolegal implications of using AI software for transcribing patient consultations, generating fit-to-fly letters or fit notes, using clinical prompts, and processing laboratory results. "AI is of course fast-evolving, and we will continue to revisit the guidance," White said. The MPS Foundation has contributed to a white paper on AI in healthcare , aimed at ensuring AI tools are developed and integrated to be usable, useful, and safe for both patients and clinicians. "Bringing about greater confidence in AI among clinicians is vital if the potential benefits are to be unlocked," White said. Doctors Support AI But Remain Concerned Nell Thornton, improvement fellow at the Health Foundation, said the MPS findings echoed the foundation's own research. "If AI is to help fulfil its promise to improve patient care, further clarification is needed on issues like regulation and professional liability," she told Medscape News UK . Doctors are keen to ensure that the human dimension of care is protected in an increasingly digitised system, she added. "Addressing these issues will be crucial for ensuring the development and adoption of AI is responsible and works for everyone." Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, told Medscape News UK that the college was "always open to introducing new technologies that can improve the experience of patients – and GPs are often at the forefront of this". However, AI use is "not without potential risks" and its implementation "must be closely regulated to guarantee patient safety and the security of their data". "Technology will always need to work alongside and complement the work of doctors and other healthcare professionals, and it can never be seen as a replacement for the expertise of a qualified medical professional," Hawthorne emphasised. "Clearly there is big potential for the use of AI in general practice, but it's vital that it is carefully implemented and closely regulated in the interest of patient safety." Consultation Summaries Show Promise and Peril Dr Rosie Shire from the Doctors' Association UK GP committee told Medscape News UK : "As more AI tools become available, the possibilities of how they could assist GPs grows, but so do the concerns, as highlighted by the MPS." The idea of AI software providing a summary of a GP consultation was "very appealing", she said. It could enable GPs to focus fully on the patient rather than taking notes, which could improve communication and patient satisfaction, and save time on recall and typing up notes. "However, it's vital software is accurate and reliable, able to distinguish who is speaking, and understands accents and dialects,' Shire stressed. 'Otherwise it could lead to increased workload, as GPs spend additional time checking the AI has performed correctly." AI Can't Replace 'Gut Feeling' There is potential for inaccuracies being introduced into patient records if clinicians become over-reliant on AI records of consultations, Shire said. In time-pressured clinics, GPs might not read through AI summaries. "It's important clinicians are given time to review and confirm any AI-generated outcome to ensure accuracy. We also need to remember that AI can't replace that gut feeling you occasionally get as a GP when you see a patient you know, and feel that something just isn't right,' she added. Liability Questions Remain Shire said that a standard policy on AI use in general practice was needed. Clarity is also required over who would be responsible if AI software malfunctioned and led to patient harm. "Would it be the practice partners, as the data owners, the GP who saw the patient, or the AI software provider?" White said the MPS would not normally provide indemnity for issues relating to AI software failure. While the society is not currently aware of any binding case law, "we would expect the designers or producers of the AI software to be liable for any issues relating to the failure of the AI software'. Where a practice has purchased an AI system, the individual GP using it would remain potentially liable for any harm that results from its use. "Doctors remain responsible for the decisions they make whilst using such technology,' he said. 'In order to mitigate the risk of a complaint or claim, doctors should assure themselves that any system they are using is fit for purpose and appropriate for the patients that they are seeing."
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Redefining surgical excellence in the Northern Emirates – Thumbay University Hospital Ajman
Thumbay University Hospital in Ajman has rapidly established itself as the foremost destination for advanced surgical care in the Northern Emirates. As one of the region's largest academic hospitals, it combines cutting-edge medical technology, internationally trained surgeons, and a patient-first approach—making it the most trusted hub for a wide range of surgical specialties. What sets Thumbay University Hospital apart is not only the breadth of services offered, but also its commitment to minimally invasive techniques, faster recovery, and better patient outcomes. The hospital has become synonymous with innovation and surgical precision, offering a level of care that rivals global centers of excellence. One of the recent cases highlighting the hospital's capabilities involved a 60-year-old woman suffering from postmenopausal bleeding and significant pelvic discomfort. She was diagnosed with a large fibroid uterus—equivalent in size to a five-month pregnancy. Multiple medical institutions advised her to undergo an open hysterectomy, a more invasive procedure. However, due to her high BMI, the patient and her family were apprehensive about the risks involved. At Thumbay University Hospital, Dr Amal Hassan Abddelaziz, consultant and her team successfully performed a total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, enabling the patient to be discharged the very next day and return to her daily routine shortly after—a testament to the hospital's minimally invasive expertise. In yet another milestone achievement, Thumbay University Hospital became the first in the Northern Emirates to successfully complete a body contouring procedure using advanced VASER ultrasonic liposuction combined with J-Plasma skin tightening technology. This groundbreaking surgery, performed by renowned plastic surgeon Dr Faisal Ameer, consultant at the hospital's Thumbay Institute of Aesthetics (TIA), showcases the hospital's leadership in blending aesthetic precision with medical innovation. It represents a new era of cosmetic surgery in the region, marrying technology and patient care to achieve exceptional results. Reflecting on these advancements, Akbar Moideen Thumbay, vice-president and board member of Thumbay Group, stated: "Thumbay University Hospital is committed to being the region's benchmark in surgical care—bringing together the best of technology, talent, and compassion. These pioneering cases are a testament to our promise of safe, innovative, and patient-friendly surgeries in the UAE." With every successful surgery, Thumbay University Hospital reinforces its position as a center of excellence—not just in the Northern Emirates but across the UAE. Patients seeking high-quality, expert-led surgical care are increasingly turning to this world-class facility that continues to deliver medical breakthroughs with a human touch.
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Hospitalists Should Champion Hospice as ‘Life With Dignity'
If anyone can put a positive spin on the end of life, it's Charles Vialotti, MD, director of Hospice Care at Holy Name Medical Center's Villa Marie Claire in Bergen County, New Jersey. Violotti, who at the age of 80 lives at the 20-bed Villa Marie Claire to serve its residents full-time, says the hospice industry needs hospitalists' help with sort of a rebrand, one that will almost certainly have a positive effect on patient and family satisfaction. 'Providers used to stress offering people death with dignity. And if you think about that, who is ever going to choose anything that offers death? Death in any form is still death,' Vialotti said. 'So, we really like to focus on offering people life with dignity, giving people back choice, giving them the option to structure their final days, weeks, or months the way they would most like to see it happen.' Charles Vialotti, MD Vialotti said that when patients come to his facility, they receive state-of-the-art care, plus the opportunity to spend time surrounded by loved ones, family, and friends in an environment that is comforting, calming, and soothing. Plus, patients can take advantage of opportunities like learning a new hobby and enjoy social interactions both on their own and with their loved ones. While hospice facilities like Vialotti's give patients full-time residential care, home hospice programs also give patients the opportunity to spend time in an environment that's comfortable and familiar, surrounded by family and friends — if they know about it, and are made aware that hospice isn't just 'going home to die.' 'I think too often we focus on the negatives, on stopping treatment, stopping interventions, stopping medications that we've become reliant on,' Vialotti said. 'Instead of that, we really have to talk about all the positive aspects of what this option can mean.' Shoshana Ungerleider, MD Hospitalists remain a critical member of the hospice education team, even though the vast majority of today's hospitals have at least some sort of palliative care staff to educate patients nearing the end of their journey, said Shoshana Ungerleider, MD, founder of the nonprofit End Well. The hospitalist has worked to build a relationship with the patient, one they can use to demystify hospice, she said. 'Given that hospitalists are that main touchpoint for patients — beyond nursing care, at least — I think if we can encourage the hospital-based clinicians to frame hospice not as giving up but shifting the focus from prolonging life at any cost to really maximizing comfort and quality of life, that will go a long way,' Ungerleider said. Clearing Up the Confusion Hospice care first came to the United States from England in the 1970s, and decades later, there's still a lack of knowledge surrounding this form of care among patients and their lay caregivers — and some doctors, too. 'Even as healthcare workers, even as hospice workers, we don't always realize that people don't know what they don't know,' said Julie McFadden, RN, a hospice nurse and online educator better known as 'Hospice Nurse Julie' to her 1.7 million followers on TikTok. 'It's not really built into our healthcare system to educate and talk to families.' Julie McFadden, RN 'This happens a lot in healthcare: We tend to stick to our lanes,' McFadden, the author of Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully , said. 'Like, well, we wouldn't tell the patient that they were dying because they have an oncologist, and the oncologist will tell them, and maybe, maybe the nephrologist knows something. Everyone's kind of stuck, unbeknownst to themselves.' So, for hospitalists, with their position closest to the patient, now is an important time to do a refresher on hospice, given the aging of the Baby Boomer generation. Ungerleider said that doctors should place an emphasis on the fact that hospice is not the absence of care; it is active care — it's just a shifting of the focus. 'We want hospitalists to be clear on what the hospice team is composed of (and) how they are able to support and not support families,' said Ungerleider, also the host of the Before We Go and TED Health podcasts. 'I think demystifying that process, offering it early as a meaningful option, I think patients are more likely to engage with it earlier and then hopefully benefit from it more fully.' As Ungerleider noted, early admission to hospice — as quickly as possible after cessation of treatment — is shown in the clinical literature to actually extend the length of patients' lives and enhance families' satisfaction with the way their loved one has spent their final days. The 2007 study 'Comparing Hospice and Nonhospice Patient Survival Among Patients Who Die Within a Three-Year Window,' led by Stephen R. Connor and published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, reported that patients who chose hospice lived an average of 29 days longer than those who did not, while 'Early Palliative Care for Patients with Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer , ' a 2010 study led by Jennifer S. Temel and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, showed that patients admitted to hospice early lived 2 months longer and also had better quantitative quality of life. Across the board, families involved reported being less stressed and had lower depression scores. Don't Overpromise, Though Hospice is a great solution for many patients, but it isn't the right solution for everyone. When asked what she'd most want to make sure hospitalists know about hospice, hospice nurse and educator McFadden emphatically said it would be that hospice — home hospice, that is — does not provide round-the-clock care. 'A lot of times families will come in, they have an elderly mom who could no longer take care of herself, there's a bunch of issues, she had a fall, etc. The family wants comfort care, so the hospitalist is like, great, let's refer to hospice. The family says we won't be able to take care of her, and a lot of times the people in the hospital think it's okay — hospice will take care of that,' McFadden, who was an intensive care unit nurse before getting into hospice, said. 'We won't. We can't. So, they get home, the family's like, wait, but the doctors in the hospital said you guys would do the care.' In the case of geriatric patients, generally speaking, because of the way Medicare is structured, families or other lay caregivers are responsible for the day-to-day caregiving even when the patient is in hospice. Plans vary from service to service, but generally, home hospice services will include a weekly visit from skilled nursing, plus a certain number of hours per week of care from a nursing assistant to cover bathing, tidying, bed changes, and other support. Hospice staff is always available by phone, 24 x 7, should the patient have an issue. 'We try to help the family understand how to provide the care and steps to do each task, but we won't provide it,' McFadden explained. Even so, she'd advise patients and their families to choose the option of hospice if possible. 'Hospice is there to help you die a natural death at home. To me, I feel like if you get to die a death on hospice, you are lucky.' Don't Let the Good Stand in the Way of the Perfect Hospice may not be a perfect solution for everyone, but data showed that it is a very good one, both for patients and their families. 'The best care that you can offer a patient who is no longer a candidate for effective medical intervention is focusing on the patient as a human being, an individual, focused on humanity and care and not the science of medicine,' said Vialotti. 'Instead of treating their disease, treat them as a human being. Find out what they want. Find out what they would like this part of their journey to look like and then offer them the support that enables them to experience that.' Hospice makes that kind of journey possible but is only available for patients if they're made aware of it. Hospitalists have an important role to play in raising awareness about this option when applicable and in accurately and compassionately delivering information about its efficacy and what it entails.
