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Health Care Policy
Four takeaways from the IPCC’s report on climate adaptation and vulnerability
Four takeaways from the IPCC’s report on climate adaptation and vulnerability
The assessment gets explicit about the effect of climate change on people, places, and ecosystems. Experts from Penn weigh in on what it means.
Addressing substance use and pain key to limiting self-directed hospital discharge
Addressing substance use and pain key to limiting self-directed hospital discharge
A new study from the School of Nursing suggests that stigma toward persons with substance abuse disorder may account for an under-assessment and management of pain, which leads to self-directed patient discharges.
Past plagues, current pandemics, and public hygiene messaging
Past plagues, current pandemics, and public hygiene messaging
History Ph.D. candidate Sarah Xia Yu discusses her research on public hygiene in China and what the past might tell us about how governments could better communicate public health messages.
Africa’s Iron Lady
Africa’s Iron Lady
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, came to Perry World House as part of the Global Order Colloquium.
Hospitals with more nurses linked to better outcomes, more satisfied patients
Hospitals with more nurses linked to better outcomes, more satisfied patients
According to a new study published in Medical Care, hospitals that employ more inpatient nurse practitioners have lower surgical mortality, higher patient satisfaction, and lower costs of care.
A new approach to determining post-acute care for older adults with dementia
A new approach to determining post-acute care for older adults with dementia
Two new studies measure the outcomes of home health care versus a skilled nursing facility for patients with dementia after being discharged in hospitals, and find that the mental status at the time of discharge is more relevant than a dementia diagnosis.
More than a third of Congressional members held significant health care assets
More than a third of Congressional members held significant health care assets
Due to their role in shaping health care policy, lawmakers should divest from assets while in office, Penn Medicine researchers recommend.
Scaling the model of care for patients with opioid use disorder
Scaling the model of care for patients with opioid use disorder
Data show that concurrent with the opioid overdose crisis, there has been an increase in hospitalizations of people with opioid use disorder. One in ten of these hospitalized medical or surgical patients have comorbid opioid-related diagnoses.
Four things to know about the latest IPCC climate report
Four things to know about the latest IPCC climate report
The assessment describes ‘unequivocal’ human influence that no doubt caused ‘widespread and rapid changes’ to the atmosphere, oceans, and more. Professors Mark Alan Hughes and Michael Weisberg discuss the findings, plus how we can avoid passing the point of no return.
100 years of insulin
100 years of insulin
On July 27, 1921, Canadian doctors Frederick Banting and Charles Best successfully isolated the hormone insulin, one of the most important breakthroughs in treating diabetes. Experts from around the University share their thoughts on the medical triumph on the 100th anniversary.
In the News
The New Yorker
How to die in good health
PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel says that incessantly preparing for old age mistakes a long life for a worthwhile one.
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Associated Press
Many cancer drugs remain unproven five years after accelerated approval, a study finds
PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel says that there should be definitive benefits to cancer drugs five years after their initial accelerated approval.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
The influence of private equity on Philly-area doctors’ practices is growing. A new study offers insight
Experts on a panel at the Leonard Davis Institute last year said that private equity-backed health care businesses should not have special rules for issues like reimbursement and transparency.
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CNN
ALS drug fails large clinical trial and may be withdrawn from market
Holly Fernandez Lynch of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the lack of good treatment options for ALS has led to an insatiable desire to develop something that is going to modify the course of this disease.
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Yahoo! Finance
Most Americans flunk when it comes to retirement literacy, study finds
Rachel M. Werner of the Leonard Davis Institute, Wharton School, and Perelman School of Medicine says that the U.S. lacks any sort of comprehensive approach to funding for long-term care.
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NPR
After his wife died, he joined nurses to push for new staffing rules in hospitals
Karen Lasater of the School of Nursing and Leonard Davis Institute says that the nursing shortage crisis is rooted in unsafe staffing ratios at hospitals.
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