Articles related to HEALTHCARE ACCESS

Explore how Postgraduate License (PGL) opportunities could be a game-changer in addressing the physician shortage, offering unmatched medical graduates a pathway to gainful employment and valuable clinical experience.

Explore the potential implications of the formation of Risant Health on community oncology, as discussed by industry experts in a recent episode of Cancer Care Business Breakthroughs. Learn about the potential challenges and opportunities this new entity could bring to the healthcare landscape.

Learn how pharmacists can dramatically improve access to reproductive health care, from removing obstacles to care to putting sexual and reproductive health services in place. Find out more about how you might contribute to this transition.

Despite the demonstrated benefits of the recommended quadruple therapy for heart failure, its cost-effectiveness is highly sensitive to drug pricing, necessitating more thorough scrutiny and potential policy interventions to ensure equitable patient access.

Bridging the Gap: Twinning Programs Improve Pediatric Cancer Survival Rates Across Borders In a world where a few miles can determine the fate of a child with cancer, twinning programs are making a significant difference. These initiatives, which pair hospitals across borders, are helping to bridge the survival gap in pediatric acute leukemia between high-income and lower-income countries. Key Points: “There’s no pediatric centers in many of the mountain west states. If your kid gets cancer in Wyoming, you gotta go to Utah or Colorado or Mayo in Minnesota. But here, there’s really nice evidence that providing the right protocols, training, staff, and more, we could do this in more places and improve outcomes without developing a new drug.” Gwen Nichols, chief medical officer of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Oncologists and cancer drug shortages are creating a crisis, with patient care at risk and legal liabilities looming. In the face of critical cancer drug shortages, oncologists grapple with suboptimal patient care and possible legal liabilities. The issue worsens due to insufficient guidelines for alternative treatment options. A contributing factor is the weak financial incentive for drug manufacturers to produce unprofitable generic drugs, compared to branded ones. Consequently, there’s greater dependence on foreign factories, leading to supply chain hitches and quality control issues. Barbara McAneny, MD, CEO of New Mexico Cancer Center, foresees drug shortages persisting, particularly affecting low-cost treatments. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) reports shortages of vital oncology drugs like methotrexate, cisplatin, carboplatin, and fluorouracil, crucial for treating various common cancers. Furthermore, the lack of guidelines on alternative treatments exacerbates oncologists’ concerns about patient outcomes and legal liabilities. This absence of direction leaves physicians making crucial decisions single-handedly. In response, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has formed an advisory group to develop clinical guidance during these drug shortages. Immediate recommendations include reprioritizing nonessential use of scarce antineoplastic drugs, increasing interval cycles, reducing doses when clinically acceptable, and selecting evidence-based alternatives. Dr. Jeff Patton, CEO […]