An important aspect in the provision of care via telehealth is abiding by appropriate standards of care and scopes of practice, which are defined by federal and state laws, professional boards, accrediting agencies, specialty associations, payers, and so forth. Prescribing medications to patients as part of telehealth services — online prescribing — falls into the parameters of “standards and scope,” and healthcare providers must take precautions to ensure they are prescribing within legal and professional boundaries.
Read more Credentialing and privileging — the processes by which a healthcare organization assesses and confirms the qualifications of a healthcare provider and authorizes the provision of specific services — play an important role in patient safety and high-quality care. These processes are essential for traditional, in-person care as well as for healthcare delivered through telecommunication technology (telehealth).
Read more Technology has created opportunities for physicians, dentists, and other healthcare practitioners to extend the reach of their professional practice beyond the physical limitations of their practice settings. Through the use of telehealth technologies, providers can evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients in other localities, which can increase access to, convenience of, and choices in care.
Read more Obesity is a well-known health concern in the United States. Often referred to as an epidemic, obesity affects about 42 percent of U.S. adults — more than double the number affected just 30 years ago.1 Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment option for many individuals who suffer from obesity, and the number of these procedures has increased over the years.
Read more Much has been studied and written about workplace incivility and nurse bullying in healthcare, including the need for organizations to confront these issues in the pursuit of creating highly reliable and psychologically safe environments. Yet, these issues still are pervasive and often are considered intrinsic in the nursing profession, as evidenced by the well-known saying "nurses eat their young."
Read more In recent years, advocacy groups, researchers, healthcare providers, and others have raised awareness and understanding about diagnostic errors, drawing attention to the profound effect that these mistakes have on patients, families, and clinicians.
Read more Engaging patients and their families in the diagnostic process is a key strategy for building effective diagnostic teams and reducing diagnostic errors. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine's pivotal report Improving Diagnosis in Health Care states that "Health care professionals and organizations are responsible for creating environments in which patients and their families can learn about and engage in the diagnostic process and provide feedback about their experience."1
Read more Practicing diligent hand hygiene is a well-known principle of patient and healthcare worker safety and a standard precaution for infection prevention and control in healthcare organizations of all types and sizes, including dental practices. In fact, hand hygiene often is recognized as the single most important step that dental providers and staff can take to prevent the spread of infections.1
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