Latest news with #patientexperience
CBS News
10 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
AHN Wexford is one of the nation's quietest hospitals at night, surveys say
Allegheny Health Network's AHN Wexford Hospital has received high marks as one of the nation's quietest hospitals at night for the fourth consecutive year, according to new patient surveys that were compiled by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Data snapshots are released periodically throughout the year. A star rating is then assigned to hospitals for varying patient experience categories, per a news release from Allegheny Health Network. Patients who had spent the night in the hospital were asked whether "the area around their room was always quiet at night." Data from a recently released snapshot indicated that 72% of respondents answered "yes" to the question, besting the national average (62%) and the Pennsylvania average (56%). An additional 24% said the environment was "usually" quiet. In the winter 2025 snapshot, Wexford's "always quiet" number was even higher, at 74%. That was good for the highest-possible five-star "quietness rating" from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Nighttime noise affects patient satisfaction and, more importantly, disrupts sleep and recovery," said Lisa Graper, chief nursing officer at AHN Wexford. "Noise reduction begins with staff training and evidence-based interventions, but it also includes elements of hospital design, such as all-private rooms and soft-closing drawers." "At AHN Wexford, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional medicine and an exceptional patient experience," said Allan Klapper, MD, president, AHN Wexford. "That experience takes many forms, but keeping the volume down at night is especially important to us. Study after study shows that a quiet hospital environment can improve patient healing and well-being, which reduces stress and can even lead to shorter hospital stays." AHN Wexford also earned five stars in the areas of cleanliness, nurse communication, and the patient's understanding of care instructions when they transition out of the hospital, the news release added.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Mallinckrodt Announces Publication of Real-World Insights on Patient Experience with Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) Single-Dose Pre-filled SelfJect™ Injector
– Survey findings showed a majority of participants had a favorable experience injecting Acthar Gel via SelfJect, with a high level of satisfaction, confidence, convenience, and ease of use regarding the injector¹ – DUBLIN, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc, a global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced the publication of findings from a survey assessing patient perceptions of their experience with Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) Single-Dose Pre-filled SelfJect™ Injector ("SelfJect"). SelfJect is a single-dose pre-filled injector designed for the administration of Acthar Gel in appropriate patients.² It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with a range of chronic and acute inflammatory conditions.² The survey collected data on patient perceptions of satisfaction, confidence, convenience, and ease of use, as well as perceptions of anticipated persistence and compliance.¹ The manuscript was recently published online in Advances in Therapy. Acthar Gel is a naturally sourced complex mixture of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) analogs and other pituitary peptides.² Acthar Gel is approved by the FDA for the treatment of several autoimmune disorders and medical conditions known to cause inflammation.² SelfJect is available in 40 USP units/0.5 mL and 80 USP units/1.0 mL injectors and must be administered by adults (18 years of age or older).² SelfJect is not to be used for the treatment of infantile spasms.² Please see Indications and Important Safety Information for Acthar Gel below. "Real-world perceptions are critical to capturing patient satisfaction and treatment experience with SelfJect beyond clinical trials, especially for those living with conditions that can often be challenging to manage," said George Wan, Ph.D., M.P.H., Vice President, Evidence Generation and Data Sciences, Mallinckrodt. "Findings from this cross-sectional patient survey enhance our understanding on the use of Acthar Gel via SelfJect in appropriate patients." "Patients, particularly those with chronic or acute inflammatory and autoimmune conditions who may experience dexterity and/or visual challenges, need access to delivery devices they feel are easy and convenient to use," said Steven Taylor, President and CEO, Arthritis Foundation. "This is why rigorous, independent evaluation is required for products and packaging to earn our Ease of Use® certification. We appreciate the work of organizations like Mallinckrodt, whose dedication to advancing therapies drives meaningful progress for people impacted by these conditions." About the Survey "Real-World Insights on Patient Satisfaction and Experience with Acthar Gel via SelfJect (RISE™): A Cross-Sectional Patient Survey" utilized a validated form and was conducted among a cross-section of patients to assess their experience with SelfJect.¹ The survey, conducted between November 2024 and January 2025, collected data from 54 participants with a mean age of 55.4 years.¹ The majority of participants were female 76% (n=41/54), and identified as White/Caucasian 74% (n=40/54) and non-Hispanic/non-Latino 83% (n=45/54).¹ Eligible participants were aged ≥18 years, had a diagnosis of an indication of Acthar Gel based on the prescribing information, and had used Acthar Gel via SelfJect for ≥6 self-injections at the time of the survey.¹ Additionally¹: 33% (n=18/54) reported chronic or recurring ocular inflammatory disease, and 26% (n=14/54) had rheumatoid arthritis 39% (n=21/54) reported dexterity or visual problems 39% (n=21/54) reported having previously used Acthar Gel multi-dose vial and syringe In this survey, participants reported a favorable experience injecting Acthar Gel via SelfJect, highlighting high levels of satisfaction, confidence, convenience, and ease of use regarding the injector.¹ Participants also reported perceptions of anticipated positive persistence and compliance with the device, which may correlate with improved continuity of care.¹ Findings from this survey included¹: 91% (n=49/54) reported they were satisfied or very satisfied injecting Acthar Gel via SelfJect overall 89% (n=48/54) felt very or extremely confident administering Acthar Gel via SelfJect to themselves at home 91% (n=49/54) found SelfJect to be convenient or very convenient 100% (n=54/54) felt that it was moderately, very or extremely easy to self-inject with SelfJect 87% (n=47/54) responded that they were likely or very likely to continue taking Acthar Gel via SelfJect for the prescribed period, and 87% (n=47/54) also responded that they were likely or very likely to maintain compliance for the prescribed period, with respect to timing, dosage, and frequency Summary of limitations of the survey include¹: Data collected from the questionnaire are cross-sectional and do not provide long-term information on patient satisfaction. Persistence and compliance were assessed based on participant perceptions rather than objective, longitudinal measurement. Future research using longitudinal designs is needed to evaluate these factors accurately. Response bias may be present as the findings rely on survey participants' subjective experiences with the device. This descriptive study characterizes the experience of survey participants with an alternative delivery device; therefore, it does not include direct comparisons of Acthar Gel via SelfJect with other self-injection devices. This survey was sponsored by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. INDICATIONS Acthar Gel is indicated for: Treatment during an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis) and systemic lupus erythematosus Adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in: psoriatic arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy); ankylosing spondylitis Symptomatic sarcoidosis Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye and its adnexa such as: keratitis, iritis, iridocyclitis, diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis, optic neuritis, chorioretinitis, anterior segment inflammation Inducing a diuresis or a remission of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus Treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults. Controlled clinical trials have shown Acthar to be effective in speeding the resolution of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis. However, there is no evidence that it affects the ultimate outcome or natural history of the disease Monotherapy for the treatment of infantile spasms in infants and children under 2 years of age IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Contraindications Acthar is contraindicated: For intravenous administration In infants under 2 years of age who have suspected congenital infections With concomitant administration of live or live attenuated vaccines in patients receiving immunosuppressive doses of Acthar In patients with scleroderma, osteoporosis, systemic fungal infections, ocular herpes simplex, recent surgery, history of the presence of a peptic ulcer, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, primary adrenocortical insufficiency, adrenocortical hyperfunction, or sensitivity to proteins of porcine origin Warnings and Precautions The adverse effects of Acthar are related primarily to its steroidogenic effects Acthar may increase susceptibility to new infection or reactivation of latent infections Suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may occur following prolonged therapy with the potential for adrenal insufficiency after withdrawal of the medication. Adrenal insufficiency may be minimized by tapering of the dose when discontinuing treatment. During recovery of the adrenal gland patients should be protected from the stress (e.g., trauma or surgery) by the use of corticosteroids. Monitor patients for effects of HPA axis suppression after stopping treatment Cushing's syndrome may occur during therapy but generally resolves after therapy is stopped. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms Acthar can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and hypokalemia. Monitor blood pressure and sodium and potassium levels Acthar often acts by masking symptoms of other diseases/disorders. Monitor patients carefully during and for a period following discontinuation of therapy Acthar can cause gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and gastric ulcer. There is also an increased risk for perforation in patients with certain GI disorders. Monitor for signs of perforation and bleeding Acthar may be associated with central nervous system effects ranging from euphoria, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression to psychosis. Existing conditions may be aggravated Patients with comorbid disease may have that disease worsened. Caution should be used when prescribing Acthar in patients with diabetes and myasthenia gravis Prolonged use of Acthar may produce cataracts, glaucoma, and secondary ocular infections. Monitor for signs and symptoms Acthar is immunogenic and prolonged administration of Acthar may increase the risk of hypersensitivity reactions. Cases of anaphylaxis have been reported in the postmarketing setting. Neutralizing antibodies with chronic administration may lead to loss of endogenous ACTH and Acthar activity There may be an enhanced effect in patients with hypothyroidism and in those with cirrhosis of the liver Long-term use may have negative effects on growth and physical development in children. Monitor pediatric patients Decrease in bone density may occur. Bone density should be monitored in patients on long-term therapy Adverse Reactions Commonly reported postmarketing adverse reactions for Acthar include injection site reaction, asthenic conditions (including fatigue, malaise, asthenia, and lethargy), fluid retention (including peripheral swelling), insomnia, headache, and blood glucose increased The most common adverse reactions for the treatment of infantile spasms (IS) are increased risk of infections, convulsions, hypertension, irritability, and pyrexia. Some patients with IS progress to other forms of seizures; IS sometimes masks these seizures, which may become visible once the clinical spasms from IS resolve Pregnancy Acthar may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman Please see full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information. About Mallinckrodt Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The Company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, hepatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release contains forward-looking statements, including with regard to Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection), the Acthar Gel Single-Dose Pre-filled SelfJect™ Injector, the potential of these products to improve health and treatment outcomes, and their potential impact on patients. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: the effects of Mallinckrodt's recent emergence from bankruptcy; satisfaction of, and compliance with, regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; changes in market demand; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues or adverse side effects or adverse reactions associated with Acthar Gel and Acthar Gel Single-Dose Pre-filled SelfJect Injector; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law. CONTACT Media InquiriesGreen Room Communications908-577-4531mediainquiries@ Investor RelationsBryan ReasonsExecutive Vice President and Chief Financial Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark, SelfJect, and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners. ©2025 Mallinckrodt. US-2500288 06/25 References ¹ Bindra J., Chopra I., Hayes K., et al. Real-World Insights on Satisfaction and Experience with Acthar Gel via SelfJect (RISE™): A Cross-Sectional Patient Survey. Advances in Therapy. 2025. Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) [Prescribing Information]. Bridgewater, NJ: Mallinckrodt ARD LLC. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBC
20-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Fort St. John mother raises alarm about state of health care after son's injury allegedly mishandled
A Fort St. John, B.C., mother is speaking out after she says her son failed to get the care he needed during a visit to the local emergency room. Their story has prompted dozens of other people to weigh in with similar experiences, sparking calls for a review of the level of care available in the northeastern B.C. city. It started May 6 when Melanie Jansen's 15-year-old son, Hudson, fell while riding his bike around their neighbourhood. She said his leg swelled up to roughly three times the size of his other and he reported extreme levels of pain. "He just kept saying, "Mom, there's something's wrong ... This doesn't feel right,'" she said. "He's a 15-year-old boy who tries to tough things out and he was like, 'Mom, let's go to the hospital.' And that's very rare." They were quickly triaged and her son was given X-rays. She said they then wound up waiting more than five hours before getting any followup, in the form of a hallway visit with a doctor who recommend crutches, a tensor bandage and pain killer before getting sent home. But the next day, Jansen received an urgent message from the same doctor who said Hudson needed urgent care. "She said, 'OK, we've gone over the X-rays and you need to get back to the hospital immediately because you need a splint,'" Jansen recalled. She was worried they would once again face long waits but said the doctor assured her they would be seen right away. She also played a voicemail for CBC News from the doctor confirming the hospital had been contacted and was aware of the need for Hudson to be seen immediately. 'Why is that leg not splinted?' However, upon arrival, they saw a second doctor who Jansen said told them he wanted to consult with an orthopedic surgeon at a neighbouring hospital in Dawson Creek prior to making any changes to Hudson's care. After waiting more than five hours again, Jansen said they were told the surgeon was unavailable, and Hudson was sent home with no splint and no new knowledge of what was going on. It wasn't until May 14, more than a week after his initial injury, that Hudson was finally able to see an orthopedic surgeon who was visiting Dawson Creek, a 74-kilometre drive from Fort St. John. "The first thing the surgeon said was, 'Why is that leg not splinted?'" Jansen said. "And we were like, 'Because the hospital sent us home without one." A closer review, Jansen said, found that Hudson had broken a bone — information she hadn't previously been given — and that because his leg hadn't been set in place, the injury had been exacerbated with the break getting wider and wider. Now, they are facing several weeks of waiting to see if the damage can heal on its own or if her 15-year-old son will need surgery to fix the problem. Frustrated, Jansen shared her experience in a personal Facebook post. To her surprise, it picked up steam, attracting dozens of comments from people with similar stories of being unable to get the care they needed in Fort St. John. Jansen said she's not sure of the reasons for the alleged failures but it seems clear to her something needs to change. "It's not just about the wait times, it's about the care," Jensen said. "People are being misdiagnosed. People aren't being diagnosed. People aren't being helped ... It's heartbreaking." Health-care crunch Aside from people with similar stories, she said she has also been contacted by patient advocacy groups and her MLA, Jordan Kealy, for support on the file. Kealy told CBC News health-care concerns are the number one issue facing people living in his riding and that he personally decided to get into politics after his own family experienced barriers getting help. "This isn't just a 'right now' problem that's happened, this has been adding up," he said. "It's very difficult to deal with some of the scenarios and they aren't easy fixes." Like many parts of B.C., Fort St. John is facing a health-care crunch. The largest city in the region, its ER has seen frequent closures, including five nights in a single week in July 2024. As recently as May 14, residents were advised that the city's emergency department was facing long wait times, with people urged to avoid visiting if at all possible. But Jansen, who has five children, said there are few alternatives. Despite living in Fort St. John for most of the past 45 years, she has instead relied on a family doctor she got in Salmon Arm, a community a more than 10,000 km drive away, that she got while living there from 2012 to 2020. "You want to rely on this system," she said. "You want to believe that they're going to give you the care and not send you home when it's not safe to go home ... What kind of system do we have here that's so broken?" Northern Health says case has been reviewed CBC News has been unable to speak to either of the doctors, nor the orthopedic surgeon Jansen and her son saw. In a statement, Northern Health said it is unable to comment on individual cases but that it takes "any concerns raised about quality of care very seriously." It said the case had been reviewed but that it would not be sharing the specifics of what was found. "In general, decisions about patient care are made by the attending physician or specialist. Patients who have questions or concerns about the care they, or a loved one, have received are best to first speak with the person who provided the service, or to the manager of the area. Complaints are best addressed and resolved at the time and place they occur," Northern Health said. The statement also said complaints could be formally registered with the authority's patient care quality office. Jansen said she had not been made aware a review of their case had taken place, nor what the results were. She also said she's been overwhelmed by the response she's gotten to her story and is hoping it can be a platform to help advocate for improved patient outcomes in her city and across the province. "We deserve to have health care we can trust," she said. "Many people have been paying an awful price."
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Janet Weis Children's Hospital ranked among Money magazine's Best Hospitals for Pediatric Care
DANVILLE — Geisinger's Janet Weis Children's Hospital was recognized as one of the 2025 Best Hospitals for Pediatric Care by Money magazine. The Danville hospital was named among the top 75 hospitals that deliver "safe, high-quality care with experienced pediatricians and providers who are excellent communicators," according to a Geisinger press release. The magazine also accounts for facilities that are well-equipped to handle pediatric emergencies, according to Geisinger. The Janet Weis Children's Hospital was 32nd out of the 75 hospitals listed. The local facility was listed in the top ten for patient experience. 'This is a tremendous acknowledgement of our pediatric staff, who are deeply committed to providing pediatric access with exceptional care,' Dr. Frank Maffei, Geisinger's chair of pediatrics, said. 'Our children's hospital delivers outstanding value of care by keeping our children safe, adhering to the best practice standards and treating our children and families with kindness and authentic compassion. We greatly appreciate the recognition and are dedicated to upholding this distinction in pediatric care.' — ANNA WIEST
Fast Company
06-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
AI's role in patient-centric care
The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Have you ever wanted to break up with your doctor—not because of the practitioner, but because of the difficulty in engaging with their practice? You're not alone. I've left doctors for that reason and McKinsey has found that nearly 25% of consumers have delayed care because they hate everything about the process. System complexity is not doctors' fault, but making the care experience easier for patients is now their—and their teams'—burden. And that burden is only increasing. With generative AI reaching a tipping point, practices that can't adopt the technology to engage patients with a consumer-grade experience will soon face an existential crisis. In virtually every other aspect of our lives—from banking and shopping to transportation and vacation planning—technology has dramatically improved the consumer experience, catering to convenience and access. But not in healthcare, where the experience of being a patient still differs widely from practice to practice. There are offices where booking a routine medical appointment can feel more stressful than booking a flight to Melbourne or negotiating insurance approval for a standard treatment feels out of reach. While healthcare's digital revolution has stubbornly lagged other industries, that is now shifting. Patients are beginning to flex their consumer muscles, demanding digital convenience that enhances human connection. And they're increasingly starting to vote with their feet when they don't get the digital attention they need. We see this with the uptick in patients turning to urgent care clinics for more than just colds, because of the flexibility and digital access they provide. At the same time, much of the technology aimed at improving patient experience has, so far, created more work for doctors. These compounding factors are pushing an already burdened ecosystem towards its limits. But there is a way forward. And it's based on understanding that the ability to deliver a consumer-grade patient experience requires a better practice experience, one where physicians and administrators alike can spend their time on what matters most: delivering patient care. An AI 'aha' moment Until recently, many physicians have struggled to realize the value of AI in their practice. The introduction of ambient listening technology has changed the equation, creating an industry-wide revelation. This AI-based voice recognition technology has quickly proven its ability to shave off hours of time on notetaking, documentation, and entering preliminary information to assist in billing patient encounters. Doctors who were previously plagued by 'pajama time'—hours spent catching up on patient documentation work at home—feel liberated by AI-powered ambient listening. And the research supports that the optimism is more than anecdotal. athenahealth's annual Physician Sentiment Survey found a positive shift in physicians' opinions of AI. This year, only 27% of surveyed physicians believe AI to be overhyped or unable to meet expectations (down from 40% a year ago), and the majority of physicians who previously reported using AI in their practice (68%) are using it more frequently to generate clinical documentation. Beyond the important work to streamline operations, AI is also increasingly working as an intelligence layer that enables doctors to spend less time hunting for facts and more time acting on insights at the moment of care, allowing their practices to offer a better experience for patients and staff. The rise of AI agents What am I excited about seeing in 2025? AI applications on the horizon that can deliver on the promise of a more consumer-friendly, human experience—one that shifts physicians' attention away from the computer screen and back toward their patients. Recently, I was at the HIMSS conference, an annual gathering of healthcare technology leaders. While last year's conference centered on generative AI hype, with few applications in sight, this year showed real world impact and a more tangible roadmap of coming applications—including agentic AI. AI agents have been operating behind the scenes in many industries for years, but large language models are giving them the ability to perform more complex tasks, such as answering certain patient questions and managing front office work. We are already seeing these agentic AI applications in our app store Marketplace of partner tools (for instance Salesforce's Agentforce for Health), and are exploring agentic AI throughout our solutions, such as in improving the revenue cycle management process. As the technology enables practices to function more efficiently, those improvements will be felt by their patients, whose needs can be met faster and more directly. The benefits are real As a health tech marketer and executive, I understand both the challenge and the opportunity ahead. As I wrote about AI previously in Fast Company: 'Just as important as building and evolving the technology is our ability to market AI's benefits to physicians and patients alike, to ensure that it's leveraged to help reclaim what's at the heart of exceptional care: a meaningful patient-physician relationship.' I believe the recent AI advances have demonstrated that the benefits are real. That we, as patients, can finally stop checking our consumer expectations at the door of our doctors' office. And that better care is within our reach—not despite technology, but because of it.
