Healthcare Archive

Clostridioides difficile, a bacterium that causes severe diarrhea and colon inflammation, is common in hospitalized people. New research suggests that even patients who are not diagnosed with the infection in the hospital can bring it home and expose family members.

A research letter published online April 25, 2022, by JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that existing advance care directives often don't reflect people's actual wishes (based on values and beliefs) and care goals.

The bacteria C. diff is responsible for half a million infections each year in the US. Many infections happen when people are hospitalized, but a recent report indicated that people can be infected without ever being hospitalized.

In the spring of 2021, the 21st Century Cures Act began requiring health care providers to make almost all patient information available in electronic medical records, without charge or delay. This information includes all notes health care providers jot down about patient visits, medical tests, procedures, and hospitalizations. Reading these notes may make some patients feel anxious, or even offended if a doctor uses language that comes across as judgmental. But studies suggest that note reading helps many people manage their health and catch mistakes in their medical records.

A 2022 study found that women with overactive bladder showed significant improvement in urinary symptoms, such as urgency and leakage, after they engaged in a type of telehealth care.

With home monitors, smart watches, and other wearable tech, patients are increasingly bringing their own data to physical exams. Learn the benefits and drawbacks of all of this data—and when/if it can help with health recommendations.

Weight stigma is discrimination based on a person's weight, and it can lead to poor health and increased weight gain. One way to combat weight stigma is to use person-first language, and it's also important for health care providers to make sure they are not perpetuating this stigma when dealing with patients.

If you wind up in an emergency department due to an illness or accident what should you know and what can you expect? It's frustrating to have to wait for care, and also frustrating to have to explain your situation multiple times to different people, but there are reasons why it all happens.

For many people, a visit to the doctor causes anxiety, and discussing sensitive subjects like sexual problems, substance use, or mental health issues is even more likely to induce discomfort. But these discussions can be less anxiety-inducing and more productive if people know what to expect.